Full guide to invest in Egypt

​​​​​​​​​​​​No doubt that Egypt is recognized as an attractive market to invest in, thanks to its unique mix of demographics and commercial links to the broader world, strategic location at the gateway of​trade and commerce for Southern Europe as well as Africa and the Middle East position and population of over 83 million makes it the largest Arab country an in addition to that the government ability to apply new package of incentives to the new and old investors.

Here are some key facts about doing business in Egypt :

First: Types of companies

1. Single Member Company

​The latest legal form of companies in Egyptian law, with the exception of the provision of Article 505 of the Civil Code, which requires that the company consists of at least two partners, each natural person, or legal entity within the purposes for which it was established, may establish a single-person company. ​The capital shall not be less than one thousand Egyptian pounds.

2. Limited Liability Companies

According to Article 4 of Law No. 159 of 1981, it is a company whose number of partners does not exceed fifty partners, each of whom shall not be liable except to the extent of his share. The transfer of the shares of the partners therein shall be subject to the redemption of the partners in accordance with the special conditions contained in the memorandum of association as well as the conditions stipulated in this law.

 Its name may be derived from its purpose. Its title may include the name of one or more partners. The number of partners shall not be less than two and they may not offer shares through public subscription and shall not be listed on the Egyptian Stock Exchange.

3. Joint Stock Companies – Partnerships Limited by Shares

The joint stock company is defined in accordance with Article 2 of Law No. 159 of 1981 mentioned as “” a company whose capital is divided into equal value shares that can be traded in the manner specified in the law. The responsibility of the shareholder is limited to the performance of the value of the shares in which he subscribed. The company shall have a trade name derived from the purpose of its establishment and the trade name of the company may include a name or title for one or more of its founders, its shares may be offered for public subscription and may be listed on the Egyptian Stock Exchange and its shares shall be registered with the depository companies. And the central constraint

It shall be established in accordance with the provisions of the Investment Law No. 72 of 2017 or Law No. 159 of 1981.

4. Partnership Companies (General and Limited Partnerships)

Partnerships are companies that are based on personal consideration, and this consideration is the main factor for dealing with the company, and usually consists of a few people with a certain relationship such as kinship or friendship, and trust each other in his ability and efficiency.

5. Sole Proprietorship Incorporation

Which is owned by one individual and managed by himself, and receives all profits and loses, and it is established in accordance with the provisions of the Investment Law No. 72 of 2017

Second: Tax system

As a part of its ongoing efforts to make Egypt the most attractive investment destination in the MENA region, the government has clarified the tax code and corporate tax rates and personal tax rates 22.5%, and Sales Tax / VAT Rate is 14%.

​​Third: Customs system

In order to improve Egypt’s standing as a global manufacturing hub, the custom tariff ranged from 0 to 30% according to the Degree of manufacturing and from 0 to 10% on the imported machines.

Fourth: Incentives and Guarantees

Investment Guarantees :

