Economic regions of Egypt

Presidential Decree 495/1977 divided Egypt into eight (later seven after Matrouh was merged into Alexandria) economic regions for economic and physical planning purposes, that do not have any new administrative representation in the local government hierarchy.

Instead, each region is composed of a number of contiguous governorates, with one declared as capital of the region (that governorate's capital city).

Art. 2 established a Higher Committee for Regional Planning in each region, headed by the governor of that region's capital, and comprising the governors, heads of the Local Executive Councils, and the head of the national-level General Organization for Physical Planning as secretary general.

Art. 3 set out a Planning Administration for each region that is affiliated to the Ministry of (Economic) Planning. In 2008 this was changed to a Regional Center for Urban Planning and Development affiliated to the GOPP. However, it was believed that planning based on these units was unrealistic thus decentralization efforts were put in place.

Economic regions
[[File:أقاليم مصر.png|right|thumb|200px|Map of Egypt's regional units for physical planning purposes.

{{legend|#DFDFDF|Greater Cairo Region}} {{legend|#80D0FF|Alexandria Region}} {{legend|#90FF80|Delta Region}} {{legend|#FFAE80|Suez Canal Region}} {{legend|#FF80DF|North Upper Egypt Region}} {{legend|#F0FF80|Central Upper Egypt Region}} {{legend|#8E80FF|Southern Upper Egypt Region}} ]]

There are seven regional units, containing the following governorates. In 2014, plans were discussed to expand the seven to eleven but it didn't happen.


 * Greater Cairo Region
 * Cairo Governorate (Cairo as capital)- Giza Governorate - Qalyubia Governorate
 * Alexandria Region
 * Alexandria Governorate (Alexandria as capital)- Beheira Governorate - Matruh Governorate


 * Delta Region
 * Damietta Governorate (Tanta as capital)- Monufia Governorate - Gharbia Governorate - Kafr El Sheikh Governorate - Dakahlia Governorate
 * Suez Canal Region
 * Ismailia Governorate (Ismailia as capital) - Sharqia Governorate - Port Said Governorate - Suez Governorate - North Sinai Governorate - South Sinai Governorate
 * North Upper Egypt Region
 * Minya Governorate (Minya as capital)- Beni Suef Governorate - Faiyum Governorate
 * Asyut Region
 * Asyut Governorate (Asyut as capital) - New Valley Governorate
 * Southern Upper Egypt Region
 * Sohag Governorate - Qena Governorate - Luxor Governorate - Aswan Governorate (Aswan as capital)- Red Sea Governorate