Database

Browse Database

EGYPT

Since January 2015
Since September 2015

Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services  |  Indicator Other limitations on foreign participation in public procurement
Law No. 5 of 2015 Concerning the Preference of Egyptian Products in Government Contracts
قانون تفضيل المنتجات المصرية في العقود الحكومية رقم 5 لسنة 2015

Ministerial Decree No. 656/2015 Promulgating the executive regulation of Law No. 5/2015
قرار وزير التجارة والصناعة رقــم 656 لسنة 2015 — شأن إصدار اللائحة التنفيذية للقانون رقم 5 لسنة 2015 في شأن تفضيل المنتجات المصرية في العقود الحكومية.
A preference for Egyptian Industrial Products in Government contracts for projects is applied by concerned entities according to Law No. 5 of 2015 Concerning the Preference of Egyptian Products in Government Contracts (Art. 3) and is operationalised by the Ministerial Decree No. 656/2015 (Chapter 2, Art. 2). They require concerned Governmental entities to include a clause in project proposals and contracts that obliges bidders and contractual parties to ensure that the Egyptian industrial content is not less than 40% of the overall value of the offer or contract.
Coverage Horizontal

EGYPT

Since March 2024, entry into force in August 2024

Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services  |  Indicator Other limitations on foreign participation in public procurement
Cloud First Policy
سياسة الحوسبة السحابية أولاً
Pursuant to Section 4 of the Cloud First Policy, providers of cloud services are required to secure a Tier-3 licence prior to furnishing services to governmental bodies, thereby guaranteeing compliance with prescribed technical, security, and operational standards.
Coverage Cloud service providers

EGYPT

Reported in 2022, last reported in 2024

Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services  |  Indicator Other limitations on foreign participation in public procurement
Reported lack of transparency in public procurement
Reports indicate that public procurement processes in Egypt are characterised by a lack of transparency.
Coverage Horizontal

EGYPT

N/A

Pillar Public procurement of ICT goods and online services  |  Indicator Signatory of the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) with coverage of the most relevant services sectors (CPC 752, 754, 84)
Lack of participation in the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA)
Egypt is not a party to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA), nor does it have observer status.
Coverage Horizontal

EGYPT

Since August 2018

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Indicator Maximum foreign equity share
Law No. 180 of 2018 Regulating the Press, Media, and the Supreme Council for Media Regulation
قانون 180 لسنة 2018 بشأن تنظيم الصحافة والإعلام والمجلس الأعلى لتنظيم الإعلام
Law No. 180 of 2018 establishes ownership and operational conditions for foreign entities in the media sector. Art. 52 specifies that non-Egyptian shareholders, whether natural or legal persons, are prohibited from owning a majority of shares or being granted management rights in media outlets, including websites acting as electronic backers for media organisations. Art. 1 defines "media" broadly as “any terrestrial or satellite television channel, or wired, wireless, or electronic radio station.”
Art. 54 sets financial requirements for companies operating electronic or digital television stations or channels. The authorised capital must be at least EGP 2.5 million (approx. USD 50,000), with half of this amount deposited in a bank supervised by the Central Bank of Egypt before broadcasting begins. The deposit must remain in the bank for at least one year and be allocated for station operations and employee remuneration.
Additionally, under Art. 59, media providers may operate in Egypt subject to a licence issued by the Supreme Council for Media Regulation (SCoM). Approval requires operation within a designated media area and adherence to content restrictions, including the prohibition of materials involving violence, suicide, self-injury, or nudity.
Coverage Media outlets or media websites

EGYPT

Since August 2018

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Indicator Maximum foreign equity share
Law No. 180 of 2018 Regulating the Press, Media, and the Supreme Council for Media Regulation
قانون 180 لسنة 2018 بشأن تنظيم الصحافة والإعلام والمجلس الأعلى لتنظيم الإعلام
Law No. 180 of 2018 imposes ownership restrictions on foreigners. According to Art. 36, non-Egyptian shareholders, whether natural or legal persons, are prohibited from holding a share percentage that grants them management rights in newspapers and websites serving as electronic backers for print newspapers.
Art. 35 establishes financial requirements for the establishment of newspapers by private legal entities. For electronic newspapers, a deposit of EGP 100,000 (approx. USD 3,200) is required, with half of this amount to be deposited prior to initiating the establishment procedures. The deposit must remain for one year to cover operational costs and employee rights in case the newspaper ceases publication. In such cases, priority is given to settling employee rights over other obligations.
For newspapers issued by natural persons, the same deposit requirements apply, with the full amount dependent on the publication's frequency. The entire deposit must be made before the newspaper is issued.
Additionally, newspapers must be printed in printing presses within the Arab Republic of Egypt, and a copy of the electronic servers hosting the newspaper's digital version must also be located in Egypt.
Coverage Online newspapers

