Why Egypt?
The crossroads of three continents with Africa’s third-largest economy and the Suez Canal strategic advantage.
Three-Continent Access
Egypt sits at the junction of Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. Suez Canal handles 12% of global trade. Unmatched logistics positioning for import/export businesses.
100 Million Consumers
Africa’s 3rd largest economy with a domestic market of over 100 million people. Young, urbanizing population with growing consumer spending and digital adoption.
22.5% CIT — Competitive
Among the lowest corporate tax rates in Africa and the MENA region. Free Zone companies pay 0% CIT. Small businesses enjoy further reductions.
Suez Canal Economic Zone
World-class industrial zone offering 0% CIT, customs exemptions, and direct Suez Canal access. Ideal for manufacturing, logistics, and trade companies.
Investment Law Protection
Law No. 72/2017 guarantees profit repatriation, protection against nationalization, 50% discount on investment costs, and streamlined procedures through GAFI.
AfCFTA & Arab FTA
Member of both the AfCFTA and the Greater Arab Free Trade Area. Preferential access to African, Middle Eastern, and European markets through multiple trade agreements.
How Egypt Compares
Side-by-side comparison with Africa’s top jurisdictions for foreign company formation.
| Jurisdiction | CIT Rate | Min Capital | Formation | Foreign Own. | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | 27% | None | 5–7 days | 100% | Financial Hub |
| 🇳🇬 Nigeria | 30% | ~$65 | 10–15 days | 100% | Consumer Mkt |
| 🇷🇼 Rwanda | 30% | None | 24 hours | 100% | Fastest Setup |
| 🇰🇪 Kenya | 30% | ~$0.01 | 3–5 days | 100% | Tech Hub |
| 🇬🇭 Ghana | 25% | GHS 500 | 5–10 days | 100%* | Low Tax |
| 🇹🇿 Tanzania | 30% | None | 1–2 wks | 100% | Mining & Agri |
| 🇪🇬 Egypt | 22.5% | EGP 1K | 1–2 wks | 100% | MENA Bridge |
| 🇸🇳 Senegal | 30% | XOF 100K | 1–2 wks | 100% | Francophone |
* Ghana GIPC registration required for foreign enterprises with sector-specific minimum capital. Sovera Global offers formation in all 8 African jurisdictions.
Entity Types Available
Choose the right structure for your business objectives.
LLC (Sharikat Dhat Mas’ouliyya Mahdouda)
Most popular for foreign investors. Limited liability. Minimum 2 partners, no minimum capital for standard LLC. Full commercial activities.
- GAFI registration
- Articles of Association (Arabic)
- Tax registration (ETA)
- Registered office Cairo
- Commercial register entry
- Bank account introduction
Joint Stock Company (S.A.E.)
For larger enterprises. Minimum 3 founders. Authorized capital minimum EGP 250K (private) or EGP 500K (public). Can issue shares.
- GAFI registration
- Arabic & English articles
- Tax & commercial registration
- Board structure setup
- Bank account introduction
Branch Office
Foreign company extension. Must register with GAFI. Commercial activities permitted under parent license. Requires Egyptian-translated documents.
- GAFI branch registration
- Apostilled parent documents
- Arabic translations
- Tax registration
- Local registered office
How It Works
Our managed formation process from inquiry to operational company.
Document preparation
We prepare Articles of Association in Arabic, power of attorney, and all required GAFI application forms. Foreign documents apostilled and translated.
GAFI submission & review
Application submitted to the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones. Review includes capital verification and activity classification.
Commercial register & tax
Entry in the Commercial Register. Tax card issued by Egyptian Tax Authority. Social insurance registration for employees.
Bank account & operations
Introduction to CIB, National Bank of Egypt, QNB Al Ahli, or HSBC Egypt. Multi-currency accounts in EGP, USD, EUR, GBP. Trade finance available.
What’s Included
Included in package
- GAFI company registration
- Articles of Association (Arabic)
- Tax registration with ETA
- Registered address in Cairo
- Corporate bank account introduction
- Commercial register entry
- Social insurance registration
- Post-registration compliance
Documents required
- Passport copies (apostilled, translated to Arabic)
- Proof of residential address
- Proposed company name (Arabic & English)
- Business activity description
- Power of attorney (notarized, translated)
- Bank reference letter
Tax Overview
Egypt’s tax framework — among the most competitive in MENA and Africa.
| Tax | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate Income Tax | 22.5% | Standard; among lowest in Africa & MENA |
| Oil & Gas | 40.55% | Special rate for petroleum exploration & production |
| VAT | 14% | Standard; zero-rated exports |
| Withholding Tax | 10% | On dividends; 20% on interest & royalties to non-residents |
| Free Zone Companies | 0% | No CIT, customs, or sales tax for qualifying FZ enterprises |
| Investment Law Discount | 50% | Discount on investment costs (land, utilities) under Law 72/2017 |
Cost & Timeline Breakdown
Transparent pricing with no hidden fees. Everything you need to launch in Egypt.
| Item | Cost (USD) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| GAFI application | Included | Included |
| Articles (Arabic) | Included | 1–3 days |
| Tax card (ETA) | Included | 2–3 days |
| Commercial register | Included | 1–2 days |
| Social insurance | Included | 1–2 days |
| Bank account intro | Included | 3–5 days |
| Total Package | From $3,000 | 1–2 weeks |
All prices are fixed — no hourly billing. Additional services (nominee director, virtual office, compliance packages) available on request.
Speak with a Egypt Specialist
Our Africa desk provides end-to-end company formation in Egypt with local partners. Transparent advice on entity selection, tax, and compliance.
What Our Clients Say
Founders who registered their companies through Sovera Global.
“Egypt was our bridge to Africa. Sovera handled the Arabic documentation, GAFI registration, and connected us with CIB for multi-currency banking. The Suez Canal proximity sealed the deal.”
“Cairo’s startup scene is booming. 22.5% CIT is competitive and the Free Zone option was attractive. Sovera made the bureaucracy manageable.”
Official Resources
Key government agencies for company registration and investment in Egypt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes in most sectors. GAFI (General Authority for Free Zones and Investment) handles foreign investment. Some sectors require local partnership. Investment Law No. 72/2017 provides strong protections.
22.5% standard — among the lowest in MENA/Africa. Suez Canal Economic Zone and other FEZs offer further reductions. Oil and gas companies pay 40.55%. Small businesses enjoy reduced rates.
GAFI processes applications in 1-2 weeks. Name reservation takes 1-3 days. Tax and social insurance registration adds 3-5 days. Total timeline approximately 2-3 weeks.
Companies in Free Zones pay no CIT, customs duties, or sales tax on goods entering or leaving the zone. Special provisions for Suez Canal Economic Zone, Ain Sokhna, and Alexandria FZ.
Yes. Egypt sits between Africa, the Middle East, and Europe with Suez Canal access. Over 100 million consumers domestically. AfCFTA and Arab Free Trade Area membership provide vast market access.
Egypt has a large banking sector including CIB, NBE, QNB Al Ahli, HSBC Egypt. Multi-currency accounts in EGP, USD, EUR, GBP. SWIFT transfers, trade finance, and letters of credit available.
Investment Law No. 72/2017 offers 50% discount on investment costs (land, utilities), simplified procedures, guaranteed profit repatriation, and protection against nationalization.
GAFI supports remote applications through authorized representatives. A local registered address is required. Our Cairo team manages the entire process including bank account opening.
Ready to register in Egypt?
Get your personalized quote with exact pricing, timeline, and documents.
Expand your operations with specialized licensing and corporate structuring options relevant to this jurisdiction.