EGYPT Trends and Developments Contributed by: Mohamed Hashish, Heba El Abd and Mariam Rabie, Soliman, Hashish & Partners
Soliman, Hashish & Partners 2nd Floor, Plot No.15 Ninetieth Street, New Cairo, Egypt Tel: +202 2812 4499
Email: info@shandpartners.com Web: www.shandpartners.com
Over the past few challenging years, the Egyptian government has been significantly improving the busi - ness environment in the country, which has resulted in various changes to the legal framework governing the establishment and operation of businesses in Egypt. Egypt has attracted more foreign direct investment (FDI) across multiple industries, predominantly within the financial services, technology and infrastructure sectors. Egypt was ranked ninth in the list of top source and destination economies for FDI in 2025 by UN Trade and Development in its world investment report. In 2025, Egypt was a principal driver in the growth of greenfield project values, recording a 30% increase in project values along with a 4% rise in their number. Furthermore, the value of international project finance deals in Africa increased as a result of construction megaprojects in Egypt. It is also worth noting that Egypt was ranked just outside the top ten primary destinations for greenfield projects in the digital econ - omy in 2025, leading in Africa. Despite international and local crises faced by the country over the years (including revolutions, COV - ID-19, the Russia-Ukraine war, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, inflation, foreign currency shortages and the threat of potential recession), Egypt has continued to implement its best efforts to improve the legal environ - ment to attract foreign investors and regulate certain activities under the current climate. Investment in Egypt According to Investment Law No 72 of 2017 (the “Investment Law”) and Prime Minister’s Decree No
56 of 2022, companies seeking to establish strategic or national projects that contribute to development or partnership projects between the private sector and the state, the public sector or the public business sec - tor in the areas of public utilities and infrastructure, new or renewable energy, or roads, transportation or ports, have the opportunity to apply for a single licence for the establishment, operation and management of the project (the “Golden Licence”). Such Golden Licence shall be sufficient for the operation of an investment project, with no need to apply for any further licenc - es or approvals. The Golden Licence Committee at the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) shall be responsible for the co-ordination with all the relevant governmental authorities in Egypt in order to obtain all the licences and approvals required by law for the establishment of the investment project. According to Decree No 56 of 2022, the Golden Licence shall be granted by a decision of the Prime Minister for investment projects that satisfy at least two of the following conditions: • The investment project shall contribute to the growth of exports through exporting no less than 50% of its products abroad annually, within three years from the commencement of its activity. • The investment project shall aim to reduce imports and increase industrial domestication, as well as deepening local components in its products, pro - vided that the percentage of local components in its products, including raw materials and produc - tion requirements, constitutes at least 50%, and further provided that the aforementioned percent -
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