Egypt Company Search Guide 2026: How to Verify an Egyptian Business

TL;DR. Egyptian companies are registered with the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) through the Commercial Register system. The primary portal is at gafi.gov.eg. Basic searches are available in partial English; certified extracts cost EGP 10 to EGP 200 (approximately USD 0.20 to USD 4.00). Egypt is not on the FATF grey list and plays an active role in MENAFATF, the regional AML/CFT body. Foreign buyers can access the portal but some advanced services require Arabic navigation.

What is the official Egypt business registry?

Egypt’s company registration system operates through two linked agencies. The General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) at gafi.gov.eg serves as the primary one-stop shop for company incorporation and a central access point for investment-related registrations. The Commercial Registry (Sijil al-Tigariyy) under the Ministry of Internal Trade and Supply maintains the underlying registry database, administered through the General Administration of Commercial Registration.

In practice, GAFI serves as the registration authority for most business types under Egypt’s investment promotion framework, including joint stock companies, limited liability companies, and entities in free zones. The legal basis is the Investment Law No. 72 of 2017 (which replaced Law No. 8 of 1997) and the Companies Law No. 159 of 1981 for corporate governance.

The Invest in Egypt platform at investinegypt.gov.eg is GAFI’s English-language investor-facing portal, which provides some search functionality and company information for foreign users. For deeper registry searches, the Arabic-language commercial register database is the authoritative source, though English summaries are available for key fields.

Egypt’s company registry covers joint stock companies (Sharika Musahama), limited liability companies (Sharika Musahama Mahduda / LLC), sole proprietorships, branches of foreign companies, and free zone entities. Free zone companies registered under the GAFI framework have a slightly different registration path but remain part of the central commercial registry. The registry maintains historical depth going back several decades, though pre-digitization records may have limited online availability.

GAFI’s commercial register integrates with the Egyptian Tax Authority (ETA) at eta.gov.eg, which issues tax cards linked to the commercial register number. This integration means that a company’s commercial registration and tax status can be cross-referenced through the same administrative workflow.

What can you search?

The GAFI and commercial registry portals support searches on:

• Company name (Arabic or transliterated)
• Commercial register number (the primary identifier)
• Tax card number
• Director name (Arabic)

Search results return the company’s commercial register number, registration date, company type, registered address, and current status. For investment companies registered through GAFI, additional details may include authorized capital, paid-up capital, and business activity codes.

Enhanced searches including shareholder listings, director records, and certified extracts require account registration and, in some cases, direct engagement with the commercial registry office. The online system provides a summary view; detailed certified extracts require a formal document request.

Data is updated on a filing-event basis. Annual balance sheets, director changes, and capital amendments are filed with the registry and reflected upon processing. Digitization of historical records is ongoing, so older companies may have partial electronic records.

How much does it cost?

Prices are based on GAFI and commercial registry published fee schedules as of May 2026. The EGP/USD conversion used is approximately 0.020 (based on prevailing exchange rates in May 2026, following Egypt’s managed float devaluation cycles since 2022). Note that the Egyptian pound has experienced major valuation changes; USD equivalents should be treated as approximate.

Do you need a local account or ID?

An account on the GAFI portal or the Invest in Egypt platform is required for enhanced search access and document orders. Account registration accepts an email address. For GAFI-platform services, foreign nationals can register with a passport. Some services within the commercial registry system (particularly certified document orders processed through physical registry offices) may require an Egyptian national ID or a local representative.

For standard online searches and document orders through GAFI’s digital channels, foreign buyers can complete the process without an Egyptian national ID. For certified extracts from physical registry offices, a local legal agent or secretarial firm is typically the practical route.

Is the website in English?

Partial. GAFI’s investor-facing portal at investinegypt.gov.eg is primarily in English and covers company registration guidance, investment zone information, and basic company search for GAFI-registered entities. The main GAFI portal at gafi.gov.eg has English-language sections but defaults to Arabic for many registry functions.

The underlying commercial registry database operates in Arabic. Company names are recorded in Arabic, with transliterations available for some entries. Director names, addresses, and company purposes are primarily in Arabic. Certified document outputs are in Arabic, with certified English translations available through authorized translators at additional cost.

