General Information

Formal name: Arab Republic of Egypt
Short name: Egypt
Local formal name: Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah
Local short name: Misr

Location

North-eastern corner of Africa and south-western Asia, It is bounded on the north by the Mediterranean Sea, on the east by Palestine and Israel, on the south by Sudan, and on the west by Libya. Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip, and the Red Sea north of Sudan, and includes the Asian Sinai Peninsula.

Flag

Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; The red color refers to the period before 1952 Revolution which brought a group of army officers to power after deposing King Farouk, the King of Egypt.

This was a period characterized by the struggle against the British occupation of the country. The white color refers to the advent of the 1952 Revolution which ended the monarchy without bloodshed. The color black refers to the end of the oppression of the people of Egypt at the hands of the Monarchy and British colonialism. Centered in the white band the golden eagle of Saladdin, the Ayubbid Sultan who ruled Egypt in 12th Century, the same Saladin of the Crusades.

Capital

Cairo, the city of the 1000 minarets was founded on July 16, 969 AD . Cairo is Africa's most populous city and the Arab world's cultural center. Cairo provides its visitors with great cultural destinations which include a vast amount of art galleries, music halls, cultural centers etc… Cairo also offers its visitors with great accommodation, restaurants, and various leisure activities and shopping.

Population

According to the 2007 census figures, the population, including those living abroad, is estimated to have reached 76.5 million at a growth rate of 1.721% (2007 EST.).

Egypt Climate and Weather

Throughout Egypt, days are commonly warm or hot, and nights are cool. Egypt has only two seasons: a mild winter from November to April and a hot summer from May to October. The only differences between the seasons are variations in daytime temperatures and changes in prevailing winds

Getting Around

Local Time:
UTC +2. Egypt Standard Time is 2 hours ahead Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+2).Egypt operates Daylight-Saving Time between the last Friday in April and the last Thursday in September when the clocks are 3 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+3).

Language:
Arabic (Native & Official) English and European languages spoken in tourist areas.

Currency
Egyptian pound (LE). Dollars, sterling and euro accepted in tourist areas.

Electricity:
Electrical current is 220V, 50 Hz. European style two-pin plugs are standard.

Visas:

Many visitors can obtain a tourist or entry visa at Egypt’s major ports of entry; visas can also be obtained from any Egyptian embassy or consulate. Fees are determined by your passport nationality. Citizens of certain Middle East and North Africa countries do not need a visa to enter Egypt. For detailed visa requirements, check with your nearest Egyptian diplomatic mission.

Transportation and Banking:

Transportation:
Transportation includes limousines, taxis, air-conditioned public transportation and governorate buses (e.g. West Delta, Super Jet and El Gouna Buses).

Hours of Banking:
Banking hours differs according to Branches but usually from 08:00 to 14:00 and from 15:00 to 17:00. Banks are usually closed on Friday and Saturday, but private exchange bureau, are open daily and banks in major hotels are open 24 hours. ATMs are quite common in the main tourist areas and most of the Egyptian cities. Banking hours are Sunday to Thursday, 8.30 am to 2 pm.

Good To Know

Public Holidays
Fixed:
Coptic Christmas (Jan. 7), Sinai Liberation Day (Apr. 25), Labor Day (May 1), Revolution Day (July 23), Egyptian Armed Forces Day (Oct. 6)
Movable:
Islamic New Year (Dec. 7 2010)
Prophet Mohamed’s (PBUH) Birthday (Feb. 15,2011)
Shem El-Nessem – Spring (Apr. 25 2011)
Eid El-Fitr – Feast (Lesser Bairam, Aug. 30 2011)
Eid El- Adha (Greater Bairam, Nov. 6 2011)
Islamic New Year (Nov. 26 2011)
Local Services:
Tourist Police:
126 (From any City)
Police:
122 (From any City)
Ambulance Hotline:
123
Fire Department Hotline:
180

Communication

The international access code for Egypt is +20. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for UK). The city code for Cairo is (0)2. Telephone and Telegraph (PTT) offices are available in all Egyptian cities. For international directory phone enquiries dial 120. The local mobile phone operators use GSM 900 networks and have roaming agreements with all major operators. Internet service is available in the main tourist areas, Hotels, café and internet cafes.