Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egypt has collected approximately 7.2 billion Egyptian pounds in fines from individuals who unlawfully used cars imported under exemptions intended for people with disabilities during the first 11 months of 2025, according to a government official who spoke on condition of anonymity. The figure brings the total amount of fines collected since mid-2024 to nearly 10 billion pounds, reflecting the scale of abuses uncovered in the system.
The latest collections follow 2.5 billion pounds in fines imposed between June and December 2024, a period that coincided with a government decision to suspend customs clearance and halt advance registration for vehicles designated for people with disabilities. The move was part of broader efforts to tighten oversight, close loopholes, and restore integrity to a system that had been widely exploited.
In response to the revelations, authorities formed specialized committees to conduct a comprehensive review of all vehicles released under disability exemptions over the past three years across Egypt’s governorates. These committees carried out field inspections, including visits to vehicle holders, to verify that the cars were being used by their rightful beneficiaries and not transferred to others in violation of the law.
The crackdown revealed widespread abuse. According to the government official, around 5,000 luxury vehicles intended for people with disabilities were seized in 2025 alone after inspections showed they were being driven by able-bodied individuals. Investigations confirmed that many of the original beneficiaries had sold the vehicles to third parties, contravening the terms of the customs exemption.
The seized vehicles include high-end, modern models with prices ranging between 2 million and 5 million Egyptian pounds. Officials said some individuals had exploited people with disabilities by paying them to obtain exemption documents, only to resell the cars later for substantial illegal profits at the expense of public funds.
Under the government’s enforcement measures, violators face fines of up to 62% of the vehicle’s total value. They are granted a repayment period of up to 12 months, but failure to pay results in the vehicle being classified as abandoned customs property and sold through public auction.
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly previously acknowledged the depth of the problem, stating at the height of the controversy that roughly 80% of cars imported under disability exemptions over the past two years were no longer in the possession of their original beneficiaries. He added that many beneficiaries were unaware of the type of car registered in their name, underscoring the systematic nature of the abuse. Madbouly stressed that the state would recover its rights from all those who benefited unlawfully.
The enforcement campaign also led to significant congestion at customs ports, with around 11,000 vehicles piling up following the suspension of clearances. The government later released approximately 8,000 vehicles legitimately designated for people with disabilities after reviewing their documentation, according to earlier official statements.
Seized vehicles are currently stored in public warehouses across Egypt’s 27 governorates, with formal customs reports filed in coordination with relevant authorities.
Balancing Enforcement and Facilitation
While tightening controls, the government has also sought to address complaints from people with disabilities regarding complex and burdensome procedures. In March 2025, a set of procedural facilitations was introduced to ease access for legitimate beneficiaries. These measures included scrapping the requirement for bank transfers and allowing applicants to demonstrate financial solvency through bank statements or proof of asset ownership, with the aim of speeding up customs clearance and reducing administrative hurdles.
Legal reforms have also been enacted to deter future violations. In August, the Cabinet approved amendments to the Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, extending the customs and value-added tax exemption for one vehicle to once every 15 years instead of every five. The amendments also prohibit the sale or transfer of the vehicle for five years, while allowing heirs to dispose of it after paying half of the applicable fees.
Penalties for fraud were significantly toughened, with punishments now reaching up to 10 years in prison and fines of 100,000 pounds for forging disability identification cards.
Officials say the combined approach stricter enforcement, legal reform, and procedural simplification is designed to protect the rights of people with disabilities while preventing the exploitation of state support mechanisms. As the government continues its review, the case has become one of the most prominent examples of efforts to curb misuse of public benefits and safeguard public funds amid broader economic pressures.
