Cairo Governor Dr. Ibrahim Saber chaired a comprehensive meeting at the governorate’s headquarters to discuss the mechanisms for implementing the online issuance of shop licenses via the “Digital Egypt Platform.” The meeting aligns with the directives of the political leadership and the decisions issued by the Minister of Local Development to simplify procedures, ensure good governance, and facilitate services for citizens and business owners as part of the state’s efforts toward comprehensive digital transformation.
The meeting was attended by deputy governors Ashraf Mansour, Mona El-Batrawi, Ahmad Anwar Attia El-Adl, and Omar El-Shafaei, along with Counselor Walid El-Boushi, legal advisor to the minister of local development and environment and member of the Supreme Committee and General Secretariat for Public Shop Licenses; representatives of the Chambers of Commerce divisions; district chiefs; and several officials from the governorate.
During the meeting, Governor Saber said that providing license applications via the Digital Egypt Platform represents a significant advancement that saves time and effort, primarily aiming to simplify procedures for business owners and support their investments.
Saber also stated that the new system aims to streamline procedures and accelerate the processing of license applications. This will help integrate the informal economy into the formal sector and provide an accurate, comprehensive database of public shops throughout the governorate.
Moreover, Saber instructed district chiefs to intensify awareness campaigns about the new service and to guide citizens through the steps of the online application process, ensuring they fully benefit from the “Digital Egypt” services related to public shop licensing. He also urged the prompt resolution of any obstacles encountered during the application process or the completion of procedures, emphasizing continuous coordination with relevant authorities to guarantee effective implementation of the system.
Saber further stressed the importance of ongoing coordination among the governorate, the Ministry of Local Development, and all relevant entities to ensure the effective implementation of the new system across Cairo’s districts. He added that the goal is to facilitate citizens’ access to services, enforce order within the public shop system, regulate existing activities, and create a more organized and attractive environment for investment.
Meanwhile, Counselor Walid El-Boushi, Advisor to the Ministry of Local Development, reviewed the legal and executive regulations approved by the Supreme Committee for Public Shop Licenses, as well as the easing measures introduced by Dr. Manal Awad to facilitate procedures for shop owners. He emphasized the importance of online integration to implement the principle of “issue the document once and use it multiple times” through the Digital Treasury system, ensuring full transparency and eliminating bureaucracy.
El-Boushi also stated that the new system permits the issuance of an immediate temporary operating license while the required approvals are being completed, provided that the completion period does not exceed three months. This facilitates business owners' operations and ensures their activities continue legally and in an organized manner.
The system also offers a 50% cut in applicable fees, coordinated with relevant authorities, along with the development of a unified fee structure. This step eases the burden on shop owners and encourages them to regularize their status.
Furthermore, the system allows the issuance of temporary licenses for shops located in unlicensed buildings until the end of 2027 or until the building’s status is legalized, in accordance with the applicable regulations and procedures.
The system is based on the "Digital Treasury" to issue and reuse authenticated government digital documents, supporting the state's digital transformation efforts, reducing the handling of paper documents, and contributing to faster service delivery.
Source: Media Department, Cairo governorate
