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Cairo at a Glance

Working in Cairo

Working in Cairo in an office with a view!

Egypt’s economy has been on the rise for many years. The economic reforms undertaken between 2004 and 2008, with their more market-oriented approach, have attracted many foreign investors. Annual growth rates that rarely fall below 5%, membership in the G20 and among the Next 11 nations give a good idea of Egypt’s economic potential.

Working in Cairo: The Egyptian Economy

Although only 4% of the country’s total area is arable, Egypt is fairly agriculturally oriented. About a third of the workforce is employed in the first sector, and the regular floods on the banks of the Nile provide them with plenty of work: Multiple annual crops are the norm.

As Africa’s second-most industrialized country, Egypt is home to various industries such as automobile and textile production, chemicals, and steel. A third of the nation’s industry is located in or around Cairo. Control of the Suez Canal is another important source of revenue for the nation. In terms of natural resources, Egypt profits greatly from its oil supplies.

Egypt is also a widely popular tourist destination. The country boasts warm weather during most of the year and is a goldmine for history enthusiasts. After all, the only remaining Wonder of the Ancient World is located right outside Cairo.

Working in Cairo: Egypt’s Business Hub

Cairo is the undisputed center of Egypt in almost every respect. Almost a quarter of the country’s population is currently living and working in Cairo and its metropolitan area. For many international corporations, working in Cairo is the most feasible option when trying to establish a presence in the Middle East.

Many of the city’s inhabitants have found employment working in Cairo’s public sector. This includes the government, the military, and the city administration. For a large number of people, working in Cairo’s administrative machine is synonymous with the Mugamma, the somewhat infamous, Soviet-built office complex.

With nearly all of the nation’s movie studios and major newspapers located in the city, working in Cairo is an important step in the careers of many Egyptian media creatives.  Egyptian movies are enjoyed throughout the Arab world, and working in Cairo has often been the first step on the road to stardom for an aspiring actor.

Moreover, Cairo’s construction business is an almost crisis-proof trade. As working in Cairo has undergone a sudden increase in popularity since the 1990s, the city administration had problems keeping up with the rapid pace of construction. Some estimate that one in five buildings in the city is less than 15 years old. Thus there is a steady demand for people working in Cairo’s construction sector and on the building sites of many new projects.

Of course, tourism is vital to the city as well. The many employees working in Cairo’s hotels and cafés profit greatly from the proximity to the world-famous pyramids. But the city holds many sights of its own, and working in Cairo’s streets as a tourist guide or souvenir vendor is popular among the locals.

Working in Cairo: Opportunities for Expats

Currently, an estimated 40.000 expats are working in Cairo. Due to its regional and international importance, employees working in Cairo-based branches of multi-national corporations play an important role. Oil companies and communications providers in particular offer many jobs which require their holder to be working in Cairo. Other expat-heavy branches of industry include construction, technology, the chemical industry and renewable energies.

Quite a few Western-educated doctors are now working in Cairo’s international hospitals. Many other expats make a living by working in Cairo’s immense tourism sector, often in executive or management positions. Teaching has also been a popular option for many expats, and with the large selection of international schools in the city, opportunities are manifold.