Company Registration in Egypt - Commercial Registry

For a company to be legally registered in Egypt, the law involves a detailed incorporation procedure to be completed with the local Trade Register, kept by the Commercial Registry (Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade), with offices at the investor service centres of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI). While setting up a company in Egypt is the main function of the Trade Register in Egypt, this authority has other important roles too. In the following lines, we will discuss the main aspects of this institution and the Trade Register in general. Our Egyptian agents can represent international and local investors in business formation and other procedures linked to this institution.

Short Facts
Trade Register in Egypt is known as	Commercial Register
Trade Register in Egypt is managed by	The Commercial Registry (Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade); companies register through GAFI's investor service centres
Main function	Registration of companies in Egypt
Other roles of the Trade Register in Egypt	– keeping company records, – registering business updates, – providing access to company data, – issuing certificates, etc.
Trade name verification & reservation	With the Trade Register in Egypt through GAFI
Compliance and responsibilities	Sustaining businesses in Egypt to meet the legal requirements
Required documents for business registration	– Articles & Memorandum of Association, – copies of shareholders’ IDs/passports, – proof of business address & paid incorporation fee
Application form	Provided by the Trade Register in Egypt
Issuing Certificate of Incorporation (YES/NO)	YES
Types of business updates you need to register	For changing: – company name, – business address, – shareholders, – management, etc.
Archiving company data (YES/NO)	YES
Authorized representative/agent for business registration	Recommended. You can collaborate with our Egyptian lawyers.
Electronic signature accepted for company documents (YES/NO)	YES
Other facilities provided	– license application, – documentation for international trade, etc.
Working with our lawyers in Egypt	We offer legal representation at the Trade Register in Egypt with a power of attorney.

How to register a business with the Egyptian Trade Register

The company registration in Egypt is done through the Trade Register and its local agencies. Here's what you need to prepare to incorporate your company:

you must check and reserve the trade name, taking into account the fact that it must be unique.
another important step is the preparation of documents for business registration in Egypt, taking into account the chosen structure.
it is necessary to complete an application form containing details about the company, activities, shareholders, etc.
the incorporation fee is also paid through the Trade Register in Egypt, using the GAFI portal.

Business registration in Egypt can be done online, using the platform mentioned above, but also in person at the counter. In both cases, our lawyers in Egypt can represent you with a power of attorney to ensure the process is smooth and without complications. We invite you to explore the following infographic with details on this subject:

What documents are required for registering a company in Egypt?

Here are the documents required for business registration in Egypt:

Articles and Memorandum of Association stand at the base of forming a company in Egypt;
copies of shareholders’ IDs are also solicited, alongside proof of the registered business address;
the application form provided by the Trade Register in Egypt must contain information about shareholders, deposited capital, directors, representative agent (as the case may be), business address;
proof of paid capital;
notarized signatures, etc.

The documents required for company registration in Egypt must include detailed information about the activities of the company to be incorporated. Also, as a precaution, make sure all documents are translated into Arabic and notarized. But more about the Egyptian Trade Register and the documents required for incorporating a company can be obtained from our agents.

What are the main roles of the Trade Register in Egypt?

In addition to registering companies, the Egyptian Trade Register has other roles. For example:

keeps records of companies in Egypt through a digital registry;
registers any changes in a company incorporated in Egypt;
ensures all businesses comply with the local legislation;
issues registration certificates for companies of other types, as appropriate.

Altering company information and notifying the Egyptian Trade Register

The main role of the Trade Register in Egypt is to register companies. The institution also serves in other cases. For example, all changes made to a company must be registered with the Trade Register in Egypt through a notification to this effect. Also, if the company changes its structure, shareholders or capital, these things must be announced and registered with this institution.

Please explore this video presentation made by our specialists with details about the Egyptian Trade Register:

Number of companies in Egypt

Here are some statistical data about companies operating in Egypt:

In December 2024, there were 189,000 companies registered in Egypt.
Over 1,800 US companies are established and active in Egypt.

Given this information about the company registration in Egypt, all that remains is to contact us and find out more about our services. We can represent you to the Trade Register in Egypt when you want to incorporate a company.