Yes, Egyptian law treats sensitive personal data with a much higher level of protection. Under Article 12 of Law No. 151 of 2020, it is strictly prohibited for any controller or processor — whether an individual or a company — to collect, transfer, store, retain, process, or make available sensitive personal data without a license from the Personal Data Protection Center (the Center). This category of data typically includes health records, biometric data, financial details, and other information that could cause serious harm if misused.
As an expat, you may encounter requests for sensitive data when visiting hospitals, applying for residency, opening bank accounts, or enrolling children in schools. It is important to know that any entity handling this type of data must hold an official license from the Center. If you are asked to provide health or biometric data and are unsure of the legitimacy of the request, you are within your rights to ask the organization to demonstrate its compliance.
Practical tip: Before sharing health records, biometric scans, or financial details with any private Egyptian business, ask whether they are licensed by the Personal Data Protection Center for sensitive data processing. Unlicensed handling of your sensitive data is a legal violation.
This is general legal information, not legal advice. For advice on your specific situation, consult a lawyer licensed in Egypt.