the multiplicity of laws that govern financial reporting led to a duality of disclosure
requirements in Egypt. On one hand private sector organizations operating under the company Act 159 of 1981, were obliged to comply with financial reporting requirements of that Act. However, when such companies issued securities for public subscription they were required to comply with the ECM disclosure requirements that correspond to the IASs.
On the other hand, the privatized organizations (formerly public organizations), governed by law 203, were obliged to comply with the CAA and the UAS requirements. However, when such organizations issued securities for public subscription, they were required to comply with the ECM disclosure requirements in accordance with the IASs. In this regard, one of the professional accountants mentioned the following:
The practice of accounting whether unified accounting requirements, international standards requirements or the Egyptian standards is mainly based on the idea of debit and credit - so what are the differences ? (professional Accountant: interviewee 1).
normative isomorphism. After the introduction of the open door policy, foreign and domestic private enterprises requested auditors in independent audit firms instead of subjecting themselves to the CAA. Some professional accountants and academics state:
Egypt has two accountancy professions; one for the private sector that emerged after the open door policy, and another for the public sedtor that is regulated by the CAA (professional Accountant and Academic: interviewee 4).