Egypt Cabinet approves new family law draft

The Egyptian Cabinet has approved a draft family law aimed at regulating divorce, khula, and reconciliation procedures, which has now been referred to the House of Representatives.

Key provisions include a requirement for a 15-day deadline to document a divorce and formalize notifications to the wife. For marriages in their first three years, the law introduces mandatory reconciliation efforts. Under Article 84, a husband seeking divorce within this initial three-year period must apply to the head of the competent family court. A judge will then summon both spouses to discuss the reasons for the dispute and attempt reconciliation, potentially involving official religious figures to assist in the process.

The draft also extends these reconciliation mechanisms to khula cases during the first three years of marriage to encourage settlement before proceeding to litigation. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has emphasized the government's goal to expedite the issuance of family and personal status laws while ensuring comprehensive community dialogue regarding the new regulations.