Egypt's New Investment Law: What Foreign Companies Need to Know

Egypt's revised investment framework introduces significant changes to licensing procedures, repatriation rights, and dispute resolution mechanisms. We set out what has changed, what remains uncertain, and what companies operating in Egypt should do now.

The amendments consolidate several previously fragmented licensing regimes under a single authority, reducing the number of agencies a foreign investor must engage with before commencing operations. Repatriation rules have been liberalised for companies operating in designated priority sectors — energy, manufacturing, and technology — though the practical application of those rules still depends on Central Bank guidance that has not yet been finalised. The dispute resolution provisions introduce mandatory mediation for investment disputes below a specified threshold, with arbitration preserved for larger matters. Companies already operating under existing licences should review whether their current structures require updating, and those planning market entry should build regulatory engagement into their timeline from the outset.