GAFI CEO Participates in Roundtable with Emirates NBD Clients in Dubai to Discuss Investment and Expansion Opportunities in Egypt 
In line with the directives of Dr. Mohamed Farid, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, to strengthen economic and investment relations between Egypt and the United Arab Emirates and attract Emirati companies and brands to the Egyptian market, Dr. Mohamed Awad, CEO of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI CEO), participated in a roundtable organized by Emirates NBD at its headquarters in Dubai. The roundtable brought together a number of the bank’s clients, including investors and companies interested in learning more about Egypt’s investment climate, as well as existing investors in the Egyptian market seeking to expand their operations.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Mohamed Awad outlined the State’s efforts to foster an attractive investment climate, reaffirming GAFI’s commitment to maintaining direct engagement with investors, promoting available investment opportunities and incentives, listening to companies’ plans and aspirations, and working to address any challenges they may face.
The roundtable was organized as part of the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between GAFI and Emirates NBD on 14 December 2025. The MoU aims to promote foreign direct investment inflows into Egypt, provide banking and financing solutions to investors, and leverage the bank’s international network to promote Egypt’s business environment and investment incentives, including the Golden License.
The meeting featured a presentation by Mr. Ahmed Zuhair, Head of the Central Department of Foreign Investment Attraction at GAFI, highlighting recent developments in Egypt’s investment environment, its competitive advantages, and investment opportunities in priority sectors. These include logistics, transport and supply chains; agriculture; information and communications technology (ICT) and outsourcing services; engineering, textiles, automotive, and pharmaceutical industries; green hydrogen; education; healthcare; tourism; and hospitality.
The presentation also highlighted the services provided by GAFI to investors throughout the various stages of their projects, helping facilitate incorporation and expansion procedures and enhance the competitiveness of the Egyptian market.
The meeting also featured an open discussion with investors on investment opportunities, incentives, and procedures, as well as an exchange of views on the future expansion plans of investors already operating in the Egyptian market. The discussions are expected to support continued engagement and follow-up on potential cooperation opportunities with the bank’s clients.
Emirates NBD has been operating in the Egyptian market since June 2013, following its acquisition of the full assets of BNP Paribas Egypt. The bank currently provides its services through approximately 61 branches, offering corporate and retail banking services, project and international trade finance, cash management, private banking and wealth management, as well as financing and investment solutions.