Egypt flag Egypt: Operating a Business in Egypt

Starting a business in Egypt

Legal Forms of Companies

Limited Liability Company or LLC: Number of partners: From 2 to 50 shareholders.
Capital (max/min): Minimum EGP 1 000 divided in equal shares, fully paid up front when formed.
Shareholders and liability: Their responsibility is limited to their contribution.
Joint Stock Company (public limited company): Number of partners: Minimum 3 shareholders.
Capital (max/min): EGP 250,000 of which 10% must be fully paid when formed. EGP 20 million when offering shares for public subscription, fully paid up.
Shareholders and liability: Their responsibility is limited to the contribution amount.
Limited Partnership: Number of partners: One general partner, unlimited number of limited partners.
Capital (max/min): Minimum EGP 250,000.
Shareholders and liability: General partners' liability is unlimited. Limited parters' liability is limited to their contribution.
Sole Propietorship: Number of partners: One natural person.
Capital (max/min): No minimum capital required.
Shareholders and liability: Responsibility limited to the capital allocated therefor.

Business Setup Procedures

Setting Up a Company	Egypt	Middle East & North Africa
Procedures (number)	5.0	6.3
Time (days)	12.5	19.5

Source: Doing Business - Latest available data.

The Competent Organisation: GAFI has a role in guiding and promoting foreign and Egyptian investments. It helps the investors in their administrative steps. GAFI has created a single point of liaison known as a One-Stop Shop counter. The formalities for setting up a company are done at this counter. The One-stop Shop counter thus provides useful documents on law no. 8 of 1997 for encouraging investments, guarantees, exemptions, company creation procedures, the different zones with special statutes to the investors. For speeding up the setting up process, GAFI is authorised to grant temporary licences for starting the project.
The ITIDA (Information Technology Industry Development Agency) was established by law no. 15 of 2004. It is attached to the Ministry of Information Technology and Communication. ITIDA guides investors for executing their projects with a single counter which helps them with various relevant administrative authorities, particularly it is the e-signature regulatory authority. This allows both public and private interests access to esignature authorisation.
Since 2006 the IDA (Industrial Development Authority), which comes under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has been responsible for developing and facilitating industrial establishments. In connection with the governing bodies the IDA recovers, prepares and sells land for developing industrial zones by foreign and Egyptian promoters. The State develops the road network and other networks for these lands. The IDA also offers a one-stop shop for industrial investors to give them information on the available lands and help them get the permits for industrial operations.
For Further Information: Consult Doing Business Website, to know about procedures to start a business in Egypt.
General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), an investment guide for Egypt

Financial Information Directories

Dun & Bradstreet - Worldwide directory with financial information on businesses

ESOMAR - Egypt Business Directory

Kompass - Egypt Business Directory

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