Country Desks — Gulf / MENA
Egypt
A civil-law jurisdiction rooted in the French Napoleonic code, with Sharia influence in family law — a system that has served as a model for many MENA legal frameworks. Mermeroglu Legal advises on market entry, investment structuring, foreign trade and dispute resolution in Egypt, working in coordination with our local partner office in Cairo across investment, construction and energy projects.
Legal System
Civil-law based (inspired by the French Napoleonic code), with Sharia influence in family law. Egyptian law has been a model for many MENA legal systems.
Principal Arbitration Centre
CRCICA — the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration, established 1979, the leading institution in Africa and MENA. The Egyptian Arbitration Law is largely based on the UNCITRAL Model Law.
Institutional Structure
A single-window system operated through GAFI (the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones).
Partner Office
Served together with our Cairo partner office across investment, construction and energy projects.
Country Desk Brief
Legal System, Investment, Trade & Regulation
Egypt's investment regime operates principally under the Investment Law (Law No. 72 of 2017), the Companies Law (Law No. 159 of 1981) and the Capital Markets Law (Law No. 95 of 1992). Investment may be made under one of several regimes — domestic investment, investment zones, technology zones or free zones.
The single-window system run through GAFI (the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones) simplifies registration and reduces administrative delay, supporting Egypt's drive to attract foreign capital across infrastructure, energy and industry.
At a Glance — 2024
Investment & Trade Indicators
Establishment
How to Form a Company
The investment regime operates principally under the Investment Law (Law No. 72 of 2017), the Companies Law (Law No. 159 of 1981) and the Capital Markets Law (Law No. 95 of 1992). Investment can be made under the domestic-investment, investment-zone, technology-zone or free-zone regimes.
Foreign ownership: Law No. 72 of 2017 guarantees equal treatment for domestic and foreign investors and permits 100% foreign ownership outside certain sectors, with protections against expropriation and discrimination.
Single window: GAFI simplifies the registration process and reduces administrative delays.
Typical FDI forms
Investment Climate
Investment Models & Where Capital is Flowing
Egypt attracted approximately USD 46-47 billion in FDI in 2024 — a more than 370% increase from around USD 10 billion in 2023 — entering the global top 10 on UNCTAD data and taking roughly half of Africa's total FDI on its own. Gulf sovereign funds are directing capital toward real estate/urban development, energy, infrastructure and state-owned asset acquisitions, while industry is also a priority — with a target of 8% industrial growth by 2027 and raising industry's share of GDP to 20%.
- Ras El Hekma mega-deal — a USD 35 billion agreement signed with Abu Dhabi sovereign fund ADQ in February 2024 (USD 24bn new funds + USD 11bn deposit conversion), developing 170 million m² on the Mediterranean coast.
- Source countries (FY 2023/24) — FDI led by the UAE (~68.7%), the US (~5.3%), the UK (~5.2%) and Italy (~3.7%).
- Green energy — ~USD 10.8 billion of green ammonia/hydrogen projects in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, with investment tax-credit incentives.
- Priority areas — real estate/urban development (Ras El Hekma; 5 new investment zones along the Red Sea), energy (LNG, renewables), infrastructure and state-owned asset acquisitions.
Foreign Trade — FY 2023/24
Recent Trade & Principal Partners
Egypt's foreign trade was around USD 104.7 billion in FY 2023/24 (USD 72.1 billion imports, USD 32.6 billion exports) — reflecting a structural trade deficit. Principal export items include petroleum & electricity, ready-made garments, urea fertiliser, plastics and natural gas. Egypt joined BRICS in January 2024, and bloc members make up six of its top ten trading partners.
Top Trade Partners (2023/24)
- UAE (~$9.3B, largest)
- United States (~$7.5B)
- Saudi Arabia & China (~$7.2B)
- Germany
- UK, Italy, Türkiye
Import Sources (2024)
- China (~16.4%)
- Saudi Arabia
- United States
- Russia
- Germany, Türkiye, India
Export Markets
- Türkiye
- Italy
- Saudi Arabia
- UAE & United States
- Within Africa: Libya, Sudan, Algeria
Regulatory Developments
Notable Legislative Changes
In force 15 January 2024
Arbitration — CRCICA Arbitration Rules 2024
Updating the 2011 rules, introducing consolidation, early dismissal, emergency arbitrator, expedited procedure, online filing and third-party funding.
Issued 25 Jul 2023 · in force 26 Jul 2023
Investment — Law No. 160 of 2023
Amended Investment Law No. 72/2017 with new incentives and more flexible criteria (incentive eligibility extended 3 years by a January 2024 Cabinet decision).
Published 3 October 2018
Public Procurement — Public Contracts Law No. 182 of 2018
Repealed the former Tenders and Auctions Law No. 89/1998; executive regulations issued by Minister of Finance Decision No. 692/2019. The current procurement framework in force.
2024
Procedure — Law No. 157 of 2024
Regulation concerning cassation (appeal) procedures.
Resources
Useful Official Links
Our Approach
How Mermeroglu Legal Engages in Egypt
Egypt mandates frequently combine GAFI single-window registration and free-zone or investment-zone structuring with the law of the investor's holding jurisdiction for tax and financing. Our practice is structured to coordinate across those systems through a single point of accountability, working in close coordination with our partner office in Cairo.
Each mandate is led by a single matter principal at the firm, supported by an internal team and local counsel — covering company formation, investment licensing, foreign trade, construction and energy projects, and dispute resolution before CRCICA.
INITIAL ENQUIRIES
Market entry and cross-border matters in Egypt are handled through coordinated internal and alliance teams.
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