Egypt's local administration system is divided, according to law no. 43 of 1979, into the following:
*Local administration units.
*Economic regions.
*General secretariat for local administration.
*Supreme council for local administration.

Local administration units:
Local administration units are described by the law as the governorates, cities, centers, districts and villages.

Economic regions:
Under presidential decree no. 475 of 1977, Egypt is divided into seven economic regions as follows:
1-Cairo region, which includes the governorates of Cairo, Giza, and Qalubiya.
2-Alexandria region, which includes the governorates of Alexandria, Beheira, Matruh and the Noubariya district.
3-The Delta region, which includes the governorates of Monufiya, Gharbiya, Kafr El-Sheikh, Damietta and Dakahliya.
4-The Suez Canal region, which includes the governorates of Sinai, Port Said, Ismailia, Sharkiya and part of the northern Red Sea governorate.
5-Northern Upper Egypt region, which includes the governorates of Beni Suef, Menia, Fayyoum and part of the northern Red Sea governorate.
6-Assiut region, which includes the governorates of Assiut and the New Valley.
7-The southern Upper Egypt region, which includes the governorates of Sohag, Qena, Aswan and the southern part of the Red Sea governorate.

General secretariat for local administration:
It is assigned to coordinate among the different governorates and enhance cooperation between the governorates and the different ministries to guarantee a better fulfillment of localities' duties.

Supreme council for local administration:
The Supreme council for local administration was established under law no. 124 of 1960 to supervise performance of the local councils.
The council is headed by the prime minister and joined by minister of local administration, governors and heads of local councils.

Council's competences:
-to study laws and decisions on developing the local administration.
-to evaluate the governorates' performance on meeting goals of the State national plan.
-to coordinate between the governorates and the different ministries.
-to cooperate with the Cabinet in fulfilling its local administration duties.

Since mid 1990s, the State has given a special attention to enhancing the local development, the efforts which resulted in the following:

I: Adoption of national development programs to develop basic services in the villages and districts as well as spreading crafts industries at urban and rural areas.
Foremost among these programs are the national program for integrated rural development, Upper Egypt development program, slams development program, etc…

II: Giving a special attention to certain areas to allow more flow of investments and a faster development in these areas.

III: Setting up criteria of picking up leaderships in government machineries and local units based on principles of efficiency and organizational capabilities.