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Cairo, 22 September:
Visa’s Retail Spend Monitor shows total summer spending on Visa premium consumer cards in Egypt rose 44% year-on-year. Moreover, premium cardholders drove much of the growth. In addition, digital payments and higher-value transactions increased sharply. Therefore, the summer of 2025 marked a clear shift in consumer behaviour.
«International Travel»: shifting consumer planning and behaviour
• Planning shifted: 9% of travellers planned trips 3+ months ahead, 13% planned within 1–3 months, and 78% booked within one month.
• Dining and leisure spending rose 57%.
• Meanwhile, digital spend by premium cardholders climbed 85%, and they accounted for 46% of total summer spend. Consequently, merchants and issuers saw stronger digital-first patterns.
«International Travel»: short escapes vs longer getaways
Longer getaways captured 66% of travel spend. Conversely, short European trips grew strongly. For example, short-trip spending to France, Germany, the UK and Greece rose 54%. Thus, longer stays drove average ticket sizes, while short escapes increased in frequency.
«International Travel» outbound and inbound dynamics
Outbound spend grew 28%, led by the UAE, France, Spain, the USA and Italy. In addition, premium Visa cardholders increased their outbound spend by 28% and now represent nearly 81% of total summer travel spend. Meanwhile, inbound premium spend from the Middle East (UAE, Kuwait, Jordan) rose 35%. In contrast, inbound spend from Europe surged 139%, driven by France, Italy and the Netherlands.
Digital and eCommerce payments continue to expand
Digital payments among premium Visa cardholders rose 85%. Furthermore, eCommerce spending within this segment increased 55%. As a result, Egyptians show a growing preference for alternative and digital payment methods. Likewise, dining, leisure and digital commerce all benefited from this trend.
What this means for merchants and policymakers
First, merchants should prioritise seamless digital checkout and premium offers. Second, travel and hospitality players must tailor packages for longer stays and high-value travellers. Finally, regulators and banks can use these insights to support secure digital payments and targeted promotions.
Methodology and quotes
Visa’s Retail Spend Monitor (VCA) covered retail, travel and experience activity between 1 July and 15 August 2025. It combines VisaNet transaction data with survey-based estimates for other payment types. Malak El Baba, Vice President and Country Manager for Visa Egypt, said the trends reflect a “digital-first” shift. In addition, Nicolas Khoury, SVP Head of VCA CEMEA, highlighted how these insights help clients respond faster to demand shifts.
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