Foreign compliance buyers should plan for Arabic-language document handling or budget for certified translation of extracts.

What’s the turnaround time?

Basic company status searches and profile summaries are instant via the GAFI digital portals.

Certified extracts from the commercial registry typically take 3 to 7 business days when ordered online or through the registry office. Urgent processing may be available at additional cost. Translation of certified documents into English adds further time through a certified translation service.

For free zone companies registered through GAFI, the GAFI one-stop shop typically processes document requests within 3 to 5 business days.

Is there an API?

No public API is available from GAFI or the Egyptian commercial registry for company data queries. The digital portals are web-based without an open data interface. Automated bulk access is not permitted under the system’s terms of use.

The Egyptian Tax Authority offers an online verification service for tax card numbers at eta.gov.eg, which can cross-reference a company’s tax registration status against the commercial register number, but this is not an API.

Commercial data suppliers with Egypt coverage (see Local data suppliers section) offer API access to Egyptian company data for platform integration.

What you legally cannot do

Egypt’s Personal Data Protection Law No. 151 of 2020 governs personal data processing. Director names, shareholder details, and addresses extracted from the commercial registry constitute personal data under the law. Processing for AML and KYC compliance purposes is a legitimate use case, but redistribution of personal data from registry records requires appropriate legal basis and compliance with the law’s requirements.

Egypt’s AML/CFT framework is administered by the Egyptian Anti-Money Laundering Unit (EMLCU) at emlcu.gov.eg, established under Law No. 80 of 2002 (as amended) on Anti-Money Laundering. Financial institutions and designated non-financial businesses must conduct customer due diligence consistent with EMLCU requirements.

Egypt is a member of the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF), the FATF-style regional body for the MENA region. GAFI’s compliance framework operates in alignment with MENAFATF recommendations, which track closely with FATF standards. For cross-border counterparty due diligence, the Global Business Due Diligence Guide covers Egypt in the MENA compliance context.

Practical tips for foreign compliance buyers

• The commercial register number is the anchor. Egyptian companies are identified by their commercial register number (Raqm al-Sijil al-Tigariyy), a sequential numeric identifier issued at registration. Always verify the number against the GAFI or ETA portal rather than relying on the company’s self-reported number.
• Cross-check the Tax Authority record. The Egyptian Tax Authority at eta.gov.eg issues tax cards linked to the commercial register number. Verifying that the tax card is active and matches the commercial register entry provides a secondary confirmation of the entity’s legitimacy and good standing.
• Arabic name variants require care. Egyptian company names are formally recorded in Arabic. Transliterations vary, and the same company may appear under different English spellings across documents. When verifying, use the Arabic name from the registry as the authoritative reference.
• Free zone entities have a different legal framework. Companies in Egypt’s free zones (e.g., Port Said Free Zone, Nasr City Free Zone, GAFI investment zones) operate under the Investment Law framework rather than the Companies Law. Their operational restrictions, tax treatment, and ownership rules differ from mainland Egyptian companies. Check whether a counterparty is a free zone entity or a mainland company.
• MENAFATF membership signals AML reform progress. Egypt is not on the FATF grey list. Its MENAFATF membership and active role in regional AML/CFT coordination are positive compliance signals. Correspondent banking relationships with Egyptian financial institutions are generally at standard due diligence levels, not EDD.
• GAFI integration with investment approvals. For companies in regulated sectors (banking, insurance, utilities, strategic industries), additional approvals from sector-specific regulators are required alongside GAFI registration. The Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) at fra.gov.eg covers non-banking financial institutions, insurance, and capital markets.

Alternatives if you cannot access GAFI directly

• Aggregator search (free, indicative only): OpenCorporates has limited Egypt coverage. International databases covering Egyptian entities are sparse compared to OECD markets. OpenCorporates data should be treated as indicative only.
• Invest in Egypt portal (investinegypt.gov.eg): GAFI’s English-language investor portal provides a more accessible search interface for foreign users and covers GAFI-registered investment entities.
• Commercial data suppliers (see section below): provide packaged company intelligence combining registry and commercial data for Egypt.
• Local legal agents: For certified document retrieval, Egyptian law firms and secretarial services specializing in foreign investor support can navigate the Arabic-language commercial registry efficiently.

