26/10/2025
Not Every Foreign Company Is a “Foreign Investor”
“Investor” Is a Legal Definition, Not a Commercial Term
Not every foreign company, even if large or well-known, qualifies as an “investor” Under the Egyptian Investment Law, the term “investor” is granted only to a person who invests in Egypt in a way that contributes to the country’s comprehensive and sustainable development — provided that the investment is made in accordance with the provisions of the Investment Law, whether the investor is Egyptian or foreign, natural or legal, and regardless of the legal system to which they are subject.
To acquire the legal title of “investor” a company must engage in one of the investment activities specifically listed in the Investment Law and its Executive Regulations, limited to the following sectors:
industry, agriculture, trade, education, health, transportation, tourism, housing, construction, sports, electricity, energy, natural resources, water, communications, and technology.
Therefore, if a company — whether national or foreign — conducts any of the above activities in accordance with the Investment Law and in a manner that contributes to Egypt’s sustainable development, it is legally recognized as an “investor” and becomes entitled to benefit from the incentives and advantages provided under the law.
Belal Nasr el-Din
Lawyer and Legal Counsel
