The new headquarters of Egypt’s Parliament in the Administrative Capital
MP Maha Abdel Nasser, deputy head of the House of Representatives’ Communications and Information Technology Committee, said the committee has agreed to summon government representatives to a session on the first day parliament resumes to discuss the cancellation of the exemption. This comes amid growing questions and reactions among citizens, particularly Egyptians working abroad.
Speaking during a live broadcast on her Facebook page, Abdel Nasser said the session is expected to take place before the end of January. Discussions will focus on the reasons behind the decision, its implementation mechanisms, and whether it serves social justice and the interests of citizens.
“The committee is keen to fulfil its oversight and legislative role,” Abdel Nasser said, stressing the need for an open and transparent dialogue with the government to assess the economic and social impact of the decision and to consider alternatives that protect state interests without placing additional burdens on citizens.
She added that the committee will review the details of the exemption that had been in place, examine the reasons for ending it at this time, and hear from relevant authorities on how to regulate the market and prevent abuses without harming consumers.
The move adds to mounting parliamentary pressure after two MPs submitted formal questions following the government’s decision to end the exemption at noon on Wednesday. MP Mohamed Farid, representing the Coordination of Youth Parties and Politicians, questioned the effectiveness of the Telephony mobile phone governance system one year after its launch, warning that taxation should regulate markets and ensure fair competition rather than serve as an easy source of revenue.
In a separate parliamentary question, MP Abdel Moneim Ali Imam, head of the Justice Party, said the decision had angered Egyptians abroad and sent a negative message to expatriates despite their economic importance. He pointed to rising remittances and their role as a key source of foreign currency for the country.
The decision was announced on Tuesday in a joint statement by the Egyptian Customs Authority and the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority as part of a mobile phone governance framework introduced in January 2025 to regulate imported devices and curb smuggling.
While the exceptional exemption for Egyptian travellers has ended, a 90-day exemption remains in place for Egyptians living abroad and tourists.
Authorities say the policy has encouraged local manufacturing, with 15 international companies entering the Egyptian market and a combined annual production capacity of around 20 million devices, exceeding domestic demand. The government says fees can be paid digitally through the Telephony application, with a 90-day grace period before any regulatory action, and that charges will not be applied retroactively.
Online debate has continued since the announcement, with expatriates questioning the timing and implementation of the decision, while supporters argue that stricter rules are needed to curb smuggling and protect the domestic market.
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