Law of Egypt

Module 3

Governorates, local administration and religious communities: the unitary state, local government, personal status jurisdiction for Muslims, Christians and Jews, and places of worship

Egypt is a unitary state: there is one legislature, one system of courts and one body of national law. For administration, the territory is divided into governorates (the number has changed over time, with a new administrative capital east of Cairo), each divided into centres, cities, districts and villages. Governors are appointed by the President and represent the executive; local councils are provided for in the Constitution. Alongside this territorial structure the law recognises religious communities in personal status: the Constitution (Article 3) points to the principles of the laws of Egyptian Christians and Jews for their personal status and religious affairs, while Muslims are governed by statutes drawn from Islamic jurisprudence. Unlike some other countries in the region, Egypt has no separate religious courts: religious courts were abolished in 1955, and state family courts decide personal status disputes for everyone. This module answers a practical question: which authority decides, and which rules does it apply to this person?

General education on the law of Egypt, using invented people and businesses. It states laws and procedures in simplified form and is not legal advice. The law and its practice change, and every case turns on its facts, the authority and the community concerned. It does not offer legal representation or a legal opinion on any case. Consult an Egyptian advocate for any real matter.

This course was written on 5 November 2026. To the best of our knowledge, it describes the law of Egypt as it stood on that date. Laws change, and we may have missed or misunderstood something. If you notice a change, or have other information, please do not hesitate to contact us: we will review it and update the course. We do not claim to be the final source of the law.