Gazettes and laws
Glossary of Arabic official register terms used in Libya and Egypt
Short answer
The register and its records
| Arabic term | English meaning | Where the source uses it |
|---|---|---|
| Al-sijill al-tijari 2,6 | The commercial register 2,6 | Libya 2, Egypt 6 |
| Qayd 3 | Entry in a register 3 | Libya 3 |
| Mustakhraj al-sijill al-tijari 1,4 | Commercial register extract 1,4 | Libya 1, Egypt 4 |
| Raqm al-sijill al-tijari al-muwahhad 4 | Unified commercial register number (UCR) 4 | Egypt 4 |
| Manzumat al-sijill al-tijari 2 | Commercial register system, the electronic platform 2 | Libya 2 |
| Makatib al-sijill al-tijari al-mahalliya 8 | Local commercial register offices 8 | Libya 8 |
| Al-sijill al-khass bil-wukala' al-tijariyin 3 | Special register of commercial agents 3 | Libya 3 |
| Wahdat mustakhrajat 5 | Extract unit, an office that issues extracts 5 | Egypt 5 |
| Mumayyaz 5 | Premium, used in register office names such as al-Giza al-mumayyaz 5 | Egypt 5 |
Company forms and documents
| Arabic term | English meaning | Where the source uses it |
|---|---|---|
| Sharika musahima 1 | Joint-stock company 1 | Libya 1 |
| Sharika mushtaraka 1 | Joint company of a Libyan and a foreign partner 1 | Libya 1 |
| Far' sharika ajnabiya 1 | Branch of a foreign company 1 | Libya 1 |
| Maktab tamthil 9 | Representative office 9 | Libya 9 |
| Wakala tijariya 3 | Commercial agency 3 | Libya 3 |
| 'Aqd al-ta'sis 1 | Memorandum of association 1 | Libya 1 |
| Al-nizam al-asasi 1 | Articles of association 1 | Libya 1 |
| Tarkhis muzawalat nashat tijari 3 | Licence to carry on a commercial activity 3 | Libya 3 |
Procedures and company organs
| Arabic term | English meaning | Where the source uses it |
|---|---|---|
| Ta'sis 1 | Formation of a company 1 | Libya 1 |
| Tajdid 1,4 | Renewal of registration 1,4 | Libya 1, Egypt 4 |
| Ta'dil 1 | Amendment 1 | Libya 1 |
| Hall, tasfiya 1 | Dissolution and liquidation 1 | Libya 1 |
| Shatb 1 | Deletion from the register 1 | Libya 1 |
| Majlis al-idara 1 | Board of directors 1 | Libya 1 |
| Hay'at al-muraqaba 1 | Supervisory board 1 | Libya 1 |
| Al-jam'iya al-'umumiya ghayr al-'adiya 1 | Extraordinary general assembly 1 | Libya 1 |
| Al-khabir al-qada'i 1 | Judicial expert appointed by the court 1 | Libya 1 |
Certificates and institutions
| Arabic term | English meaning | Where the source uses it |
|---|---|---|
| Shahadat al-khuluw min al-sawabiq 3 | Certificate of no previous convictions 3 | Libya 3 |
| Shahada bi-'adam al-iflas 3 | Court certificate of no bankruptcy 3 | Libya 3 |
| Wizarat al-Iqtisad wa al-Tijara 2 | Ministry of Economy and Trade 2 | Libya 2 |
| Idarat al-Sharikat 9 | Companies department 9 | Libya 9 |
| Jihaz Tanmiyat al-Tijara al-Dakhiliya 5 | Internal Trade Development Authority 5 | Egypt 5 |
| Al-Idara al-Markaziya lil-Sijill al-Tijari 5 | Central Administration for the Commercial Register 5 | Egypt 5 |
| Al-Hay'a al-Qawmiya lil-Barid 4 | National Postal Authority 4 | Egypt 4 |
| Al-Jarida al-Rasmiya 7 | The Official Gazette 7 | Libya 7 |
| Qanun 6 | Law 6 | Egypt 6 |
Notes on spelling
Arabic terms are given in a simplified Latin transliteration without diacritics, so the same word may be spelled differently in other works. The ministry pages cited write the terms in Arabic script only 1,2. Egyptian law titles on WIPO Lex appear in Arabic with an English title, such as qanun raqm 34 li-sanat 1976 bi-sha'n al-sijill al-tijari (Law No. 34 of 1976 on the commercial register) 6. Meanings above are plain-English summaries of how the cited sources use each term, not official translations.
Common questions
What does shatb mean in a Libyan company file?
Deletion from the register 1.
What is the UCR in Egypt?
The unified commercial register number, raqm al-sijill al-tijari al-muwahhad 4.
What is a sharika musahima?
A joint-stock company 1.
Rules and fees change. Check the official source linked on this page before you act on it. Spotted an error? Email hello@maghrebregisters.com.
Sources
- Wizarat al-Iqtisad wa al-Tijara, Libya: al-Mustanadat al-matluba li-ta'sis al-sharikat al-musahima (Documents required to establish joint-stock companies)
- Wizarat al-Iqtisad wa al-Tijara, Libya: al-Ra'isiya (Ministry of Economy and Trade: Home page)
- Wizarat al-Iqtisad wa al-Tijara, Libya: Mustanadat al-wakalat al-tijariya (Documents for commercial agencies)
- Bawwabat al-Ahram: Itahat khadamat jihaz tanmiyat al-tijara al-dakhiliya abr makatib al-barid (Internal Trade Development Authority services made available through post offices), by Fatima Suwairi (10 March 2026)
- Bawwabat al-Ahram: Jihaz tanmiyat al-tijara al-dakhiliya yuwasil tatwir manzumat al-sijill al-tijari (The Internal Trade Development Authority continues to develop the commercial register system), by Walaa Morsi (15 June 2026)
- WIPO Lex: Law No. 34 of 1976 on Commercial Register, Egypt, as amended up to Law No. 98 of 1996 (qanun raqm 34 li-sanat 1976 bi-sha'n al-sijill al-tijari)
- Wizarat al-Adl, Dawlat Libya: al-Ra'isiya (Ministry of Justice, State of Libya: Home page)
- Wizarat al-Iqtisad wa al-Tijara, Libya: Damj ba'd makatib al-sijill al-tijari al-mahalliya (Merger of some local commercial register offices) (3 November 2019)
- Wizarat al-Iqtisad wa al-Tijara, Libya: Fath maktab tamthil sharika ajnabiya fi Libya (Opening a representative office of a foreign company in Libya)
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