Trading from Egypt: what is different
The Egyptian pound has been devalued several times since it was first floated in 2016, most recently in March 2024. For Egyptian traders that history is the reason many keep savings in dollars or gold; a USD account sits outside pound volatility, but the value of it in pounds will still move with the exchange rate.
Egypt brought back daylight saving time in 2023, running on UTC+3 from late April to late October. Because the change roughly matches Europe's, the London session opens at about 10:00 Cairo time all year and the busy London–New York overlap runs from about 15:00 to 19:00.
With a Friday–Saturday weekend, Friday is a trading day for you and Sunday is not.
Forex market hours in Egypt
The forex market is open 24 hours a day from Monday to Friday, passing from Asia to Europe to North America. These are the main sessions converted to local time in Egypt.
| Session | Local time, Nov–Mar | Local time, Apr–Oct |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo session | 02:00–11:00 | 03:00–12:00 |
| London session | 10:00–19:00 | 10:00–19:00 |
| New York session | 15:00–00:00 | 15:00–00:00 |
| London–New York overlap | 15:00–19:00 | 15:00–19:00 |
| Weekly open | Monday 00:00 | Monday 00:00 |
| Weekly close | Saturday 00:00 | Saturday 00:00 |
The busiest hours for the major pairs and gold are usually the London–New York overlap. Spreads tend to be widest around the daily rollover and in the first hour after the weekly open.
Markets to watch from Egypt
- XAU/USD (gold) — a traditional hedge against the pound in Egypt.
- EUR/USD and GBP/USD — from 10:00 Cairo time.
- Brent crude — Egypt is home to the Suez Canal, through which a large share of oil trade passes.
- US indices — from the US stock-market open at 16:30 Cairo time.
Accounts and funding
| Account | Minimum deposit | EUR/USD spread | Commission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $100 | From 1.0 pips | None |
| Pro | $1,000 | From 0.6 pips | None |
| Raw ECN | $5,000 | From 0.0 pips | $7 per lot |
Accounts are held in US dollars and funded in USDT on BNB Smart Chain (BEP20) or Tron (TRC20). There is no Egyptian pound conversion inside your account; any conversion happens wherever you buy or sell USDT. Identity verification is completed once, before your first withdrawal.
Regulation and your responsibility
AlphaFX Pro is an international broker and is not licensed by the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA). Our registration in St. Vincent and the Grenadines is in progress. We do not provide investment advice or a local office in Egypt.
Before opening an account, make sure the law in Egypt allows you to trade CFDs with a broker based outside the country, and check any rules on moving money abroad. If you are not sure, ask us before you deposit.
Frequently asked questions
Can I trade the Egyptian pound?
No EGP pairs are offered. Accounts are held in US dollars and funded in USDT.
When is the best time to trade forex in Egypt?
The London–New York overlap, roughly 15:00 to 19:00 Cairo time, is when the main pairs and gold are most liquid.
What is the minimum deposit from Egypt?
The Standard account opens from $100, funded in USDT. Pro starts at $1,000 and Raw ECN at $5,000.
Risk warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. This page is general information, not investment advice. Read the Risk Disclosure.