How to legally register a company and set up a startup in Egypt - covering entity types, the GAFI portal, tax registration, and opening a business bank account.
Choose your entity type. Most Egyptian startups register as a Limited Liability Company (LLC / Sharikat Tawsiyya Basita). An LLC requires a minimum of 2 shareholders, a minimum capital of EGP 1,000 (very low), and a registered Egyptian address.
Register via GAFI (General Authority for Investment and Free Zones) at gafi.gov.eg. Egypt has significantly streamlined registration - you can register online or at a GAFI One-Stop Shop in Cairo, Alexandria, or other cities.
Required documents: passport copies for all founders (Egyptian nationals provide national ID), proposed company name (3 options), memorandum of association, and a registered office address.
Timeline: 1-3 business days via the GAFI One-Stop Shop. Standard registration takes up to 2 weeks. One-Stop Shops are significantly faster.
Registration costs: approximately EGP 1,000-3,000 depending on company type and share capital.
After registration, obtain your Tax Identification Number (TIN) from the Egyptian Tax Authority (ETA). This is required before you can issue invoices or open a bank account.
Register for VAT (14% in Egypt) with the ETA if your annual turnover exceeds EGP 500,000. File VAT returns monthly.
Open a business bank account. Banque Misr, National Bank of Egypt, and Commercial International Bank (CIB) are the most startup-friendly banks. CIB has the best digital banking experience.
For Egyptian tech startups: apply to register with ITIDA (Information Technology Industry Development Agency) - registered tech companies get significant tax incentives and access to ITIDA grant programs.
Join the Egyptian startup ecosystem via CIEC (Cairo International Exhibition Centre), Flat6Labs Cairo, or The GrEEK Campus innovation hub in Cairo to access mentors, co-working space, and investor networks.
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