1. All the investments established within the Arab Republic of Egypt shall receive fair and just treatment.
2.  The State shall ensure to the foreign investor the same treatment granted to the national investor. Under a decree issued by the Cabinet of Ministers, an exception can be made granting the foreign investors a preferential treatment in application of the principle of reciprocity.
3.  The invested assets shall not be subject to any arbitrary procedures or discriminatory decisions.
4. The State shall grant the non-Egyptian investors residence in the Arab Republic of Egypt throughout the term of the Investment Project without prejudice to the provisions of the relevant regulating laws.
5. The State shall honor and enforce contracts entered into thereby. The Investment Project set up on a basis of fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, or corruption may not enjoy the protection, guarantees, privileges, or exemptions established under the provisions of this Law, proof of the foregoing shall be produced by a res judicata judgment – delivered by the judicial authority of competent jurisdiction – or by an arbitration award.
6. All decisions on investment project affairs shall be reasoned decisions. The parties concerned shall be notified with a service of notice of such decisions.
7.  The Investment Projects may not be nationalized.
8. Assets of Investment Project may not be expropriated unless for public utility and in return for a just compensation to be paid in advance without delay. The value of the compensation shall amount to the fair economic value of the expropriated assets on the preceding day to the issuance of the expropriation decision. Such compensation shall be freely transferrable.
9. Subject to the situations specified in law, Investment Project may not be sequestrated through administrative procedures, save when warranted by virtue of a final court judgment, nor may it be subject to attachment, save when warranted by virtue of a court order or judgment.
10. Assets of Investment Project may neither be seized nor confiscated nor frozen, save when warranted by virtue of a court order or final judgment, with the exception of tax debts and social insurance subscriptions due to the State; such debts and subscriptions may be collected by all kinds of seizure, without prejudice to the contracts entered into by the State or public juridical persons with Investor.
11. Any administrative body may not issue general regulatory resolutions that add financial or procedural burdens in respect of the setup or operation of the projects governed by this Law, nor may it impose or amend the fees or consideration for services prescribed for the projects, except after having obtained the opinion of the board of directors of GAFI (“GAFI BoD”) and upon the approval of both the Council of Ministers and SCI.
12. An administrative body may not revoke or suspend the licenses issued for Investment Project, nor may it reclaim the real property allocated for same, unless it has served a notice on Investor comprising the violations with which Investor is charged, has heard Investor’s evidence and has given Investor an adequate grace period to rectify the violations. In all cases, GAFI’s opinion shall be obtained before taking any of the actions referred to in the aforementioned paragraph. GAFI shall give its opinion within seven (7) days from the date on which GAFI receives a request to that effect satisfying all prescribed legal procedures. Investor may file a grievance against the aforementioned actions before the committee stated in Article (83) of this Law.
13. Investor shall have the right to set up, launch and expand Investment Project, and shall fund same from abroad without any restrictions and with foreign currencies. Investor shall have the right to own, manage, use and dispose of Investment Project, to make profits from Investment Project, to transfer such profits abroad, to liquidate Investment Project and to transfer, whether in whole or in part, the proceeds of such liquidation abroad, without prejudice to the rights of third parties.
14. The State shall permit all cash transfers in respect of foreign investment to be freely and promptly transferrable to and from the State using a freely convertible currency. The State shall permit conversion of local currency into a freely usable currency without delay.
15. In case of liquidation, the appropriate administrative bodies shall, within maximum one hundred and twenty (120) days from the date on which the liquidator has filed an application of liquidation enclosing the required documentation, serve on GAFI and the company under liquidation a notice comprising a statement of liabilities of such company. The expiry of this period without notification of such liabilities shall be deemed a discharge on the part of companies under liquidation from said liabilities, without prejudice to the criminal and disciplinary liability of the person responsible for issuing a false statement or the person responsible for the lapse of the aforementioned time limit without replying to the application.
16. Without prejudice to the provisions of the laws, regulations and decrees regulating importation, Investment Project governed by the provisions of this Law shall have the right to import, whether directly or through third parties, the necessary raw materials, production requirements, machinery, spare parts and means of transportation – compatible with nature of business of Investment Project – for the setup, expansion or operation of Investment Project, without the need to be registered in the Register of Importers.
17. Investment Projects, subject to provisions of the Law, shall have the right to export its products, whether directly or through an intermediary, without a license and without the need to be registered in the Register of Exporters.
18. An Investment Project shall have the right to employ foreign workers up to ten percent (10%) of the total number of Investment Project workers. This percentage may be increased up to twenty percent (20%), should employment of national workers having the required qualifications be not possible. For some strategic projects with special significance as listed by a resolution of the SCI, exceptions from the aforementioned percentages may be made, conditional on providing training to the national labor.
19. Foreign workers in Investment Project shall have the right to transfer their financial dues, in whole or in part, abroad.

Investment Incentives

General Incentives :

All Investment Projects governed by the provisions of this Law, exception being made for Investment Projects set up under the Free Zone System, shall enjoy the following incentives :

1. Memoranda of incorporation of companies and establishments, along with credit facility and pledge contracts pertaining to the business thereof, shall be exempt from stamp duty as well as notarization and publicity fees for a period of five (5) years from the date on which such memoranda and contracts are entered in the Commercial Register.
2. Contracts of registration of lands required for formation of companies and establishments shall be exempt from the aforementioned duty and fees.
3. The provisions, on the collection of a uniform customs duty at two percent (2%) of the value of all imported machinery, equipment and devices required for formation of companies or establishments, as stipulated in Article (4) of Law on the Regulation of Customs Exemptions enacted by Law No. 186 of 1986, shall apply to the companies and the establishments governed by the provisions of this Law. This uniform customs duty shall apply to all machinery, equipment and devices imported by companies and establishments, operating on public utility projects, and required for the formation or completion thereof.
4. Without prejudice to the provisions of temporary release stipulated in the Customs Law enacted by Law No. 66 of 1963, Investment Projects of industrial nature, governed by the provisions of this Law, may import casts, molds and other similar production requirements, subject to no customs fees; however, such imported items shall be for the purpose of temporary use in manufacturing the products of said Investment Projects, and shall be repatriated thereafter .Said temporary release and repatriation shall be effected by virtue of the arrival documents, provided the documents of admission and reshipment are entered in ad hoc registers at GAFI designated for that purpose; this shall be in coordination with the Ministry of Finance.

Special Incentives:

Projects set up, after the coming into force of this Law, in accordance with the investment map shall be granted an investment incentive, in the form of a discount off the taxable net profits, as follows:

1. A fifty-percent (50%) discount off the investment costs of Sector (A): This sector comprises the geographic areas designated as most in need of development, based on the investment map, the data and statistics issued by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (“CAPMS”) and approved by the general plan for economic and social development, as specified by the Executive Regulations of this Law.
2. A thirty-percent (30%) discount off the investment costs of Sector (B): This sector covers the remaining geographic areas of the Republic, as per the distribution of investment activities, in respect of the following projects:

• Labor-intensive projects, subject to the controls prescribed in the Executive Regulations of this Law.
• SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises).
• Projects depending on or producing new and renewable energy.
• National and strategic projects to be listed under a resolution of the SCI.
• Tourism projects to be listed under a resolution of the SCI.
• Electricity generation and distribution projects to be listed under a decree of the Prime Minister, based on a joint proposal of the Appropriate Minister, the minister concerned with electricity affairs and Minister of Finance.
• Projects exporting products thereof outside the geographic territory of the Arab Republic of Egypt.
• Automotive manufacturing and the supplying industries thereof.
• Wood, furniture, printing, packaging and chemical industries.
• Antibiotics, tumor drugs and cosmetics industries.
• Food, agricultural crops and agricultural waste recycling industries and
• Engineering, metallurgical, textile and leather industries.

