How to Register a Business in Egypt (2026 Guide): GAFI One-Stop Shop
Egypt is the most populous market in the Middle East and North Africa, and its government has spent the past several years actively streamlining company registration to attract more foreign investment. Business registration runs primarily through the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), which operates Egypt’s “one-stop shop” for incorporating companies, alongside the Egyptian Commercial Registry for the trade register entry itself.
The general process
- Reserve a trade name and draft the company’s Articles of Association appropriate to your chosen legal form — a Limited Liability Company (LLC) is the most common vehicle for foreign investors, though joint-stock companies and branch offices are also available.
- Incorporate through GAFI’s one-stop shop (gafi.gov.eg), which coordinates the company’s commercial registration, tax card, and several other approvals from a single office rather than requiring separate visits to each authority.
- Obtain the Commercial Registration (CR) from the Egyptian Commercial Registry and a tax identification number from the Egyptian Tax Authority.
- Register for social insurance with the National Organization for Social Insurance once you’re ready to hire employees.
- Open a corporate bank account and, for companies with foreign shareholders, complete any required foreign-currency and capital-repatriation registrations with the Central Bank of Egypt’s rules in mind.
- Secure sector-specific licenses where applicable — industrial, tourism, healthcare, financial services, and similar regulated activities require additional approvals beyond the standard GAFI incorporation.
Free zones and special economic zones
Egypt also offers free zone and special economic zone options — including the Suez Canal Economic Zone — with duty exemptions and streamlined licensing for qualifying export-oriented or industrial activities. These operate under GAFI’s broader free zone framework alongside standard “inland” incorporation, and which route fits best depends heavily on your activity and target market.
What we’re not publishing, and why
Government fees, minimum capital requirements, and processing times vary by legal form, activity, and sector, and are updated periodically, so we’re not quoting specific figures here. Confirm current requirements directly through GAFI or a licensed Egyptian corporate services provider.
Next step: get listed once you’re licensed
Once your Commercial Registration is issued, list your business on Middle East Directory so customers searching in English or Arabic can find you. Add your business or browse the Business Setup & Free Zones category.
This guide summarises general public information about Egypt’s business registration process and is not legal or tax advice. Confirm current requirements, fees, and processing times directly with GAFI, the Egyptian Commercial Registry, or a licensed corporate services provider before acting. Retrieved and reviewed 18 August 2026.
