Industrial Development Authority (IDA) Announces New Streamlined Mechanism in Coordination with Decennial Insurance Pool to Accelerate Building Permit Issuance
Following the Recent Facilitation Package Issued by the Ministry of Industry:
Dr. Nahed Youssef:
- Recent Facilitation Package exempted the largest segment of small and medium industrial enterprises from the civil liability insurance policy requirement, following a 90% reduction in the estimated cost of construction works. The new mechanism streamlines procedures for the remaining industrial segment.
- Architectural drawings approved by IDA will be a prerequisite to initiate structural design reviews at the Decennial Pool starting November 1, 2026, to prevent redundant reviews.
- Reviewing all previously received application files will continue without delay or disruption, ensuring no industrial project is affected.
Dr. Nahed Youssef, Chairwoman of IDA, announced the implementation of a new regulatory mechanism effective November 1, 2026, in coordination with Decennial Insurance Pool. This initiative aims to streamline procedures for industrial facilities still subject to the requirement of obtaining a civil liability insurance policy. Under the new mechanism, branch offices of the Decennial Insurance Pool will not receive, register, or review structural design files unless their corresponding architectural drawings have been officially approved by IDA, as the competent administrative body responsible for issuing building permits for industrial facilities and tasked with reviewing and approving architectural drawings.
Dr. Nahed Youssef emphasized that this mechanism comes within an integrated ecosystem of mutually supportive facilities. The facilitation package recently launched by the Ministry of Industry—most notably a 90% reduction in the approved estimated baseline cost used to calculate construction work fees—helped exempt the vast majority of small and medium-sized industrial enterprises (SMEs) from the requirement of presenting a Decennial Pool insurance policy, in accordance with established regulations. Meanwhile, the new mechanism targets simplifying procedures for the remaining segment of industrial projects still subject to this requirement by eliminating duplicate reviews and unifying workflow steps between IDA and the Pool, thereby reducing time and effort and accelerating the issuance of building permits.
The Chairwoman further noted that initiating structural review procedures at the Decennial Insurance Pool's branch offices for major projects eligible for Decennial Pool approval to obtain a building permit requires submitting a copy of the approved architectural drawings stamped with the IDA seal, alongside an official letter issued by IDA confirming that the architectural drawings have been approved and have met all IDA reviews. This ensures complete alignment between the structural designs and the approved architectural plans, preventing redundant reviews
She also confirmed that coordination has been established with the Decennial Insurance Pool to complete the review and approval of all application files received prior to November 1, 2026, under previous procedural rules without deferral or disruption, ensuring that existing industrial projects are not impacted by the implementation of the new mechanism, while inviting investors to access services through the IDA’s headquarters in the 5th Settlement, which houses a branch of the Decennial Insurance Pool.
These measures execute the directives of Eng. Khaled Hashem, Minister of Industry, to continuously develop the licensing ecosystem and simplify procedures for industrial investors, within the framework of ongoing cooperation and coordination between IDA and the Decennial Insurance Pool, particularly given the presence of a permanent Pool branch inside the IDA Headquarters to deliver services to investors and facilitate their operations.