Accessing Egypt’s import market begins long before the first shipment arrives.
Importing goods into Egypt is a highly regulated activity governed primarily by Law No. 121 of 1982 concerning the Importers Register and its Executive Regulation. While Egypt remains one of the largest consumer markets in the Middle East and North Africa, businesses seeking to import goods for commercial purposes must first navigate a detailed legal framework that regulates market entry, eligibility, registration, compliance, and enforcement.
At the center of this framework is the Importers Register, maintained by the General Authority for Export and Import Control (GOEIC). Registration in the Register is not a procedural formality; rather, it is the legal gateway through which individuals and companies obtain authorization to conduct commercial import activities in Egypt. The regime is designed to ensure that only qualified, financially capable, and compliant market participants engage in
