Egypt Corporate M&A 2026: Egypt Chapter Featured in Chambers Global Practice Guide

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Chambers and Partners has published the Corporate M&A 2026 Global Practice Guide, featuring the Egypt chapter contributed by Mohamed Hashish, Heba El Abd and Mariam Rabie from Soliman, Hashish & Partners.

The Egypt chapter provides a practical overview of the legal and regulatory framework governing mergers and acquisitions in Egypt, with a focus on recent developments affecting merger control, foreign investment, public tender offers, corporate governance, fintech regulation and investment activity.

The publication is particularly relevant for multinational companies, investors and financial institutions. It also supports businesses considering transactions, acquisitions or expansion in Egypt.

Key Takeaways

• Egypt recorded significant M&A growth during 2025, driven by domestic and regional transactions
• The new pre-merger control regime became fully effective on 1 June 2024
• Egypt continues expanding reforms supporting foreign direct investment (FDI)
• Fintech and non-banking financial services remain among the fastest-growing sectors
• The Golden Licence framework continues supporting strategic investment projects
• Regulatory developments continue strengthening transparency, governance and investor confidence

Egypt’s M&A Market Continues to Evolve

According to the guide, Egypt’s mergers and acquisitions market witnessed notable growth during 2025, with domestic and intra-regional transactions continuing to drive market activity.

Key sectors attracting investment include financial services, fintech, healthcare, infrastructure, tourism, real estate and renewable energy.

For investors assessing acquisition opportunities, this growth also reinforces the relevance of private M&A transactions in Egypt.

The publication further highlights Egypt’s broader economic and regulatory reforms aimed at improving the business environment, enhancing market efficiency and attracting foreign direct investment across multiple sectors.

Egypt’s New Merger Control Framework

One of the most significant legal developments discussed in the guide is the implementation of Egypt’s new pre-merger control regime under the amended Egyptian Antitrust Law.

The framework became effective on 1 June 2024, replacing the previous post-notification system. Transactions constituting an “economic concentration”, including mergers, acquisitions and certain joint ventures, may now require prior approval from the Egyptian Competition Authority (ECA) before completion.

The publication also discusses the expanding regulatory role of both the Egyptian Competition Authority and the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA) in reviewing qualifying transactions involving regulated financial activities.

These reforms continue reshaping transaction structuring, due diligence considerations and regulatory planning for investors and multinational companies operating in Egypt.

Foreign Investment and the Golden Licence

The guide also explores Egypt’s ongoing efforts to facilitate foreign investment through legislative and regulatory reforms. These reforms are also relevant to companies evaluating the broader requirements for doing business in Egypt. They also support businesses planning market entry or expansion.

Among the key investment mechanisms highlighted is the “Golden Licence” framework established under the Egyptian Investment Law. This framework allows qualifying strategic projects to obtain a unified approval covering establishment, operation and management without requiring multiple governmental permits and approvals.

The publication explains that projects contributing to infrastructure, renewable energy, exports, technology transfer, localisation and employment generation may qualify for the framework, subject to applicable conditions.

The guide further discusses recent reforms relating to foreign ownership restrictions, importation activities and private free zones as part of Egypt’s broader strategy to enhance foreign direct investment and improve the investment climate.

Fintech and Digital Transformation in Egypt

Fintech and non-banking financial services continue playing a major role in Egypt’s evolving investment landscape.

The guide highlights recent regulatory developments relating to:

• Digital banks
• Fintech licensing
• Robo-advisory services
• Artificial intelligence in financial services
• Digital financial platforms
• SPAC regulations
• Fintech sandbox frameworks
• Technology-driven risk assessment systems

The publication also references recent Financial Regulatory Authority decrees supporting innovation, digital transformation and financial inclusion across Egypt’s financial sector.

These developments continue positioning Egypt as an increasingly important fintech and investment hub within the region.

Labour Law and Data Protection Developments

The Chambers guide also addresses important legislative developments affecting businesses and investors operating in Egypt.

These developments include:

• The New Egyptian Labour Law No. 14 of 2025
• Executive Regulations of the Data Protection Law
• Establishment of the Personal Data Protection Centre
• Recognition of remote work models
• Enhanced employment protections
• Expanded compliance obligations relating to personal data processing

The publication highlights how these reforms continue modernising Egypt’s regulatory environment for both local and international businesses.

Corporate Governance and Transaction Regulation

The guide further provides insight into Egypt’s corporate governance and transaction regulatory framework, including:

• Mandatory tender offer rules
• Disclosure obligations
• Shareholder protections
• Due diligence considerations
• Directors’ duties
• Regulatory approvals in M&A transactions

The publication reflects the increasing emphasis placed on transparency, governance and investor protection in strategic transactions and capital markets activity in Egypt. This is closely connected to the wider discussion of corporate governance in Egypt, especially where transactions involve disclosure, shareholder rights and board-level duties.

Egypt’s Position as a Regional Investment Hub

Despite ongoing global and regional economic challenges, Egypt continues implementing reforms designed to strengthen investor confidence and facilitate cross-border investment activity.

With continuing developments across competition law, investment regulation, fintech, labour law, corporate governance and data protection, Egypt remains one of the region’s most strategically significant markets for mergers, acquisitions and foreign direct investment.

The Egypt chapter featured in the Chambers Global Practice Guide – Corporate M&A 2026 reflects these ongoing developments and provides valuable legal and commercial insight into Egypt’s evolving investment environment.

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Access the Egypt chapter featured in the Chambers Global Practice Guide – Corporate M&A 2026.