Egyptians forced to skip Ramadan staples as prices skyrocket

Commodity price hikes are dwarfing the financial reach of most Egyptians as they observe fasting in the Islamic month of Ramadan, which began today in this predominantly Muslim nation.

The ninth month in the Islamic lunar calendar, Ramadan, is always different in Egypt. From colourfully ornamented streets to buildings with façades illuminated with different types of light, Egyptian streets glow throughout this month.

The towering minarets of Cairo, known as "the City of a Thousand Minarets", trill melodiously as they recite verses from the Quran, while people rub shoulders in the markets and race home to break their fast as the sun prepares to set.

Despite this joyous atmosphere, commodity price hikes are leaving a bitter taste in most people's mouths, forcing the majority of Egyptians to forgo items they once considered essential.

"I have to reorder my priorities because of the unbelievably high prices in the market," Alaa Mahmud, a 38-year-old civil servant from the Egyptian capital Cairo and a father of two, said.

Mahmud receives a salary of 6,000 Egyptian pounds (roughly $128), an amount that is hardly enough to put food on his family's table.

He said he has to waive most of what he described as "non-essential needs" to keep afloat until the end of the month.

"I do not want to borrow money from anybody," Mahmud said. "This is why I focus on the essentials only," he told The New Arab.

Sharp rise

Although it is primarily a month of fasting, in Egypt, Ramadan is largely about food.

This is the reason why the rise in food prices is what hurts people the most in this country, especially the tens of millions of poor Egyptians and those with limited income.

The inflation rate has been steadily declining for several months, reaching 11.2% in January from 11.8% in December 2025, according to the Egyptian government.

Nevertheless, in a country where almost a third of the population is officially designated as poor, this decline in the inflation rate may take a long time to be felt, economists say.

The drop in inflation seems to have nothing to do with actual market prices, particularly those of food and the basic necessities of Egyptians, the same economists add.

Food prices, already high before Ramadan because of the perpetually declining value of the Egyptian pound against foreign currencies and Egypt's heavy reliance on imports, surged sharply even before this Islamic month began.

Apart from traditional food items, this surge is clearly seen in the prices of dried nuts and fruits, basic Ramadan staples that are becoming out of reach for most Egyptians.

The prices of dried nuts and fruits increased this year by 20-35%, compared to last year, according to the Spices and Herbs Committee in the Cairo Chamber of Commerce.

"The prices of most dried nuts and fruits increased remarkably this year, even as the prices of some items remained the same," Deputy Head of the section, Magdi Tawfiq, said.

Speaking to TNA, he attributed the price rise to heavy reliance on imports and disruptions to supply chains due to geopolitical developments worldwide.

"Sorry to say, these rising prices are scaring customers away and bringing in recession everywhere," Tawfiq said.

He estimated the drop in sales this year to around 30% compared to previous years.

Across Egypt's streets, dried nuts and fruit sellers parade their bright-coloured wares outside their shops.

On most occasions, customers only watch but do not dare to order any of the delicious goods neatly placed inside their sacks or boxes, gathering dust, after looking at the price tickets sitting menacingly on them.

Mahmud, the 38-year-old civil servant, has not bought dried nuts or fruits this year, maintaining a tradition he started a few years ago because of the rise in the prices of these goods.

These items, he said, are being added to a growing list of needs that he categorises as "luxury".

"We stick to the basics only," he said. "It is even becoming challenging to buy these basics, with this continual rise in prices."

Tawfiq, the deputy head of the Spices and Herbs Committee in the Cairo Chamber of Commerce, said most young Egyptians have grown accustomed to the absence of dried nuts and fruits from the family table due to their unaffordable prices.

"This, too," he said, "contributes to the drop in sales."

Changing habits

Commodity price hikes are radically changing the nature of social relations and interactions across this country, especially among those with limited or no financial means.

In the good old days, Ramadan was about family get-togethers, occasions where family members and friends sat together for breakfast and shared meals.

These family reunions rarely happen now, as most people find it hard to accommodate the needs of their small families.

People involved in charity activities during Ramadan also point to the impact of price hikes on these activities, especially on the country's most famous form of handouts: charity banquets.

These are free breakfast tables spread out in some parts of the country by the wealthy and the financially capable.

These banquets offer the poor respite from the harrowing movement of food prices, standing over the centuries as a symbol of solidarity and communion between the rich and the poor.

Some of the sponsors of the banquets are still able to organise them, even with repeated increases in food prices.

However, others are becoming less able to do this, either cancelling the banquets altogether or being obliged to partner with more people to cater for the banquets' needs throughout the month.

Livestock dealer Bahaa Hussein used to host banquets for people on low incomes in his neighbourhood in Giza province, part of the Greater Cairo region, for many years.

This year, he is unable to maintain this generous tradition.

"I need this year almost double the amount of money I needed last year to organise the banquet," Hussein told TNA. "This is, of course, a big loss for the people who used to come to me for breakfast, but there is nothing I can do about it."