1. Investment projects that engage in an industrial activity that is identified give a monetary stimulus of at least a percentage (35%) and not exceeding (55%) of the value of the tax paid with the tax return on the income realized from the commencement of the activity in the investment project the Ministry of Finance is obliged to disburse the incentive within forty-five days of the end of the tax return deadline. This incentive is not considered taxable income.

To grant the incentive stipulated in this article, the project must be approved. Or its expansions, as the case may be, in financing it until the date of commencement of the activity, on foreign exchange from abroad by at least (50%) of its funds, and to start practicing the activity within six years from the date of enforcement of this article, and this period may be extended by a maximum of six years. By a decision of the Council of Ministers, based on a joint proposal from the competent minister, the minister concerned with industry affairs, and the minister of finance.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Income Tax Law enacted by Law No. 91 of 2005, an investment incentive may not, in all cases, exceed eighty percent (80%) of the capital paid up until the date on which engagement in the activity starts. The discount period may not exceed seven (7) years from the date on which engagement in the activity starts.

Conditions to enjoy special incentives :

An Investment Project shall, in order for it to enjoy the Special Incentives, satisfy the following conditions:

1. A new company or establishment shall be incorporated to launch such Investment Project;
2. Said new company or establishment shall be incorporated within a period not exceeding three (3) years from the Executive Regulations enforcement date; upon a resolution of the Council of Ministers and pursuant to a proposal of the Appropriate Minister, such period may be renewed for other periods not exceeding a total of nine years;
3. Said new company or establishment shall keep regular accounts; should such company or establishment be operating in more than one zone, it may benefit from the percentage prescribed for each zone respectively, provided it keeps separate accounts for each zone respectively; and
4. Neither shareholders nor partners nor owners of establishments have offered, contributed or used any of the tangible assets of a company or an establishment, existing since the date on which the provisions of this Law come into force, in setting up, incorporating or launching an Investment Project enjoying the incentives accorded by this Law, nor have they liquidated such company or establishment, within the time period specified in Item 2 of this Article (12), for the purpose of setting up a new Investment Project enjoying the incentives of this Law; violation of this condition nullifies said incentives, and accordingly such company or establishment shall pay all taxes due

Additional Incentives :

1. Permission to establish special customs ports of entry for Investment Project importations or exportations, in agreement with Minister of Finance.
2. Upon Investment Project becoming operational, payment, whether in whole or in part, by the State for the expenses incurred by Investor in course of providing utilities to the premises of Investment Project.
3. Payment by the State for a part of the expenses incurred in course of providing personnel technical training.
4. Refund at fifty percent (50%) of the value of the land allocated for the industrial projects, should production start within two (2) years from the date on which the land was handed over.
5. Allocation of lands free of charge to some strategic activities in accordance with the legally prescribed rules in this respect.
6. Exemption from the charges for usufruct of the land allocated for the establishment of the project for a maximum period of ten years, starting from the start of operation, based on the proposal of the competent minister. Exempted from contributing to the costs of establishing infrastructure, public services and utilities at a rate not exceeding (50%) of them, in accordance with the controls to be determined by a decision of the Council.
7. The public treasury may bear a percentage not exceeding (50%) of the consideration for the project’s consumption of basic utilities for a maximum period of ten years, in accordance with the controls to be determined by a decision of the Supreme Council.

Conditions for additional incentives :

In order for companies and establishments to be granted the Special Incentives stipulated in Article (13) of the Investment Law, they must have started production or engaged in activity, as the case may be, in accordance with the report approved by GAFI, and shall satisfy one of the following conditions :

1. The Arab Republic of Egypt is one of the principal places of production of products in which such companies and establishment specialize, or the principal place of the products in which such companies and establishments specialize is the Arab Republic of Egypt.
2. Such companies and establishments, in course of financing their projects, depend on foreign cash transferred from abroad through an Egyptian bank in accordance with the rules specified by CBE BoD.
3. Such companies and establishments export abroad no less than fifty percent (50%) of their products.
4. The activity of a company or an establishment includes operation in any cutting-edge modern technology field and cutting-edge technology transfer into Egypt, and support of industries supplying such field or transfer.
5. The local component is strongly included in the products of an Investment Project, provided that the percentage of local components, including raw materials and production requirements, in the products of the Investment Project, is no less than fifty percent (50%), in accordance with the applicable rules of the Industrial Development Authority.
6. The activity of a company or an establishment is based on research conclusions reached through research projects carried out inside the Arab Republic of Egypt.

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