Egypt vs. India: Comparing Dedicated Development Teams

Egypt and India are two of the go-to destinations when it comes to outsourcing dedicated development teams. The countries are very similar you can get quality talent at affordable rates. This article explores each country’s strengths and how they excel in different situations. The comparisons used below include skills, communication, culture, time zones, cost, and government support.
Skills
India is home to one of the largest workforces in the world. The country has professionals who are experienced in software development, data science, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. The country has a diverse talent pool, and the developers can cater to all types of projects. India. There are over 4.5 million professionals who work in the IT and business processing outsourcing sectors. With such a large talent pool, you will find developers in almost every category.
Egypt has a smaller talent pool, but it is growing rapidly. The country has over 200,000 professionals in the tech sector. Professionals in the country have been working with clients abroad for decades, and it is one of the most prominent outsourcing locations for Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Egypt specializes in software development, fintech solutions, and UI/UX design. The Egyptian dedicated development teams cater to clients worldwide and have the talent necessary to take up any business project.
Communication and Culture
Communication is one of the biggest barriers when outsourcing talent from abroad. An estimated 135 million people speak English in India, which makes it easy for businesses to communicate. More importantly, development companies in the country have worked with clients from the United States and Europe for years. Communication is not a problem when working with dedicated development teams in India.
Egypt has a large English-speaking population due to its prominent outsourcing culture. An Estimated 40% of the 44.4 million people in the country speak the language. Professional outsourcing companies in Egypt use English, which makes it possible for them to work with companies from the United States and Europe. In terms of culture, Africa is closer to Western countries due to its geographical location.
Time Zones
India uses the Indian Standard Time (UTC + 5:30) time zone. This means that dedicated teams have the following overlaps: 6-8 hours with the countries in the Middle East, 4-6 hours with the European countries, 1-2 hours (PST), or 3-4 hours (EST) with the USA.
In comparison, Egypt uses Eastern European Time (EET). This means that dedicated teams have the following overlaps: 5-7 hours with the countries in the Middle East, 5 hours with the European countries, and 1-2 hours (EST) with the USA.
Many Indian and Egyptian companies communicate with clients 24/7. The right outsourcing country between the two depends on your location. You can consider choosing the company that is more convenient for your business.
Cost
There is no noticeable difference when comparing hourly rates for developers between India and Egypt. Both countries have a very competitive outsourcing market, which keeps the hiring costs relatively low compared to other countries. For example, the monthly salary of the middle developer in India and Egypt is around $500-1000, says Juliya Shmatok, as head of recruitment at Chudovo. These are just the average numbers, and the cost depends on the tech stack, the developer’s seniority level, and experience. Both countries have free trade agreements with Europe and the United States, which makes working with either country simple and efficient.
Government Support
India has an advanced IT infrastructure. Part of its recent success is due to the Digital India initiative launched in 2015. The country’s government launched the program to boost the digital economy, and it helped the country reach over $250 billion in revenue in the financial year 2023-24. Experts estimate that the Indian digital economy could cross over $1 trillion in 2025.
Egypt has a government strategy in the form of ICT 2023. The program wants to push digitization and smart cities across he country. Some of the biggest players in the IT industry, like Microsoft, Valeo, and IBM, have offices in the country and support the local workforce. Egypt is one of the top outsourcing countries in North Africa the government actively supports its growth.
How To Choose Between Indian and Egyptian Developers
Choosing between hiring software developers in Egypt or India is difficult, as each of them has unique advantages. India has built a reputation as one of the go-to outsourcing destinations for global clients. It has years of experience working with Fortune 500 companies, and you will find developers in nearly every niche. You should choose Indian developers if you are looking for enterprise apps and complex technical projects. Many outsourcing companies in the country have experience working with data-sensitive sectors like fintech, healthcare, and insurance.
Egypt is a preferred destination for Europe and the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) regions. Companies in Egypt have experience working in sectors like e-commerce, education, and digital media. Frontend development is one of Egypt’s strong suits. Egypt has an edge when dealing with businesses in the Middle East, as English and Arabic are two prevalent languages in the region. It has also built a reputation for its work in fintech and UI/UX.
If you have to choose between one of the two countries for outsourcing, you should evaluate based on the set factors like location and time zone overlap, tech stack, availability of the software developers within the desired stack, your budget, and other aspects. Always check portfolios and evaluate an offshore team’s capabilities to see if it fits your business needs.
Conclusion
India and Egypt have talented developers who can deliver results no matter what type of business you run. However, each country has some notable advantages. Many European businesses prefer outsourcing to Egypt due to the compatible time zones. Meanwhile, India has the edge when it comes to offering enterprise-grade apps at affordable prices. Both countries are very similar when it comes to delivering quality work, and you cannot go wrong with either of them.
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