Egypt has recently become one of the most attractive countries for investment, particularly after the success of the economic reform program in cooperation with the International Monetary Fund. Egypt’s foreign currency reserves have reached their highest levels and unemployment has decreased. This has prepared the Egyptian economy for a new phase, and the Egyptian market has become one of the most attractive investment markets.

If you would like to establish a company in Egypt or establish a branch or a commercial representation office for a US company, we can legally represent you in all procedures through our New York office. The Egyptian Investment Law has streamlined the process of establishing companies. All procedures are carried out through a single agency, the Investor Service Center, which also certifies the minutes of meetings of boards of directors and general assemblies, capital increases, changes to business activities, liquidation documents, and other corporate matters.

Legal conditions for establishing a commercial representation office

• The US company must not have branches in the Arab Republic of Egypt;

• The head office of the US company must be subject to oversight by the competent authority in the United States; and

• The activity of any representation office must be limited to studying markets and investment possibilities and serve as points of contact for head offices in the United States. They can also help overcome challenges and obstacles that correspondent banks may face in the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Representation offices are not permitted to engage in any banking or commercial activity, including performing the activities associated with commercial agents and financial brokers. After filing, offices are registered in a special register with the Central Bank of Egypt in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Shareholding Companies, Partnerships Limited By Shares, and Limited Liability Companies (the Companies Law) No. 159 of 1981.

Establishing branches of US companies in Egypt

If you own a company in the United States, you can set up a branch in Egypt.

Egyptian law specifies the procedures for establishing a branch of a foreign company in Egypt. These procedures begin with submitting an application to the Egyptian Investment Authority. Our firm, which is authorized to operate both in Egypt and the United States as an Egyptian law firm accredited by the US courts, acts as an agent of the foreign company in submitting applications, which must be accompanied by supporting documents. These documents include a copy of the company’s articles of association and a statement from the company that it intends to open a branch in Egypt, appoint a branch manager, and that it has not previously opened a branch in Egypt. All of these documents must be certified by the Egyptian Embassy in Washington D.C. and the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

We also handle all necessary procedures for obtaining residence permits for foreign employees of the company’s branch. Our office can also prepare all contracts for the company’s activities (e.g. sales and supply contracts) and legally represent companies before all official entities.