Real GDP growth, 2019–2025 (%)
Limited COVID contraction, a strong 2022 rebound, a phased 2024 slowdown, and projected recovery in 2025.
Invest in Egypt
Everything a foreign investor needs to enter Egypt — with the data, the numbers, and the legal path you can rely on.
A Cairo-based law firm that accompanies foreign investors from the decision to enter, through formation, operations, and protection. This page is built as public reference first — the data you need, then the legal procedure, then a team you can reach when it gets legal.
Public reference material — periodically refreshed and sourced from the official publications listed at the foot of this page. Free for you to use.
Egypt at a glance
The numbers any Egypt investment decision starts from.
- 110M+
- Population, 2024Largest population in the MENA region.— CAPMAS
- $380B
- Nominal GDP, 2023The second-largest economy in Africa.— IMF
- 3.5%
- Projected growth, 2025Steady recovery after currency and energy reforms.— IMF WEO
- 100+
- Bilateral investment treatiesOne of the widest investor-protection networks in the Global South.— UNCTAD
- 06
- Core regulatorsGAFI · FRA · IDA · ETA · NOSI · CBE — we represent investors before all.
- 10+
- Special economic zonesSCZONE alone spans 6 ports and 4 industrial zones.— SCZONE
Economic data
A short read on Egypt’s headline numbers.
Primary sources: IMF, World Bank, Central Bank of Egypt, and CAPMAS. Source links appear at the foot of this page.
Inward FDI, 2019–2024 (USD billion)
Exceptional 2024 jump driven by the Ras El-Hekma transaction. Otherwise, a moderate upward trend post-FX liberalisation.
Share of GDP by sector (approximate, 2023)
A services-led economy, followed by manufacturing, then agriculture and energy — a diversified base not dependent on a single sector.
Why Egypt
Six reasons Egypt is worth a serious evaluation in 2025/2026.
- I
Law 72 of 2017 — the Investment Law
A consolidated regime offering tax rebates (up to 50% in Zone A locations), customs-duty exemptions on capital equipment, express guarantees against nationalisation and arbitrary measures, and a codified right to repatriate profits.
50%Max tax rebate - II
SCZONE — Suez Canal Economic Zone
A special economic zone aggregating six ports and four integrated industrial zones for export-oriented manufacturing, logistics, chemicals, and food — with streamlined licensing and targeted incentives.
10Operational sites - III
Bilateral investment treaty network
Egypt is party to 100+ bilateral investment treaties, giving investors recourse to international arbitration at ICSID, UNCITRAL, and the Cairo Regional Centre (CRCICA) — globally recognised dispute routes.
100+Jurisdictions protected - IV
Size, position & labour
~110 million people, a strategic location between Africa, Europe, and the Gulf, and a trilingual (Arabic–English–French) professional labour pool at salaries materially below regional averages.
110MDomestic market size - V
Currency & energy reforms
The March 2024 exchange-rate liberalisation closed the parallel-market distortion and unlocked fresh capital flows into renewable energy, infrastructure, and real estate.
2024Year of FX liberalisation - VI
Free-trade footprint
Preferential access to the EU (Association Agreement), Africa (AfCFTA), Arab states (GAFTA), and Mercosur — an export launchpad into three continents on preferential terms.
3Continents, preferential access
Sectors in focus
Where foreign capital is moving inside Egypt right now.
Renewable energy
Government target of 42% renewable sources by 2035; flagship solar and wind projects at Ras Ghareb, Benban, and Jabal El-Zeit with record-sized investments.
Industrial infrastructure
New high-speed rail, ports, and IDA industrial zones attracting disciplined foreign capital.
Real estate & urban development
New Administrative Capital, New Alamein, Ras El-Hekma — major urban expansion projects opening the door to international development and operating partnerships.
ICT & digital services
ICT services exports exceeded $6.5B in 2023; Egypt is a regional shared-services hub for major international firms.
Non-bank finance
Strong growth in leasing, insurance, factoring, and consumer finance — all under FRA supervision.
Food & pharma manufacturing
Central export hub for Africa and the Gulf; large domestic demand and an accelerating shift toward local-intensive manufacturing.
Your legal journey
The four stages every foreign investor in Egypt goes through.
