Egypt (EG)
Egypt is one of the world's oldest civilisations — the land of the Pharaohs, the Great Pyramids of Giza, and the mighty Nile River.
Consumer Rights
Right of withdrawal, contracts and debt collection in Egypt.
Consumer protection in Egypt is governed by the Consumer Protection Law No. 181 of 2018 (as amended by Law No. 20 of 2024) — a relatively modern piece of legislation modelled partly on international standards. The Consumer Protection Authority (CPA / جهاز حماية المستهلك) enforces the law. The CPA hotline is 19588. Key rights include: the right to accurate product information, protection from deceptive advertising, minimum warranty periods, and protection from dangerous products. Egyptian consumer rights are less comprehensive than EU standards — no 14-day cooling-off right for online purchases exists as of 2026, though the law provides some returns rights for defective goods.
Right of withdrawal (Widerrufsrecht)
Egypt does not have a 14-day statutory cooling-off right for online or distance purchases equivalent to EU Consumer Rights Directive. Under Law 181/2018, consumers have the right to return defective products and seek redress for misrepresentation. Some e-commerce platforms (Jumia Egypt, Noon) offer their own voluntary return policies (typically 7–14 days for unused items) — these are company policies, not legal rights. For in-store purchases, most major retailers offer exchange policies but these are voluntary. Always check the store's return policy before purchasing expensive items.
Contract cancellation
Service contracts (telecom, internet, subscriptions) can typically be cancelled by giving the period of notice stated in the contract. Mobile contracts: 30-day notice to cancel. Internet contracts: 30-day notice. Gym memberships: check contract terms — many Egyptian gyms have minimum commitment periods. Financial services contracts (insurance, investment): follow the specific insurer's cancellation procedure under the FRA regulatory framework. There is no statutory right to cancel a signed service contract without notice except in cases of material breach by the service provider.
Auto-renewal clauses are common in Egypt for mobile subscriptions, insurance policies, and internet contracts. Law 181/2018 requires that consumers be notified before automatic renewal. In practice, notification may be via SMS which is easily missed. Review all subscription contracts at signing; note renewal dates; set calendar reminders. To cancel before auto-renewal: give written notice to the provider at least 30 days before the renewal date. Telecom companies (Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat) auto-renew monthly mobile plans unless explicitly cancelled.
Debt collection — response deadlines
Informal reminders: Informal debt collection in Egypt typically begins with phone calls and SMS messages from the creditor or collection department. Credit card debt: banks call within 30 days of missed payment. Loan arrears: banks escalate to formal letters within 30–60 days. In Egyptian business culture, personal contact and negotiation for payment plans is common and often preferred to formal legal action for smaller amounts.
Court order: For formal debt recovery, Egyptian creditors may file a payment order application (أمر الأداء — Amr el-Ada') with the Summary Courts (Courts of First Instance) for debt over EGP 1,000. The court may issue an order against the debtor without a full hearing. More serious commercial debts proceed through regular civil courts. In Egypt, post-dated cheques are a common credit instrument — bounced cheques are a CRIMINAL offence under the Commercial Code, not merely a civil matter. Creditors with dishonoured cheques may file criminal complaints with the Prosecution Office.
Response deadline: Upon receiving a formal legal demand (إنذار قانوني — Indhar Qanuni), respond within the stated deadline (typically 15–30 days). If a court order (أمر أداء) is issued, you have 10 days to file an objection (تظلم). Missing this deadline allows the order to be enforced (garnishment of wages or bank accounts, seizure of assets). If you receive any formal legal document, seek legal advice immediately — Egyptian court deadlines are strict.
Consumer protection authority
Consumer Protection Authority (جهاز حماية المستهلك — CPA) — Hotline: 19588. Website: cpa.gov.eg. Handles complaints about defective goods, deceptive advertising, price gouging, and consumer fraud.
Report consumer complaints to: (1) Consumer Protection Authority (CPA): 19588 / cpa.gov.eg — for goods and services disputes; (2) Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA): for insurance, investment, and financial product complaints; (3) Central Bank of Egypt (CBE): for banking complaints (via bank's internal complaint mechanism first, then escalate to CBE); (4) National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA): 155 — for telecom complaints; (5) Police / Prosecution Office: for criminal fraud, bounced cheques, and outright theft.