Public & Private Free Zones in Egypt — Customs & Logistics Support
Shipments entering or leaving Egypt's public and private free zones follow special customs and investment rules distinct from ordinary domestic imports. Al-Rouby helps free-zone companies and Egyptian importers review transaction documents, align GAFI and Nafeza procedures, and coordinate port-to-zone or zone-to-market clearance and delivery.
How do Egypt's public and private free zones differ from standard imports and SCZone?
Public and private free zones in Egypt operate under the investment framework administered by the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) in coordination with the Egyptian Customs Authority, whereas the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) operates under its own integrated economic-zone authority.
Because the customs regime, approvals and document workflow depend on which framework the receiving company operates under, we verify whether the facility is a GAFI public/private free zone (GAFI — official portal), an SCZone / TEDA Suez enterprise, or a domestic industrial-zone factory before preparing the Nafeza file.
What types of free-zone movements does Al-Rouby coordinate?
We coordinate four main movement flows: overseas imports into a free zone, outbound exports from a free zone to foreign markets, sales from a free-zone company into the Egyptian domestic market, and supplies from the domestic market into a free zone.
Scroll horizontally to compare all columns.
| Movement direction | Parties involved | Key customs & document focus |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Overseas supplier → Egyptian free zone | Foreign exporter & free-zone project | Verify free-zone licence scope, pre-shipment ACI/CargoX compliance where applicable, and bonded transfer from arrival port/airport to the zone gate |
| 2. Egyptian free zone → Foreign export market | Free-zone manufacturer/trader & overseas buyer | Prepare export customs documentation, zone exit release and container delivery to the loading seaport or airport |
| 3. Egyptian free zone → Domestic Egyptian market | Free-zone seller & domestic registered importer | Treat as an import into the domestic market: verify the buyer's Importers' Register card, HS codes, duties/taxes and regulatory approvals (e.g. GOEIC/NFSA) |
| 4. Domestic Egyptian supplier → Egyptian free zone | Local Egyptian company & free-zone entity | Align domestic export/supply documentation and zone entry procedures before trucks arrive at the zone gate |
What documents should be checked before a free-zone shipment moves?
Before dispatch, verify that the consignee name, free-zone status, invoice terms, packing list weights, HS codes and transport documents match the intended customs regime.
- For goods arriving from abroad: Confirm the arrival seaport or airport, ACID/Nafeza requirements, Bill of Lading or Air Waybill consignee wording, and bonded transport plan.
- For sales from a free zone into Egypt: Confirm the domestic buyer's Importers' Register status, product compliance certificates, valuation documents and duty/tax estimate before filing.
- Clearance timeframe: Clearance is completed very quickly for shipments without regulatory holds; otherwise, the timeframe depends entirely on the specific regulatory agency's requirements.
How does Al-Rouby support free-zone companies across Egypt?
Our team connects seaport and airport arrivals (at Ain Sokhna, Alexandria, Dekheila, Port Said, Damietta and Cairo Airport) with public and private free zones across Suez, Port Said, Ismailia, Alexandria, Cairo and Damietta.
See also our Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) page, TEDA Suez Zone page and customs and logistics consulting service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Practical questions about Free Zones in Egypt operations.
Yes. When goods move from a free zone into the Egyptian domestic market for local consumption, customs clearance follows domestic import rules — including checking the buyer's Importers' Register status, HS classification, applicable duties and taxes, and any regulatory agency approvals. The local components of goods produced in a free zone are exempt from customs duties when the goods are sold in Egypt.
We coordinate port, airport and zone-gate clearance and transport for public and private free zones across Suez (Adabiya/Port Tawfik), Ismailia, Port Said, Alexandria (Amreya), Cairo (Nasr City), Damietta and other GAFI-supervised zones.
Ensure the Bill of Lading, invoice and Nafeza filing clearly identify the free-zone entity and regime before the vessel sails, so the bonded transfer and zone entry permit align without post-arrival amendments.
Yes. Send the draft invoice, packing list, B/L or AWB and zone licence details by email or WhatsApp. We return a written list of any discrepancies and who needs to correct them before loading.
Moving cargo into, out of, or from an Egyptian free zone?
Share the free-zone location, transaction direction (import to zone, export abroad, or sale to the domestic market) and draft documents so we can map the exact customs steps.
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Information to prepare
- Name of the public or private free zone and direction of movement
- Arrival/departure seaport or airport and carrier details
- Draft invoice, packing list, HS codes and domestic importer details (if entering the local market)
Customs & Logistics Consulting in Egypt · Discuss the document review and next steps
Official requirements and practical guidance
The General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) oversees public and private free zones and investment licensing in Egypt. GAFI — General Authority for Investment and Free Zones.
Egypt's State Information Service summarises the free-zone rules, including the nine public free zones and the duty exemption for local components on local sales. State Information Service — Free zones.
NAFEZA's procedure steps explain electronic filing and ACID coordination on Egypt's national single-window platform. NAFEZA — ACID application steps.
The Egyptian Customs Authority regulates free-zone customs procedures, bonded transfers and domestic market releases. Egyptian Customs Authority.
The official resources linked above explain the applicable procedures. Al-Rouby's checklists are practical planning advice; the required documents, approvals and charges depend on the goods, origin and import regime. Customs and other competent authorities determine the outcome.
Content reviewed: · Al Rouby Customs Clearance & Logistics