The Companies Law No. 159 of 1981 and the new Investment Law no. 72 of 2017 offer a variety of legal forms of conducting business in Egypt:
The Companies Law or Investment Law regulates limited liability companies, partnership companies limited by shares, and joint stock companies. Rules and regulations under both laws are similar. However, companies incorporated under the Investment Law are licensed by a different authority and are entitled to various taxes, customs and other incentives when invested in targeted industries (manufacturing, agriculture, trade, education, health, transportation, tourism, housing, sports, power, petrol and natural resources, water and telecommunication). Different company structures are discussed below in details.

5.1 Sole Proprietorship
Formation

• The applicant should apply to the Commercial Registration Office for registration in the Commercial Register and should be at least 21 years old.
• The applicant should be of Egyptian nationality; otherwise, it will be regulated under the Investment Law, except for exporting activity, which is allowed for any nationality.
• Own name should be used as a trade name, which should appear on the business firm.
• An amendment in the Egyptian laws recently allowed the incorporation of a sole individual company with a separate limited legal liability than its sole owner.

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