Frequently Asked Questions
Are there official per diem rates in Egypt?
Egypt does not publish a single nationwide per diem rate that applies to all private companies. Most organizations define their own daily allowances for business travel within their internal travel policies. However, government entities and large institutions may follow structured travel allowance guidelines that specify daily limits depending on the destination and the employee’s position.
What is a typical per diem allowance for business travel in Egypt?
Per diem allowances vary depending on the company’s travel policy and the destination of the trip. For domestic business travel within Egypt, allowances are usually designed to cover meals and incidental expenses. For international travel, companies often increase the allowance depending on the cost of living in the destination city. Trips to major business centers such as Dubai, London, or New York typically have higher per diem allowances than regional travel.
Are per diem allowances taxable in Egypt?
Egypt has a personal income tax system, but travel allowances paid for legitimate business trips are generally treated as business expenses rather than taxable income. Companies should still document per diem payments clearly in their travel policies and accounting records to ensure compliance with internal and tax reporting requirements.
What is a per diem or daily allowance?
A per diem (Latin for "per day") is a fixed daily amount a company pays employees to cover meals, accommodation, and incidentals while travelling for work. Using a per diem rather than reimbursing actual receipts reduces administrative overhead and gives employees spending certainty.
Can I use these rates for freelancers, contractors, or guests?
Yes. Many companies in the GCC engage contractors and consultants on short-term assignments. Per diem structures are commonly used in these arrangements, and this calculator works equally well for employment contracts and independent contractor agreements.
What's the difference between a per diem and a living allowance?
Per diem rates are designed for short-term business travel — typically trips under 30 days. For longer assignments, such as a six-month project in Riyadh or a multi-year regional posting in Abu Dhabi, companies typically switch to a cost-of-living allowance (COLA) or expatriate package instead. These are structured differently: they factor in housing, schooling, home leave flights, and hardship premiums, and are benchmarked against data from specialist mobility firms rather than daily travel rate surveys. If you're managing a longer posting, our calculator can still be useful for the initial mobilisation period and short business trips made during the assignment, but it shouldn't be used as the basis for a full expat compensation package.
