How domestic and foreign arbitral awards are enforced in Egypt, the 90-day annulment window, and what the courts' 2025 decisions on currency, disclosure and reasoning mean for parties drafting and running arbitrations.
Egypt is one of the region's most established arbitration jurisdictions. Its Arbitration Law is based on the UNCITRAL Model Law, Cairo hosts the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA), and Egypt has been party to the New York Convention since 1959. Even so, enforcing an award requires careful handling.
The framework
Arbitration in Egypt is governed by the Arbitration Law (Law No. 27 of 1994).
- Annulment. A party may ask the court to set aside an award made in Egypt within 90 days of being notified of it. The grounds are limited and include the absence of a valid arbitration agreement, breach of the right of defence, a tribunal exceeding its mandate, and conflict with Egyptian public policy.
- Enforcement. The successful party applies to the competent court for an enforcement order. For awards made in Egypt, the order is not granted until the 90-day annulment period has passed.
- Conditions for the order. The court checks that the award does not conflict with an earlier Egyptian judgment on the same subject, that it does not breach public policy, and that it was properly notified to the losing party.
- Foreign awards. Awards made abroad are enforced under the New York Convention, which limits the grounds on which enforcement can be refused.
The court does not review the merits of the dispute.
Lessons from the 2025 decisions
Several rulings of the Cairo Court of Appeal and the Court of Cassation in 2025 offer practical lessons:
- Currency is a public policy matter. The Court of Cassation held that an award ordering payment in US dollars, where the parties had no agreement on payment in foreign currency, was void. The currency of the claim should be clearly agreed in the contract and pleaded consistently.
- Arbitrators must disclose. An award was set aside because an arbitrator had not disclosed a professional connection with the opposing party's representative. Parties should insist on full disclosure at the outset.
- Reasoning and applicable law matter. An award was annulled where the tribunal applied a law enacted after the contract was concluded, and where key arguments were left unaddressed.
- Raise jurisdiction objections early. The right to rely on an arbitration clause can be waived if a party argues the merits in court without objecting first.
Practical steps
- Draft the clause carefully: seat, rules, number of arbitrators, language and the currency of payment.
- Run the arbitration with enforcement in mind: a reasoned award, documented notices and a clear record of each party's opportunity to present its case.
- Diarise the 90-day window after notification of the award.
- Prepare the enforcement file early: the original or certified award and arbitration agreement, with certified Arabic translations, and proof of notification.
- Trace assets in Egypt so that enforcement can follow immediately once the order is granted.
How we can help
We advise on arbitration clauses, represent parties in arbitration and annulment proceedings, and enforce domestic and foreign awards in Egypt. Contact us to discuss your matter.
This briefing reflects the position as at November 2026.
This briefing is for general information only and is not legal advice. For advice on your situation, contact us.