Question 1

Can a foreigner own 100% of an Egyptian company?

Accepted Answer

Yes, in most sectors. Under Law 159/1981 (Commercial Companies Law)
and Law 72/2017 (Investment Law), foreigners can fully own LLCs,
Joint-Stock Companies, and One-Person Companies. Restrictions apply in
a few areas: commercial agencies, importation for trade (Law 121/1982
requires an Egyptian majority for the importer-of-record), and certain
real estate in Sinai and border zones.

Question 2

What's the minimum capital for each entity?

Accepted Answer

The LLC and One-Person Company start at EGP 1,000. The Joint-Stock
Company requires EGP 250,000 issued capital: 10% on incorporation, 25%
within three months, and 100% within five years. Free Zone capital
varies by activity and is set by the GAFI Free Zone Board.
Sector-specific minimums may apply on top of these floors.

Question 3

How long does formation actually take?

Accepted Answer

LLC: 7 to 14 working days when documents are complete. One-Person
Company: 5 to 10 working days. Joint-Stock Company: 14 to 30 working
days. Free Zone: 30 to 60 days, because GAFI Free Zone Board approval
precedes incorporation. The main cause of delay is incomplete or
improperly legalised foreign documents.

Question 4

Do I need to be physically present in Egypt?

Accepted Answer

No. Formation can be completed remotely under a power of attorney
authenticated at the Egyptian embassy or consulate in your country.
The POA must authorise (a) company formation and (b) signing the
incorporation contracts before the Real Estate Registry. If the POA
holder is also a shareholder, it must include the "contracting with
self and others" clause.

Question 5

Do I need a local Egyptian partner?

Accepted Answer

Legally, no. Most activities allow 100% foreign ownership. A few
regulated activities require a local majority, most notably importation
for trade under Law 121/1982. The requirement is activity-specific; we
confirm it on the discovery call.

Question 6

What residency or visa do I get from forming a company?

Accepted Answer

Forming a company opens a path to an investor residency permit, with
term and scope tied to the investment value. The residency is renewable
and can extend to immediate family. Long-term residency tracks apply to
substantial investments. A dedicated residency page is planned; for now
we cover this on the discovery call.

Question 7

What taxes will I actually pay?

Accepted Answer

Corporate income tax is currently 22.5% on net profit. VAT is 14% on
most goods and services. Withholding tax applies to certain
cross-border payments such as dividends, royalties, and services. Free
Zone companies under Law 72 are exempt from corporate income tax and
from customs duties on imports for production. Treaty positions (UAE,
Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, China, most of Europe) often reduce withholding
on dividends and royalties. We model the after-tax position before the
entity is fixed.

Question 8

What does an advisory engagement actually look like?

Accepted Answer

Four steps. (1) Discovery call, 30 minutes in English, covering the
business, the capital, the shareholders, the sector, and the timeline.
(2) Advisory deliverable: a written memo with the recommended entity,
the tax position, the timeline, and the cost breakdown. You decide
whether to proceed before execution begins. (3) Execution mandate: our
advisors manage name reservation, contract drafting, POA, capital
deposit, registration, and the tax and social-insurance files, with
weekly written updates. (4) Handover and optional ongoing retainer.

Question 9

What can go wrong, and how do you handle it?

Accepted Answer

Three failure modes are common: (a) the wrong entity chosen under time
pressure, (b) foreign documents arriving without apostille or proper
consular authentication, and (c) a business activity that triggers an
unexpected pre-approval. We address all three on the discovery call
before any payment, and provide a written checklist of what your home
jurisdiction must produce.

Question 10

What is Investment Law 72 of 2017 and is it right for my business?

Accepted Answer

Law 72/2017 is the current Investment Law. It governs investor
guarantees, the incentive map (free zones, golden licence, special
economic zones), and the regime for Free Zone Companies operating
primarily for export. The Free Zone regime grants a full corporate-tax
and customs exemption in exchange for an export-led model and a small
turnover-based GAFI fee. It fits when most of your output leaves Egypt;
it does not fit when you sell mainly to the Egyptian local market.

Entity type	Minimum capital	Foreign ownership	Typical timeline	Best for
LLC	EGP 1,000	100% in most sectors	7–14 working days	Most foreign businesses entering Egypt
One-Person Co.	EGP 1,000	100% in most sectors	5–10 working days	Single founders who want corporate protection
Joint-Stock	EGP 250,000 issued (10% on incorporation)	100% in most sectors	14–30 working days	Larger capital, multiple shareholders, fundraising plans
Free Zone (Law 72)	Varies by activity (set by GAFI Free Zone Board)	100%	30–60 days (requires GAFI Free Zone Board approval)	Manufacturing primarily for export
Foreign Office Branch	—	100% (always a branch of the foreign parent)	21–45 working days	Representation, market research, liaison — no revenue

Enter Egypt with the right structure.

Which entity is right for your case?

The five entities, compared

Read the detail on each entity

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

One-Person Company (OPC)

Joint-Stock Company (JSC)

Free Zone Company (Law 72 of 2017)

Foreign Office Branch (Representative Office)

How we run an advisory engagement

Discovery call

Advisory deliverable

Execution managed

Handover and retainer

What foreign investors ask before entering Egypt

Tell us about your business. We will recommend the right way to enter Egypt.