Egypt bears costs of US$6 billion for hosting Arab refugees: MP

Egypt Independent

12-04-2025

The Head of the Planning and Budget Committee in the House of Representatives, Fakhry al-Fiqi, revealed that the cost of hosting Arab refugees and guests in Egypt during the current fiscal year amounts to approximately six billion US dollars.
During an interview with Sada al-Balad channel on Friday, Fiqi emphasized that this figure reflects the heavy burden borne by the Egyptian state in providing humanitarian, health, and educational services without discrimination.
He explained: 'We have approximately nine million guests from sisterly Arab countries, constituting eight percent of the total population, and the state's general budget this year amounts to LE 3.9 trillion, meaning that the cost of this eight percent amounts to approximately LE300 billion.'
Fiqi added: 'When we convert this figure to dollars, based on an exchange rate of LE 50 to the dollar, we find that the cost amounts to approximately six billion US dollars.'
He noted that this figure is expected to increase in the upcoming 2025/2026 budget, reaching approximately seven billion US dollars.
Fiqi assured that Egypt seeks to be provide all those who have sought refuge in it with all services as part of its humanitarian and historical responsibility.
'We simply need to know the extent of the burden borne by the state, especially in light of the difficult economic conditions,' he stressed.