Egypt’s mobile wallet ecosystem recorded another sharp expansion in the first half of 2026, with transaction activity climbing 62% year-on-year as consumers increasingly turned to digital payments.
Data from the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA) showed that mobile wallets linked to telecom operators processed 2.22 billion transactions during the six-month period, compared with the previous year.
The combined value of those transactions rose 56% to EGP 2.96 trillion, up from EGP 1.90 trillion in the first half of 2025. The number of registered mobile wallets also jumped 23%, reaching 57.01 million from 46.33 million a year earlier.
Vodafone Cash remained the dominant player, accounting for 53% of all registered wallets. e& money followed with 23%, while Orange Cash held 20% and WE Pay accounted for 4%.
The gap was even wider among active wallets. Vodafone Cash represented 57% of active accounts, followed by e& money at 24%, Orange Cash at 17% and WE Pay at 2%.
Vodafone Cash also processed the largest share of transactions, handling 69% by volume and 77% by value. e& money represented 20% of transaction volume and 14% of value, while Orange Cash accounted for 10% and 8%. WE Pay held a 1% share on both measures.
Transfers dominate wallet activity
Wallet-to-wallet transfers were the most common use of the services, making up 54% of all transactions. Mobile and internet recharges followed at 25%, while deposits accounted for 13%. Withdrawals and other payments — including utility bills, shopping and donations — each represented 4%.
In monetary terms, transfers between wallets were even more prominent, accounting for 67% of the total transaction value. Deposits represented 17%, withdrawals 12%, and other payments 3%. Mobile and internet top-ups made up the remaining 1%.
InstaPay emerged as the leading channel for putting money into mobile wallets. Transfers from bank accounts through InstaPay accounted for 78% of deposit transactions, followed by direct deposits at 15%. Overseas remittances contributed 3%, while ATM and bank-card deposits each represented 2%.
Measured by value, InstaPay transfers made up 58% of deposited funds. Direct deposits accounted for 28%, while remittances from abroad contributed 10%. ATM and bank-card deposits each represented 2%.
For money leaving wallets, mobile and internet top-ups accounted for 76% of transactions. Withdrawals and other payments each represented 12%.
The pattern changed significantly when measured by value. Cash withdrawals made up 75% of the money withdrawn or spent, while other payments accounted for 19% and top-ups just 6%.
Men hold two-thirds of Egypt’s wallets
Men accounted for 38 million mobile wallets, or roughly 67% of the total. Women held around 19 million wallets, representing the remaining 33%.
The 36-to-45 age group had the largest number of wallets, with 14.5 million accounts, equivalent to 25% of the national total. Users aged 26 to 35 were close behind with 14.1 million wallets, also representing about 25%.
Subscribers between 16 and 25 held 11.5 million wallets, or 20%. The 46-to-55 group accounted for 9.4 million wallets, representing 17%, while users aged 55 and above held 7.5 million, or 13%.
Cairo leads regional adoption
Mobile wallet services were available throughout Egypt’s governorates, but Cairo remained the largest market, with 10.6 million wallets, or 19% of the national total.
Giza ranked second with 6.5 million wallets, representing 11%. Sharqia and Alexandria followed with 3.6 million and 3.5 million wallets respectively, each accounting for roughly 6%.
Qalyubia recorded approximately 3.3 million wallets, also representing around 6% of the total.
The NTRA said it is continuing to work with telecommunications operators on regulatory frameworks governing mobile wallet services. The broader objective is to deepen financial inclusion, accelerate electronic payment adoption and reduce dependence on cash across Egypt.
