Order of Merit

It was established as per law no. 528/1953 that was later replaced by law no. 12/1972.
It is one of the President’s competencies. It may be given to Egyptians and foreigners who offer Egypt valuable services. The Order of Merit is of five classes. The First Class (the big sash), the Second Class, the Third Class, the Fourth Class and the Fifth Class. Each class is dedicated to the grantee according to the service for which it is granted and with regard to the social status of the grantee.
(A) The grantees of the First Class of the order shall hang the medallion on the left side of their chests and put the sash from the right to the left side. The sash is 10 cm wide, red and made of silk with two black and white welts. At the end of the sash, there is a decoration similar to that of the Third Class.
(B) The grantees of the Second Class of the order hang it on the right side of their chests. They also shall be conferred a similar order to that of the Third-Class, which they wear around their neck with a ribbon of the same color of the sash.
(C) The Third Class grantees wear it around their necks with a ribbon of the same color of the sash.
(D) The Fourth Class grantees hang a smaller order than that of the Third Class on the left sides of their chests with a ribbon of the same color of the sash that is decorated with a Rosette.
(E) The Fifth Class grantees hang a smaller order than that of the Fourth Class on the left side of their chests with a ribbon of the same color of the sash.
The medallion is a five-pointed star of oxidized silver, topped by another five-pointed gilded silver star, in the middle of which is a round gold disc written on it the word “Merit” in Arabic over a blue enamel and it is surrounded by two circles of white enamel with small gold spots. The order is similar to the medallion, but it is smaller in size. It is connected to the sash with a clip in a shape of a hawk and it is decorated with blue enamel.