The Egypt book services market was valued at USD 213.6 million in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 2.6% from 2025 to 2030. Increasing consumer spending on books, supported by higher incomes and innovations for enhancing the overall reading experience, are the factors expected to boost the market growth over the forecast period. The country's impressive student enrollment rates across all educational levels and its well-established pre-university system have solidified its position as a key player in the book services industry. Furthermore, local governments actively promote and enhance their education systems through various initiatives. Beyond academic texts, the rising demand for self-help books and novels is further driving the growth of Egypt's book services market. However, the industry currently faces challenges such as inflation, strict censorship, and counterfeiting, which are hindering its full potential.
Egypt is home to over 25 million students and possesses the largest pre-university education system in the MENA region. The country's constitution mandates compulsory and free basic education, and the government allocates over 4% of its GDP to education. This substantial investment consistently fuels the demand for academic books and related services. Furthermore, initiatives such as STEM Teacher Education, Literate Village, Workforce Egypt, and Teacher Excellence Initiative are driving demand for books among both young learners and professionals seeking career advancement.
Given the market's potential, numerous book publishing and distribution companies have entered Egypt's book services industry. However, these providers face significant challenges, including high inflation, counterfeiting, and competition from digital formats. To mitigate these challenges, publishers are implementing strategies such as reducing content and page count to lower costs. Additionally, they are offering flexible payment options, such as installment plans with low interest rates, to make expensive books more accessible. Initiatives like those offered by the Egyptian Publishers Association, which allows customers to purchase books in nine monthly installments at a 1.5% interest rate, are helping the local book services industry to counterbalance the impact of high costs and inflation.
Egypt hosts one of the largest book fairs in the Middle East and North Africa region. The 54th edition of the Cairo International Book Fair, inaugurated in January 2023, attracted over two million visitors. More than 1,000 publishers from 53 countries participated in the event. To mitigate the impact of high costs, many stalls offered significant discounts. As numerous publishers consider the country a major market, the book market is projected to experience sustained growth in the coming years.
The academics segment dominated the Egypt book services market based on genre, with a revenue share of 27.3% in 2024. Egypt's well-established educational infrastructure and its position as a key regional hub for pre-university education have propelled the academic books segment to market dominance. However, publishers and students are currently grappling with the challenges of high book prices and inflation. According to the Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI), the prices of learning guides surged by approximately 35-40% in 2023, with subjects like mathematics and Arabic language experiencing the most significant price hikes. In response to these challenges, parents and publishing houses are exploring various solutions, such as utilizing pre-owned books and leveraging book banks and libraries. These strategies are anticipated to moderate the growth of the book services industry.
The fiction segment is expected to experience the fastest CAGR from 2025 to 2030. While readers generally prefer Arabic literature, there is a growing demand for translated works. Additionally, graphic novels and comic books have gained significant popularity among young readers. Furthermore, a new generation of novelists is emerging, inspired by the rich literary heritage of Nobel laureates Naguib Mahfouz and Ahdaf Soueif.
The English segment held the largest revenue share of the book services market in 2024. The increasing demand for English-language proficiency, essential for success in major Western countries, is driving the demand for English-language books in the country. The nation also hosts numerous English book launches and international book fairs, fostering a culture of English-language reading among younger generations. Additionally, the availability of university courses in English is consistently driving the demand for English-language academic books.
The Arabic segment is expected to experience the fastest market growth during the forecast period. The Arabic language category encompasses both original works written in Arabic and translated literature. As Arabic is the official language of Egypt and the first language for over 106 million residents, numerous publishing houses and book services offer books written and translated in Arabic. Translated literature, particularly popular among young Egyptians, is experiencing significant growth.
Some of the key companies operating in the Egypt book services market are Diwan, AUC Bookstores, Aboudi Bookstore, Roya Book Store, Adam Bookshop, Cherry Blossom Bookstore, BookBuz, Berkelouw Books, Neelwafurat, and Jamalon. Books in various languages are in demand in the country owing to the increasing number of expats. Kids, by large, are offered the most revised forms to encourage reading books. For instance, in February 2021, The National Center for Child Culture issued the book ‘The Lazy Bee,’ a collection of stories presenting important educational values for children.
American University in Cairo Press (AUC Press) is a recognized English-language, American-accredited institution of higher education. The press is the center of social, intellectual, and cultural life within Arabian countries. It was founded in 1919 and is fully accredited in Egypt and the U.S.
International Language Bookshop was founded in 1975 and is one of the largest bookstore chains in Cairo, Giza, and Alexandria. The bookstore is the country's oldest book distributor and the largest importer of English-language books and educational resources in Egypt.
In November 2024, AUC press announced that a novel published by the house named A Stranger in Baghdad by Elizabeth Loudon received a prestigious award from the International Fiction Book Award at the Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF).
In 2021, Diwan, a leading bookstore chain in Egypt, launched its own publishing house in Cairo. The group has 12 bookstores across the city, a newly opened publishing house, and their signature café and lifestyle boutique.
Report Attribute |
Details |
Market size value in 2025 |
USD 217.9 million |
Revenue forecast in 2030 |
USD 248.3 million |
Growth Rate |
CAGR of 2.6% from 2025 to 2030 |
Base year for estimation |
2024 |
Historical data |
2018 - 2023 |
Forecast period |
2025 - 2030 |
Quantitative units |
Revenue in USD million and CAGR from 2025 to 2030 |
Report coverage |
Revenue forecast, company ranking, competitive landscape, growth factors, and trends |
Segments covered |
Genre, language |
Key companies profiled |
The Anglo Egyptian Bookshop, Diwan, AUC Press, Aboudi Bookstore, Adam Bookshop, Bookbuz, Berkelouw Books, Jamalon, International Language Bookshop, Al Kotob Khan, Ekra, and Nile Wafrat.com |
Customization scope |
Free report customization (equivalent up to 8 analysts working days) with purchase. Addition or alteration to segment scope. |
Pricing and purchase options |
Avail customized purchase options to meet your exact research needs. Explore purchase options |
This report forecasts revenue growth at country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2018 to 2030. For this study, grand view research has segmented the Egypt book services market report based on genre and language.
Genre Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)
Academics
Fiction
Science
History
Biography
Articles
Religion
Utility Books
Others
Language Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2018 - 2030)
Arabic
English
Foreign (German, Spanish, French)
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