Switzerland was already the second industrialized country in Europe since mid 19th century. Egyptian Swiss Egyptians lived in a much more competitive environment where they had to excel to be distinguished. Many were up to the challenge becoming stars in their new community; they are well integrated in the larger Swiss family while proudly maintaining their own identity.

 

Educational missions were sent by Mohamed Ali to Europe since 1813, mainly to Italy, France, England and Austria; the records show Egyptian students joining the ETH of Zürich as back as 1870, many Egyptian students of Royal and wealthy families were enrolled in Swiss private schools even much earlier than that; their families often visited them in summer holidays becoming the first Egyptian tourists to Switzerland.

To encourage families to send there sons to study in Europe, the Egyptian Ministry of Public Education established Education Mission offices since early twentieth century to assist Egyptian students joining European schools and Universities. The offices would offer their services usually free of charge to guide and assist young Egyptian students during the course of their studies. Parents would cover all tuition, boarding and other financial costs. With increasing number of students joining Swiss educational institutions, such an office was inaugurated in Geneva 1916. This period witnessed dozens of young Egyptian students going to Switzerland forming a much larger Egyptian community.

 

The apponitment of Prof. Dr. Louis Potterat as the Dean of the Royal School of Engineering in Cairo (today Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University), followed by Prof. Dr. Charles Andreae from 1925 till 1937, also witnessed increase in number of Egyptian students joining the ETH in particular and other Universities in Switzerland in general, a trend which continued for decades until mid 1970s. Many such students remained (or came back to Switzerland) responding to better career opportunities whether academic offers or other opportunities; gradually they formed a community of Egyptian Swiss professionals which grew steadily since the mid 1950s.

 

The early 1970s witnessed the development of another trend of Egyptian Swiss. The military service for university graduates in Egypt is originally for a period of one year, this was extended after the June 1967 war and by the early 70s there seemed to be no apparent visible change in the near future, consequently many students chose to leave Egypt one year before graduation and settle in Europe. Switzerland was one of the target destinations; some succeeded in completing their studies and pursuing a professional career thus creating the second wave of Swiss Egyptians.

 

Finally, the third category represents the flow of Egyptian immigrants of all categories which began as of the 1990s in pursuit ofbetter opportunities. They were had various targets, some came for studying others for temporary jobs until legalizing their status permanently as new Egyptian Swiss.

 

The Egyptian Swiss are now estimated at about 8,000 (unofficially) of which about 5,000 living in the German speaking parts of the country and 3,000 in French speaking parts.