The Algerian economy is an example of a high level of rentierism, while the Egyptian economy shows a low/moderate level of rentierism. The ARDL bounds test approach was used upon annual time series data from 1965 to 2010. The results suggest cointegration for both countries. Bi-causality between energy consumption and growth in the long run was found. For Algeria there is a reversed (negative) energy-growth nexus, adding a new relationship to the traditional four causal hypotheses on the energy-growth nexus. For Egypt, we found positive elasticity both of oil price and energy, which is in line with the mainstream. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. fill rights reserved.