Licensing shops, restaurants and cafés in Egypt: the public shops law and local licensing centres

The law and the authority

• Law 154 of 2019 regulates the licensing and supervision of public shops.
• The application is filed with the licensing centre of the local unit where the shop is located. Some services or appointments may also be available through Digital Egypt.
• If the activity includes producing, importing or selling food, the food establishment must also be registered with the National Food Safety Authority on the unified registration platform.
• The company’s commercial register and tax card are separate procedures, described in the company-setup and tax guides.

What is usually prepared

The licensing centre will ask for proof of lawful occupation of the premises, identity or company papers, and materials showing that the fire, safety and health rules for that activity are met. Food establishments are ordinarily also asked for health certificates for staff. Drawings, inspections and payment items follow the centre and the executive regulations then in force; this page does not state fees or statutory time limits that are not in an official text we checked.

A practical order of steps

1. Complete the commercial register and tax registration if you will operate through a company.
2. Confirm the conditions that apply to the address and the activity with the competent licensing centre.
3. Prepare the file and file the licence application as the centre requires.
4. Complete the inspection, and, for food activities, food-establishment registration and staff health certificates.
5. Do not open to the public before the licence is issued.

How Wang Fu can help

• Preparing and translating the file (Chinese, Arabic, English).
• Interpreting when you meet the authorities or file papers.