Egypt Personal Data Protection Law No. 151 of 2020 (PDPL) compliance in Egypt

Egypt Personal Data Protection Law No. 151 of 2020 (PDPL) compliance in Egypt at a glance

Since the President passed Law No. 151 of 2020 in July 2020, Egypt has had a personal data statute with its own regulator, the Personal Data Protection Center. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology says the Law criminalises processing outside the purposes data owners authorise and obliges collectors and processors to obtain licences, permits and approvals, and the Center's portal now states that Executive Regulations have been issued. The portal offers permits and licences for legal entities, Data Protection Officer certification, accreditation of data protection consultants and a questionnaire that determines obligations under the Law. No organisation-wide compliance certificate appears among those services, so evidence rests on records and the permits themselves, optionally supported by ISO/IEC 27701 or 27001 certification from an accredited body. Sterling's Dubai office helps with data mapping, notices, processor agreements and officer arrangements, using Effivity and Sterling Academy included with the engagement.

Who needs Egypt Personal Data Protection Law No. 151 of 2020 (PDPL) in Egypt, and what happens without it

These are the organisations in Egypt that most often need to show Egypt Personal Data Protection Law No. 151 of 2020 (PDPL).

• Any organisation processing personal data of people in EgyptThe Ministry of Communications and Information Technology describes Law No. 151 of 2020 as a framework between data controllers and users, and the Center's portal runs a questionnaire that determines your obligations under it.
• Data collectors and processors that need licences, permits or approvalsThe Ministry states the Law obliges collectors and processors to obtain the necessary licences, permits and approvals; the portal offers a permit or licence service for legal entities.
• Organisations appointing a Data Protection OfficerThe portal offers appointment, replacement and certification services for Data Protection Officers, with an examination for certification.
• Marketing, advertising and digital-service businessesThe Ministry says the Law sets mechanisms for personal data in online advertising and marketing and for the digital environment.
• Consultants advising on data protectionThe portal offers accreditation of data protection consultants, with documents signed digitally.

How to achieve Egypt Personal Data Protection Law No. 151 of 2020 (PDPL) compliance in Egypt

One team from the Dubai office carries the work from scoping to sign-off. Clients across Egypt are served from Sterling's Dubai office, on-site where the work needs it and remotely otherwise.

1. Discovery call and scopeEntities, locations, regulators and target date, agreed before any proposal.
2. Gap assessment against Egypt Personal Data Protection Law No. 151 of 2020 (PDPL) and the Egyptian requirements that apply to youControls you already run for your regulators and customers are reused, not rebuilt.
3. Your system built with your team in EffivityRisks, controls, evidence, incidents and reviews in one live system the auditor can see.
4. Internal audit, management review and corrective actionsYour internal auditors trained by Sterling; the evidence proven before any external review.
5. Reviews by regulators, customers and auditorsSterling supports the reviews your regulators, customers and auditors run.

The Sterling Promise: 100% on-time completion, 100% success, 8,100+ client engagements.Sterling does not certify. Certification decisions stay with independent bodies.

How long does Egypt Personal Data Protection Law No. 151 of 2020 (PDPL) compliance take in Egypt?

There is no standard duration: it depends on your scope and on how much of the system already runs. In Egypt these are the factors that set the timeline.

• Mapping personal data, systems and processors
• Working out which permits, licences or approvals apply
• Appointing and certifying a Data Protection Officer
• Reviewing transfers abroad and cloud hosting

Sterling agrees a dated plan with you on the discovery call, once the scope is known.

• Scope and timeline estimator

How much does Egypt Personal Data Protection Law No. 151 of 2020 (PDPL) compliance cost in Egypt?

The cost has two parts: the consulting work to build and prove the system, and any external assessor’s fees, which are quoted separately. In Egypt these factors move both.

• Number of legal entities, business units and data subjects in scope
• Volume and sensitivity of the data handled
• Review and renegotiation of processor and transfer agreements
• Fees of any accredited data protection consultant, quoted separately

Sterling gives one customised, all-inclusive proposal after the discovery call, never before the scope is agreed.

Egypt Personal Data Protection Law No. 151 of 2020 (PDPL) consultants and assessors in Egypt

Two different organisations are involved. A consultant helps you build the system and prove it works; your regulators, customers and auditors then audits or assesses it and decides. Keeping the two separate is what makes the result credible to buyers and regulators.

• Check that the body’s accreditation or approval covers Egypt Personal Data Protection Law No. 151 of 2020 (PDPL) and your sector, and that its certificates can be verified online.
• Ask the consultant how the local requirements in Egypt are mapped into the same system, so nothing runs twice.
• Ask for client references in your sector; Sterling’s client letters are available on request.
• Agree who owns the evidence and the tool after the engagement; with Sterling the system stays yours, in Effivity.

Egypt Personal Data Protection Law No. 151 of 2020 (PDPL) in Egypt: questions clients ask

More on Egypt Personal Data Protection Law No. 151 of 2020 (PDPL) for Egyptian organisations

• Egypt Personal Data Protection Law No. 151 of 2020 (PDPL): the complete guide
• Egypt Personal Data Protection Law No. 151 of 2020 (PDPL) compliance in Egypt and every other standard Sterling delivers there

Other standards Egyptian businesses ask Sterling for

Organisations in Egypt often combine Egypt Personal Data Protection Law No. 151 of 2020 (PDPL) with one of these, under one management system where the scopes allow.

All 21 standards Sterling delivers in Egypt →