- I
Decide & structure
Pick the right vehicle (LLC, JSC, branch, rep office, free-zone entity), choose the governorate or economic zone, and pre-check incentive eligibility.
- II
Form & license
File formation at GAFI, obtain the tax card and commercial register, secure sector-specific licences (FRA for finance, IDA for industrial), and open corporate banking.
- III
Operate & comply
Lease premises, register workforce, implement e-invoicing, manage VAT and corporate tax, and refresh annual commercial-register filings.
- IV
Protect & expand
Manage disputes at the economic courts or via CRCICA arbitration; restructure or exit; protect shareholders; enforce foreign judgments and awards inside Egypt.
What we do for foreign investors
Full legal coverage mapped to real investor needs.
Entry & formation
- Company formation under Law 72/2017 and Companies Law 159
- GAFI one-stop-shop proceedings and incentive applications
- Ownership structuring, foreign-ownership mapping, and shareholder agreements
- Free-zone licensing (public, private, SCZONE) and industrial zoning at IDA
Operate & regulate
- FRA licensing for securities, non-bank finance, and insurance
- Commercial and operating contracts, drafting and negotiation
- Employment law, labour regulations, foreign-worker permits
- Tax, customs, e-invoicing, and regulatory compliance
Protect & resolve
- Economic courts and commercial litigation
- Cassation appeals before Egypt’s highest courts
- Commercial arbitration (CRCICA, ICC, UNCITRAL)
- Enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards
Residency & mobility
- Investor residency permits under the investment law
- Foreign-ownership of real estate inside Egypt
- Work permits and long-stay arrangements for key personnel
- Consular and diplomatic legalisation of documents
How we work
Four commitments that define every matter we accept.
Partner-level review before acceptance
Every enquiry is reviewed personally by the partner responsible for the practice before we assign the handling team. No matter is delegated blindly.
Bilingual documentation as standard
Arabic and English work side by side on every matter. Filings are in Arabic; structured English briefs keep decision-makers outside Egypt informed without waiting on translation.
A single counsel through the full journey
The partner who reviews your formation also supervises your first dispute. Institutional memory across the lifecycle is the quiet advantage.
No guaranteed outcomes; a disciplined path
Egyptian law is not a black box that promises outcomes. We commit to a disciplined route, clear fees, and honest reads of risk — not promised results.
Questions investors actually ask
Short answers before the first consultation.
Can a foreign investor own 100% of an Egyptian company?
In most activities, yes — 100% foreign ownership is allowed. A limited set of activities (e.g. Sinai, border areas, certain security-sensitive sectors) require an Egyptian partner or special approvals. We assess activity-level restrictions as part of the first consultation.How long does company formation at GAFI take?
The digital track for a simple LLC with clear ownership and no additional regulated activities typically takes 5–10 business days. More complex matters (JSCs, regulated activities, multi-jurisdiction ownership, in-kind contributions) take 3–6 weeks once documents are complete.What tax incentives are available to investors?
Incentives include tax-base deductions (30%–50% depending on project location), customs-duty exemptions on capital equipment, and stamp-tax and registration waivers. On top of this, free-zone regimes allow full exemption from local income tax on profits generated inside the zone.How does an investor obtain residency in Egypt?
The Investment Law grants a renewable investor residency when value and activity thresholds are met. Residency is issued through the Passports and Immigration Administration after company formation and commercial-register issuance. We prepare the file as a single flow alongside formation.What protections exist against expropriation?
Law 72/2017 expressly prohibits confiscation or nationalisation of investment projects, and blocks administrative seizure except for defined public interest with prior fair compensation. Bilateral investment treaties additionally open the door to international arbitration in case of dispute.What happens if a commercial dispute arises?
Egyptian economic courts handle larger commercial disputes, while arbitration (CRCICA, ICC) is the preferred route in international contracts. Arbitration and governing-law clauses are core to every contract we draft.
Data sources
Figures on this page are indicative and drawn from the official sources listed below. They do not constitute legal advice or replace a direct consultation.
Ready to map your entry into Egypt?
Send a short paragraph about the activity, the sector, and your timing — and we reply within one Egyptian business day with a suggested structure and next step.