Promote:
Invest in Egypt
A short guide for companies expanding into Egypt: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. Egypt at a glance
PopulationEstimate
118.4 million
Egypt's population was 118,365,995 people in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Egypt population, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP
US$365.3 billion
GDP was US$365.25 billion in current dollars in fiscal year 2024/25, which the World Bank labels 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Egypt GDP, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per person
US$3,086
GDP per person was US$3,085.81 in current dollars in fiscal year 2024/25, which the World Bank labels 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Egypt GDP per person, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growth
4.4%
Real GDP growth was 4.4 percent in fiscal year 2024/25, which the World Bank labels 2025; the Ministry of Finance's monthly report gives the same figure.
Source: World Bank WDI, Egypt real GDP growth, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Inflation
12.8%
Annual headline inflation across Egypt was 12.8 percent in September 2026, CAPMAS data published in the Ministry of Finance monthly report.
Source: CAPMAS inflation, in Ministry of Finance monthly report, October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of September 2026
Foreign direct investment inflows
US$15.5 billion
Foreign direct investment inflows were US$15.45 billion in 2025, says UNCTAD.
Source: UNCTADstat, Egypt inward FDI flows, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
The currency is the Egyptian pound (ISO code EGP).
Source: GAFI, Free Zones investor procedural guidebook, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
2. Before you set up
The investment agency, any one-stop route, the sectors reserved for nationals and the zones, as the guide found them.
Egypt's investment promotion agency is the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI).
Source: GAFI, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
GAFI runs Investor Service Centers that host licensing authorities, and 15 centers have been established across Egypt to date.
Source: GAFI, Investor Service Centers page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Investment Law No. 72 of 2017 bars free zone alcohol and weapons projects and keeps Sinai's own law in force; no general list of closed sectors is published.
Source: GAFI, Investment Law No. 72 of 2017, English text (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
GAFI lists nine public free zones, and private free zones are set up outside them for a single project or similar projects.
Source: GAFI, Free Zones investor procedural guidebook, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in Egypt
- Incorporate the company through GAFI's electronic incorporation service or an Investor Service Center.General Authority for Investment and Free ZonesApprovals for incorporation within 20 business daysOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: GAFI, ease of doing business page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Register for tax with the Egyptian Tax Authority through its Taxpayer Portal.Egyptian Tax AuthorityOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Egyptian Tax Authority, English home page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Apply for GAFI's Golden License single approval if your project qualifies.General Authority for Investment and Free ZonesOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: GAFI, digital services page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Get sector licenses from the licensing authorities represented at the Investors Services Center.General Authority for Investment and Free ZonesOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: GAFI, licensing authorities at the Investors Services Center (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 3 more set-up steps
- Keep foreign staff within the 10 percent workforce cap, and apply for investor residence.General Authority for Investment and Free ZonesOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: GAFI, investment facilitations and incentives page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Request serviced industrial land, which GAFI says is allocated by ownership or usufruct, or ask a free zone board for a plot.General Authority for Investment and Free ZonesOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: GAFI, ease of doing business page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Confirm with your bank how capital and profits move in foreign currency; GAFI says the Investment Law allows free transfer.General Authority for Investment and Free ZonesOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: GAFI, investment facilitations and incentives page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with GAFI and Egyptian Customs. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
- Get advice
Investment promotion agency
GAFI
General Authority for Investment and Free Zones
Helps investors incorporate, license and launch projects through electronic services, Investor Service Centers, the Golden License and free zones.
Visit GAFI (opens in a new tab)Source: GAFI, digital services page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Get advice
Special economic zone authority
SCZONE
General Authority for the Suez Canal Economic Zone
Governs the Suez Canal Economic Zone and runs a one-stop shop for companies that locate there.
Visit SCZONE (opens in a new tab)Source: SCZONE, rules and regulations page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 1 more organization
- Meet requirements
Industrial land and licensing authority
IDA
Industrial Development Authority
Issues approvals for industrial projects as one of the licensing authorities at GAFI's Investors Services Center.
Visit IDA (opens in a new tab)Source: GAFI, licensing authorities at the Investors Services Center (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Customs authority
Egyptian Customs
Egyptian Customs Authority
Runs customs clearance and the Advanced Export system, and has a support unit for exporters and investors.
Visit Egyptian Customs (opens in a new tab)Source: Egyptian Customs Authority, Exporters and Investors Support Unit (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Meet requirements
Tax authority
ETA
Egyptian Tax Authority
Registers taxpayers and runs the Taxpayer Portal and the electronic invoice system.
Visit ETA (opens in a new tab)Source: Egyptian Tax Authority, English home page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 1 more organization
Finance ministry
MOF
Ministry of Finance
Oversees the customs and tax authorities and publishes the monthly financial report.
Visit MOF (opens in a new tab)Source: Ministry of Finance, English home page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Industrial employers' federation
FEI
Federation of Egyptian Industries
Represents industrial chambers and offers business development and one-stop services to industrial firms.
Visit FEI (opens in a new tab)Source: Federation of Egyptian Industries, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
5. Worth knowing
Currency and settlement
The World Bank says the pound fell about 17 percent early in the 2026 regional conflict and later regained ground, as authorities allowed exchange-rate flexibility.
What to do: Confirm the settlement currency and payment terms with your bank before you sign a contract.
Source: World Bank, Macro Poverty Outlook, Egypt, October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Reserved sectors
Investment Law No. 72 of 2017 bars alcohol, weapons and national-security projects in free zones and leaves the Sinai development law's ownership rules in force.
What to do: Confirm ownership limits and prohibited activities for your sector and location with GAFI before you file.
Sources: GAFI, Free Zones investor procedural guidebook, 2025 (opens in a new tab); GAFI, Investment Law No. 72 of 2017, English text (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Public debt and arrears
The World Bank reports budget sector debt at 82.5 percent of GDP at end-June 2025, with external government debt at 21.5 percent.
What to do: Check payment terms with public buyers and agencies before you commit capital.
Source: World Bank, Macro Poverty Outlook, Egypt, October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Electricity
The World Bank says pipeline gas supplies were disrupted in 2026 and the authorities raised fuel and electricity prices.
What to do: Ask your site operator how power and gas supply and prices are set before you site a plant.
Source: World Bank, Macro Poverty Outlook, Egypt, October 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 1 more
Foreign workforce limits
Foreign workers may be 10 percent of an investment project's workforce, or 20 percent if qualified Egyptians are not available.
What to do: Size hiring around the cap and confirm the current rule with GAFI.
Source: GAFI, investment facilitations and incentives page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
6. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare Egypt with other countriesSet Egypt beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
Turn this guide into your Egypt project.
Use Promote:Global to explore markets, understand requirements and organize your next steps.
Promote:Egypt is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of October 31, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.