Software Development Company in Egypt: Outsourcing to Cairo, or Building for the Egyptian Market

People search for a software development company in Egypt for two different reasons. Some are companies in the Gulf, Europe or North America looking to outsource to Egypt for better value without losing quality. Others are Egyptian businesses that need an app or system for customers in Cairo, Alexandria or the rest of the country. The needs overlap, but the questions are different, so this page answers each group separately.

We're Q Studio, a web and mobile studio based in Giza. We build apps, web apps, MVPs and business websites in English and Arabic, and our work is live in Egypt, the Gulf and the UK.

Part 1: Outsourcing software development to Egypt

Why companies outsource to Egypt

• Time zone. Cairo is two hours ahead of London and an hour ahead of most of continental Europe, one to two hours behind the UAE, and level with or an hour behind Riyadh depending on the season. A full working day overlaps with the Gulf and Europe, and mornings overlap with the Americas.
• Arabic and English in one team. If your product serves Arabic-speaking users, an Egyptian team can build the Arabic version natively instead of sending it to a translator. See our Arabic app development page.
• Cost. Rates are lower than in Western Europe, North America or the Gulf. The saving comes from living costs, not from cutting corners, so judge any team by shipped work, not by price alone.

What to protect when you outsource

Outsourcing goes wrong in predictable ways: unclear scope, money paid before anything works, and code or accounts held by the developer. Each has a simple fix.

Our longer guide on outsourcing software development to Egypt covers contracts, payments and communication in more depth. If you're in the UK, US, Australia or Canada, our offshore app development page is written for you.

What we build for foreign clients

Startup MVPs, SaaS dashboards, two-sided mobile apps, and company websites. One live example is the website we built for Strathclyde International College in the UK, with programmes, certificate verification and enquiries. For startups, see MVP development.

Part 2: Building software for the Egyptian market

If your customers are in Egypt, the technical work is the same, but the market is very different from the Gulf.

Payments: design for cash, wallets and Meeza

Cash still matters in Egyptian e-commerce. Cash on delivery remains one of the most common ways to pay, and Fawry's cash payment network is used widely. At the same time digital payment is growing fast:

• Meeza, the national card scheme, is now the largest card scheme in Egypt by number of cards.
• InstaPay, on the Central Bank of Egypt's instant payment network, lets people pay from bank accounts, wallets and Meeza cards using a phone number or address.
• Mobile wallets run by telecom operators and banks are common, especially for people without credit cards.

A good Egyptian checkout offers cards, wallets and cash on delivery or a Fawry reference, usually through a local gateway such as Paymob or Fawry. The account is opened by your business. We integrate it and set up the order flow so cash and online orders are tracked in the same admin panel.

The personal data law now has teeth

Egypt's Personal Data Protection Law (Law No. 151 of 2020) waited years for its executive regulations. They were issued as Ministerial Decree No. 816 of 2025 on 1 November 2025, with a one-year grace period that ends around the start of November 2026. The regulations cover consent, privacy notices, breach notification, cross-border transfers, children's data and licensing of data controllers and processors by the Personal Data Protection Center.

For an app that collects customer data, plan for a clear Arabic privacy notice, consent, records of what you process and where, and a check with a lawyer on whether your business needs a license from the center. We build the product features; the licensing assessment is legal work.

Licensed activities

Some app categories need a government license before they operate. Ride-hailing is the clearest example: Law No. 87 of 2018 requires platforms that offer passenger transport through technology to be licensed by the Ministry of Transport. Read our ride-hailing app development page before building in this space.

Proof in Egypt

• DriveX: an Egyptian ride-hailing and delivery platform with rider and captain apps live on the App Store and Google Play. It covers live trip tracking, cars, tuk-tuks and trucks, instant and heavy shipping, cash or wallet payments, and driver earnings.
• Best Service El Gouna: a concierge and property-care site with a mobile request form.

Prices

We price in US dollars. Egyptian clients can see approximate amounts in pounds below (at about EGP 50 per dollar).

The final price depends on scope and is fixed in writing before any payment. If the budget is tight, we start with the core features, launch, then grow.

When we fit, and when we don't

We're a good fit for founders and companies, in Egypt or abroad, who want a product shipped in weeks with a direct line to the developers, a fixed price and full ownership. Two-sided apps (rider and driver, student and tutor, customer and provider) are our strongest area.

We're not the right fit if:

• You want to hire a dedicated in-house team under your own management for years. A staffing or employer-of-record arrangement suits that better.
• You need an on-site team in your office, in Egypt or abroad.
• You need a large enterprise system with dozens of integrations and a long tender process. A larger firm with a bigger team is a safer bet.
• The work isn't Sharia-compliant, such as betting, crypto or forex trading, or interest-based lending.

FAQ

How do I pay a software company in Egypt from abroad?

We quote in US dollars, and the available payment methods are shared with the written quote. Projects over $500 are paid in milestones after you see each stage working, so you never pay far ahead of delivered work.

Is my intellectual property safe if I outsource to Egypt?

Protect it the same way you would anywhere: an NDA, a written agreement that assigns the code to you, and accounts and repositories in your own name from the start. With those in place, you own everything whatever happens to the relationship.

Do you work in Egyptian Arabic or Modern Standard Arabic?

Both. Interfaces are usually in clear Modern Standard Arabic, while marketing copy and app messages can use Egyptian dialect if that suits your audience better. We discuss tone with you at the start.

Can we meet in person in Cairo?

We work remotely, but if you're nearby and prefer to meet, ask us on WhatsApp.

Does my app need a license under the data protection law?

It depends on what data you process, how much, and your sector. The executive regulations set out licensing and registration for controllers and processors. Ask a lawyer to assess your case; we'll document what data the app collects and where it's stored to make that easy.

How do I get a quote?

Send a short description on WhatsApp or use the project planner. You'll get a written scope, timeline and fixed price within 24 hours, free and without obligation.