USD to EGP — Live Rate, Historical Chart & Converter

What drives the USD to EGP rate?

The USD to EGP rate is shaped by the Central Bank of Egypt's (CBE) managed-float regime, Egypt's IMF program status, and the country's external revenue streams — tourism, Suez Canal tolls, and remittances from Egyptians working in the Gulf. Unlike a freely floating pair, USD to EGP has historically moved in sharp step-devaluations rather than gradual drifts, because the CBE defends a level until reserves run too low, then allows a discrete adjustment.

The IMF program: Egypt's master variable

Almost every major move in USD to EGP over the past decade has coincided with IMF program news. The November 2016 free float (mandated by the IMF) halved the Pound from 8.88 to 15 in a single session. The March 2022 devaluation to 18.5 came on the back of IMF negotiations. The 2024 devaluation to 50+ followed the IMF's expanded Extended Fund Facility. Track IMF disbursement dates if you're timing a large conversion.

Tourism, Suez Canal, and remittances: the inflows

• Tourism: historically $12–13 billion annually; collapsed during COVID and the 2011 Arab Spring.
• Suez Canal: roughly $9 billion in annual toll revenue, vulnerable to Red Sea shipping disruptions (the 2024 Houthi crisis cut traffic by 40%+).
• Remittances: Egyptians working abroad send home roughly $25 billion annually — the largest source of Dollar inflows.

Egypt's modern devaluation history

• November 2016: free float mandated by the IMF. EGP dropped from 8.88 to ~15 in a single session.
• March 2022: devaluation to 18.5 on war-related pressures and IMF negotiations.
• October 2022: further devaluation to ~24.7 as reserves fell.
• January 2023: devaluation to ~32.
• March 2024: major devaluation to ~50 on expanded IMF EFF, with the parallel-market rate briefly touching 70+.

Black market versus official rate

During periods of Dollar scarcity, a parallel "black market" rate emerges in Egypt that can trade 5–20 EGP weaker than the official CBE rate. The gap typically closes after a devaluation realigns the official rate with the parallel market — as happened in March 2024, when the official rate moved from 31 to 50 to converge with the parallel rate. Use the live USD to EGP converter at the top of this page for the official mid-market rate, and be aware that actual cash transactions at Egyptian exchange houses may differ.

Best time to convert USD to EGP

Egyptian interbank trading runs from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM Cairo time, Sunday through Thursday. The CBE publishes a daily reference rate around 3:30 PM. For remittances from the Gulf, mid-week transfers (Tuesday and Wednesday) tend to offer better rates than weekend conversions. Set a rate alert; the Pound's 90-day range can exceed 5–10% during periods of IMF uncertainty.

EGP is highly sensitive to IMF and policy news. Always verify the live rate immediately before transacting.