The Egyptian national instant payment network, Instapay, has achieved significant growth, with 22 million registered clients and nearly 1.47 billion transactions recorded by the end of June 2026. The total value of these transactions amounts to approximately 4,330 billion Egyptian pounds. This information was announced by Hassan Abdallah, Governor of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), in a statement released on October 1, 2026.
The growth of Instapay was highlighted during the 50th annual meeting of the Council of Arab Central Banks and Monetary Institutions, held in Abu Dhabi. The meeting was attended by representatives from the World Bank and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), as well as several financial policymakers and experts from the region and beyond. Abdallah emphasized the need to adapt instant payment programs to each country's needs and priorities.
Abdallah identified three key areas of focus for the next stage of Instapay's development: enhancing the inclusivity of instant payment services, expanding use cases, and promoting regional integration and cross-border payments. He stressed the importance of preserving the independence and credibility of central banks while strengthening coordination between fiscal and monetary policies.
The CBE governor also participated in a workshop on macroeconomic resilience in the face of geopolitical disruptions, where he highlighted the importance of coordination between fiscal and monetary policies. Abdallah noted that this coordination must be effective and work in both directions, with both policies reinforcing each other.
In addition to the meeting of Arab central banks, Abdallah was invited to participate in the Middle East and North Africa Financial Health Summit, organized by the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates in cooperation with the World Bank and other international organizations. He also attended celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the Arab Monetary Fund.
The rapid transformation towards digital payments in the Arab region was discussed during the meetings, with several countries launching their own instant payment systems, including Instapay in Egypt, Sarie in Saudi Arabia, and Aani in the United Arab Emirates. Abdallah emphasized the importance of inclusive instant payment programs, which are seeing rapid growth in Arab countries.
The Central Bank of Egypt is working to develop the financial sector, with a focus on enhancing financial inclusion and promoting digital payments. The growth of Instapay is a key part of this effort, with the network providing a convenient and secure way for Egyptians to make transactions.
Key points
- 22 million clients are registered on Instapay.
- 1.47 billion transactions were recorded on Instapay by the end of June 2026.
- The total value of transactions on Instapay amounts to approximately 4,330 billion Egyptian pounds.