EGYPT

Since February 2003

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Indicator Maximum foreign equity share
Law No. 82 of 2002 on the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights
القانون رقم 82 لسنة 2002 بشأن حمایة حقوق الملکیة الف کریة
The Law No. 10 of 2003 sets restrictions on Telecom Egypt, which is the monopoly operator of the fixed internet services and infrastructure market. Art. 63 stipulates that the shares of Telecom Egypt can be offered for sale at a partial value of the Company capital upon a decree from the Cabinet with the condition that the greater part of the capital remains State-owned.
Coverage Telecom Egypt

EGYPT

Since January 1976, last amended in March 2020

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Indicator Maximum foreign equity share
Law No. 34 of 1976: Concerning the Commercial Register
القانون رقم ٣٤ لسنة ١٩٧٦ بشأن السجل التجارى أولا
Law No. 34 of 1976 and its amendments of the years 1996 and 2020 stipulate that legal persons (Natural persons and various forms of Companies) wishing to engage in trade activities in Egypt must be entered into the commercial register (Art. 2). Those to be registered must be of Egyptian nationality and have obtained approval to practice trade from the competent Chamber of Commerce (Art. 3). As an exception to the rule in Article 2, foreigners can be registered in the Commercial Register in a number of cases, among these is when the foreigner is a partner in a company of persons, provided that at least one of the general partners is Egyptian and that the Egyptian partner(s) own 51% of the company's capital and has the right to manage and sign (Art. 4.2).
Coverage Trade activities

EGYPT

Since 1981

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Indicator Nationality/residency requirement for directors or managers
Law No. 159/198 on Joint Stock Companies, Partnerships Limited by Shares & Limited Liability Companies
Law No. 159/198 mandates that a minimum of two members of a company’s board of directors must be nationals. Reports indicate that this requirement extends across various sectors, including computer and related services, telecommunications, and internet services. Art. 181 stipulates that the Government must be represented by at least two members on the administrative boards of companies for which it guarantees a minimum level of profits.
Coverage Horizontal

EGYPT

Since 1982

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Indicator Nationality/residency requirement for directors or managers
Executive Regulations of the Joint Stock Companies, Limited Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies Law No. 159 of 1981
اللائحة التنفيذية لقانون الشركات المساهمة وشركات التوصية بالاسهم والشركات ذات المسئولية رقم 159 لسنة 1981
According to Art. 281 of the Executive regulations of the Companies Law, at least one manager of a limited liability company must be a national.
Coverage Horizontal

EGYPT

Reported in 2022, last reported in 2025

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Indicator Screening of investment and acquisitions
Reported screening of foreign investments
Foreign investment in Egypt is subject to screening based on criteria such as the investor’s nationality and the nature of the company’s activities, as certain sectors and nationalities face restrictions under Egyptian law and must meet specific conditions. Security clearance is required for any foreign individual to work or conduct business, although the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) generally approves incorporations and shareholding changes without prior clearance, except for certain nationalities including China, Russia, Ukraine, Nigeria, Israel, Iran, Belarus, Bangladesh, Iraq and Palestine which require advance approval. While companies may operate during the often lengthy screening process, rejection obliges them to cease operations and pursue an extended appeals procedure. Businesses have reported hesitancy among Egyptian clients to enter long-term contracts with firms lacking clearance, alongside concerns about arbitrary refusals, lack of transparency and delays in appeals.
Coverage Horizontal

EGYPT

Since February 2003

Pillar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in sectors relevant to digital trade  |  Indicator Commercial presence requirement for digital services providers
Egypt National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA)'s "Terms and Conditions Needed For the Award of A License To Provide Internet Connectivity Services (Class A) and VoIP Services in Arab Republic of Egypt (A.R.E)"
Only Egyptian joint-stock companies incorporated in accordance with Egyptian law can apply for and obtain internet service provider (Class A) and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) licenses in Egypt. This means that ISPs and VoIP services of foreign providers with no commercial presence in Egypt and minimum Egyptian stocks are not permissible in Egypt.
Coverage Internet service providers and Voice over Internet Protocol

EGYPT

Since August 2003

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Practical or legal restrictions related to the application process for patents
Resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 1366 of 2003 Issuing Executive Regulations for Law No. 82 of 2002 on the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights
قرار رئيس مجلس الوزراء رقم 1366 لسنة 2003، مصر بإصدار اللائحة التنفيذية للكتب الأول والثاني والرابع من قانون حماية حقوق الملكية الفكرية الصادر بالقانون رقم 82 لسنة 2002
Art. 52 of Egypt Implementing Regulations for Law No. 82 of 2002 on the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights requires an applicant who is not a resident of the Arab Republic of Egypt to appoint an Egyptian patent agent to whom all notifications, documentation, and submissions provided for under the Law or these Regulations shall be sent.
Coverage Horizontal

EGYPT

Reported in 2022, last reported in 2025

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Practical or legal restrictions related to the enforcement of patents
Reported lack of early patent resolution framework
It is reported that Egypt lacks an effective framework for the early resolution of potential patent disputes.
Coverage Horizontal

EGYPT

Since September 2003

Pillar Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)  |  Indicator Participation in the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Egypt is a party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).
Coverage Horizontal

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