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Find out moreWelcome to the latest edition of Law Update titled “Rise of Generative AI.”
In this edition, we dive into the dynamic world of Technology, Media, and Telecommunications (TMT) across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. TMT continues to play a vital role in positioning the region as an international business and social hub, driving significant growth and innovation.
Our focus in this Law Update is on the sector’s ongoing potential to advance and propel the region toward a more digital economy. We explore the benefits of embracing a digital transformation and how local authorities have responded by enhancing regulations to accommodate the evolving TMT landscape.
This edition covers a range of topics, including – the new Telecommunications & Information Technology Law in Saudi Arabia, the intricacies of trademarks in the Metaverse, and the legal challenges faced by the video game industry. Additionally, we take a regional perspective, discussing jurisdictions such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, and Bahrain to provide a comprehensive understanding of the TMT landscape.
We hope you thoroughly enjoy this packed issue of Law Update, filled with captivating articles that address key legal issues within a vital sector for the region.
Read the full editionMohamed Gabr - Partner, Head of Corporate Commercial - Egypt - Corporate / Mergers and Acquisitions
Samih A. Talaat
Law No. 162 of 2018 (the ‘Law’) and Ministerial Decree No. 4200 of 2018 (the ‘Decree’) pertaining to the establishment of International Branch Campuses (‘IBC(s)’) of foreign universities in Egypt provide two paths for foreign universities to establish an IBC in Egypt: (i) by applying directly before the Ministry of Higher Education (the ‘Ministry’); or (ii) by applying through an Educational Institution.
Educational Institutions are special purpose vehicles, established by virtue of a Presidential Decree, with a mandate to set up IBCs and handle all administrative issues relating to them. The Law and the Decree expressly prohibit Educational Institutions to grant any sort of academic degrees to students; the degrees are issued by the IBC with which the Education Institution has engaged.
In order to set up an IBC directly, the foreign university must present to the Ministry, among other documents: (i) a detailed study outlining the proof of legal ownership of the land, on which the IBC will be established, and the readiness of such land to host the IBC; (ii) a financial feasibility study detailing the IBC’s sources of income, flow of funds and budget; (iii) the proposed governance structure; (iv) a detailed study including the academic policies, syllabi, grading and examination schemes to be implemented in the IBC; and (v) a plan outlining the mechanism to be adopted to allow enrolled students to complete their studies in case the IBC is incapable of continuing its operations.
In order to establish an IBC through an Educational Institution, the latter must present to the Ministry the same documents required under option A above as well as: (i) the Educational Institution’s name, objectives and proposed structure; (ii) the IBC(s) to be hosted by the Educational Institution and the draft agreement(s) to be concluded with the foreign university or universities; (iii) a list of the Educational Institution’s shareholders and their nationalities; and (iv) an undertaking from the Educational Institution’s shareholders that it shall not grant any academic degrees and shall not interfere in the academic affairs of the IBC(s).
Additionally, the Decree mandates that a joint-stock company cannot become a shareholder in an Educational Institution unless its constitutional documents set out limitations on the disposal of the shares in any form, the change of the shareholding structure and the change in the company’s capital, without the Ministry’s prior approval.
The IBC or the Educational Institution (as applicable) will need to pay: (i) licensing fees amounting to five percent of its budget to obtain the licence; and (ii) a yearly service fee, amounting to two percent of the total annual tuition fees, payable to the Egyptian Government. Additionally, the IBC shall have the sole discretion of determining its tuition fees. However, such fees shall be quoted in Egyptian Pounds for Egyptian students. They may be quoted in a foreign currency for Non-Egyptian students. However, tuition fees cannot be raised above the rates of increase outlined to students prior to their enrolment.
In order to establish an IBC, the following steps need to be taken:
Ever since the issuance of the Law and the Decree, many well-renowned universities across the globe as well as Egyptian investors have expressed interest in setting up IBCs. This aligns with the Egyptian Government’s development of the New Administrative Capital.
Al Tamimi & Company’s Egypt team regularly advises on Education setups. For further information please contact Mohamed Gabr (m.gabr@tamimi.com).
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