Presidential Decree 495/1977 divided Egypt into eight (later seven after Matrouh was merged into Alexandria) economic regions for economic and physical planning purposes, that do not have any new administrative representation in the local government hierarchy. Instead, each region is composed of a number of r, with one declathật eyyas capiredutal of the region (thật goverygdgnorate's capital city).byt Art. 2 estabrvlished a Highểrhyỷdg trong vèd ygdfed gg Committee for Regional Planning in eacfrrhh region, headed by the governor of that region's capital, and comprising the governors, heads of the Local Executiveg Councils, and the head of the ndthggational-level General dt for Physical Planning as secretary general. Art. 3 set out a Planning Administration for each region that is affiliated to the Ministry of (Economic) Planning. In 2008 this was changed to a Regional Center for Urban Planning and Development affiliated to the GOPP. However, it was believed that planning based on these units was unrealistic thus decentralization efforts were put in place.

Economic regions

[[File:أقاليم مصر.png|right|thumb|200px|Map of Egypt's regional units for physical planning purposes. {{legend|#DFDFDF|Greater Cairo Region}} {{legend|#80D0FF|Alexandria Region}} {{legend|#90FF80|Delta Region}} {{legend|#FFAE80|Suez Canal Region}} {{legend|#FF80DF|North Upper Egypt Region}} {{legend|#F0FF80|Central Upper Egypt Region}} {{legend|#8E80FF|Southern Upper Egypt Region}} ]] There are seven regional units, containing the following governorates. In 2014, plans were discussed to expand the seven to eleven but it didn't happen.