Local data suppliers

• Dun & Bradstreet Egypt (dnb.com). Global data provider with MENA coverage including Egypt. Offers company reports and credit risk scoring for Egyptian entities.
• I-Score Egypt (i-score.com.eg). Egypt’s government-licensed credit bureau under the Central Bank of Egypt. Primarily covers consumer credit but also provides commercial credit data for Egyptian companies and their principals.

Use the GAFI commercial register for the authoritative company registration record. Use a commercial data supplier when you need financial risk scoring or director-linked credit history on top of the registry extract.

FAQ

Can a foreign company access the Egypt GAFI registry directly?

Yes, with limitations. GAFI’s Invest in Egypt portal is accessible internationally and provides English-language search for GAFI-registered entities. The underlying commercial registry operates in Arabic, and certified extracts are issued in Arabic. Foreign buyers typically need a local legal agent for certified document retrieval and translation. Account registration on the GAFI platform accepts foreign passport credentials.

What is the commercial register number in Egypt?

The commercial register number (Raqm al-Sijil al-Tigariyy) is the primary identifier for Egyptian companies. It is a sequential numeric identifier issued at registration. The format includes the governorate code and a sequential number. Free zone entities have separate registration numbers within the GAFI investment zone system. Always verify the commercial register number against the GAFI or ETA records.

What entity types are registered with GAFI and the Commercial Registry?

The registry covers joint stock companies (Sharika Musahama, equivalent to a public limited company), limited liability companies (Sharika Mesahama Mahdudah, LLC), sole proprietorships, branches of foreign companies, and free zone entities. Partnerships and joint ventures may also be registered. Non-profit associations are registered separately with the Ministry of Social Solidarity. Banks and financial institutions require additional licensing from the Central Bank of Egypt.

Does Egypt have a beneficial ownership (UBO) registry?

Egypt has introduced beneficial ownership requirements as part of its AML/CFT reforms aligned with MENAFATF recommendations and FATF Recommendation 24. Companies are required to disclose persons with material ownership or control. However, a publicly searchable UBO register is not yet fully operational as of May 2026. Beneficial ownership data is collected through the commercial registry and tax authority channels and is accessible to competent authorities conducting AML investigations. Egypt’s EMLCU (Anti-Money Laundering Unit) has oversight of these requirements.

How current is the data in GAFI?

GAFI and the commercial registry update records on a filing-event basis. Companies are required to file changes to directors, shareholders, and capital structure within specified timeframes. Annual balance sheets are filed with the registry. In practice, compliance with filing deadlines is uneven among Egyptian companies, particularly SMEs. Recent filings may take several days to appear in the online system. For time-sensitive verification, follow up with a direct inquiry to the registry or a local legal agent.

Is Egypt on the FATF grey list?

No. Egypt is not on the FATF Jurisdictions Under Increased Monitoring (grey) list as of May 2026. Egypt is a member of MENAFATF (the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force), the FATF-style regional body, and has been an active participant in regional AML/CFT capacity building. Standard due diligence applies for Egyptian counterparties, though compliance teams should still conduct full KYC in line with their institution’s policies. Current FATF status can be verified at fatf-gafi.org.

What is the difference between GAFI, the Commercial Registry, and the Tax Authority?

GAFI (General Authority for Investment and Free Zones) is the investment promotion and one-stop-shop registration authority for investment companies and free zone entities. The Commercial Registry (under the Ministry of Internal Trade) maintains the central registry database for all commercial entities. The Egyptian Tax Authority (ETA) issues tax cards linked to commercial register numbers. For full due diligence, verify the commercial register entry through GAFI or the registry office, and cross-check with the ETA for tax card status and compliance.

Last verified: May 2026. Source: General Authority for Investment and Free Zones Egypt (gafi.gov.eg), Egyptian Anti-Money Laundering Unit (emlcu.gov.eg), MENAFATF (menafatf.org), FATF (fatf-gafi.org). For the full global due diligence framework, see our Global Business Due Diligence Guide.