Cairo: Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty said that the issuance of a law regulating the status of foreign refugees represents a historic step in Egypt's efforts to strengthen its national legislative framework governing asylum issues.

According to State Information Service Egypt, Abdelatty described the law as the first comprehensive national legislation regulating the status of refugees and asylum seekers in Egypt in a manner consistent with the country's regional and international commitments.

The remarks came during the Minister's meeting on Thursday, June 25, 2026, with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Barham Salih to discuss ways of enhancing cooperation and exchange views on key refugee-related issues. The meeting was attended by Chairman of the Permanent Committee for Refugee Affairs Salah Abdel Sadeq.

Abdelatty stressed Egypt's commitment to coordinating and consulting with the UNHCR throughout the various stages of developing the law to ensure a smooth transition from the UN-led framework to a national system.

The Minister expressed appreciation for the ongoing cooperation with the UNHCR, praising its role as a partner of the Foreign Ministry in managing the joint migration and asylum platform aimed at supporting refugees' and migrants' access to healthcare and education services.

He also reviewed the substantial burdens borne by the Egyptian state as a result of hosting large numbers of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, who receive basic services on an equal footing with Egyptian citizens under a national policy based on non-discrimination and the absence of refugee camps.

Abdelatty noted that this policy places increasing economic pressures on the state, while stressing the importance of refugees regularizing their status in accordance with relevant national laws and regulations.