Egypt announces new 38% tariff on imported mobile phones

Egypt has implemented a new 38.5% duty on imported mobile phones, effective January 1, 2025, Middle East Monitor reports.

The announcement was made by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly on Wednesday.

The new tax is reportedly meant to combat smuggling.

“Countries resort to such measures to regulate the market and encourage the growth of local industry,” Madbouly said at a press conference.

The local industry is largely driven by multinationals like Samsung, Oppo and Xiaomi who have manufacturing plants in Egypt. Their phones account for the majority of the market share in Egypt, according to Statista.

Foreigners arriving from abroad will be exempt from the new tax if their phone operates on non-Egyptian SIM cards. All others will have to register their phones, with payments due within three months.

A new app called “Telephony” has been launched to facilitate registration and compliance with the new law.