Egypt - Country Information

Film Commissions

General Information

Location: North Africa
Local Time: From 25 Apr 08 to 28 Aug 08 GMT +3
Form 28 Aug 08 to 24 Apr 09 GMT +2
From 24 Apr 09 to 24 Sep 09 GMT +3
From 24 Sep 09 to 01 May 10 GMT +2
From 01 May 10 to 23 Sep 10 GMT +3
Capital City: Cairo
Population: 72 million
Area: 1,001,450 square km, 386,660 square miles.
Language(s): Arabic, English, French, Spanish
Dialling Code: 20
Emergency: Police: 122 (Cairo), 22147 (Aswan), 960151-122 (Alexandria), 23929 (Suez). Fire: 125 (Cairo). Ambulance: 123 (Cairo)
Directory Enquiries:
TV Standard:
Driving: Driving is on the left. International Driving Permit required
Electricity: 220V AC 50Hz

Business & Currency

Currency: Egyptian Pound (EGP 1 = 100 Piastres)
Notes: EGP: 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200
Coins: Piastres: 5, 10, 20, 25, 100

Credit Cards/Travellers Cheques: Credit cards and travellers cheques are accepted. Exchange of foreign currencies is allowed at banks and exchange offices

Opening Hours
Bank: 0830-1400 Sun-Thur
Office: 0900-1500 Sat-Thur
Shops: 0900-1900 Tue-Wed & Fri-Sat, 0900-2000 Mon & Thur (winter), 0900-1230 & 1600-2000 (except Mon & Thur)(summer)

Public Holidays
2008
Dec 29 & Jan 10 Islamic New Year, Mar 20 Birthday of the Prophet Mohammed, Apr 27 Sham El Nassim (Egyptian Easter), Apr 25 Sinai Liberation Day, May 1 Labour Day, Jun 18 Liberation Day, Jul 23 Revolution Day, Oct 6 Armed Forces Day, Oct 2-4 Bairam Feast, Dec 9-12 Eid ai Adha
Dates may vary according to the lunar calendar

Business/Social Hints: Women should dress conventionally. A headscarf may be useful if visiting a religious or more traditional area. Business is conducted in Arabic, many executives speak English or French. Business cards to have Arabic translation on reverse side. Islamic conventions apply. At meetings it is polite to drink coffee or tea, when offered. Smoking is becoming unacceptable in government and some private offices. Alcohol is available in most major hotels, cafe-style bars and international restaurants. On social occasions dress as for business meetings unless otherwise indicated

Tipping: Service charges are normally added to restaurant & hotel bills, however additional tips around 5% are customary. Tips for taxis are around 10%

Health

Reciprocal health:

Compulsory vaccinations: Yellow fever certificate if arriving from infected areas. Exempt infants under 1 year. Air passengers in transit coming from countries or areas without a certificate will be detained in the precincts of the airport until they resume their journey.

Recommended immunisations: Diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B*, malaria, polio, TB*, tetanus, typhoid, rabies
* recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month.

Risks: Malaria, very limited risk exists from Jun-Oct in El Faiyum area (no reported cases since 1998). Rabies.

Airports

Passport & Visa

The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate

Passports

Required, but NOT by the following:
1) Holders of a United States re-entry permit provided country of birth is Egypt
2) Holders of Laissez-Passer issued to Palestinians by Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates & Yemen

Passport Validity: Passports must be valid 6 months beyond intended length of stay

Passport Notes:

Visas

The following DO NOT require a visa:
1) Nationals of Egypt
2) Nationals of Bahrain, Djibouti, Guinea, Jordan (if holding a passport valid for 5 years) Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates & Yemen
3) Nationals of Malaysia can stay for up to two weeks without a visa, after this time usual requirements apply
4) For stays upto 14 days
a) All nationals from the United Kingdom & EU
b) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden
5) Holders of a re-entry permit
6) Palestinians holding a residence card provided that their stay outside Egypt did not exceed 6 months

Notes: Turkish nationals now referred at the embassy.

Air Transit

Required by all except those as noted above and:
1) Persons continuing their journey to a third country within 24 hours without leaving the airport, provided holding confirmed tickets
2) Nationals of Afghanistan, Iran, Lebanon, Philippines & holders of Palestinian documents may transit Cairo Airport, provided not leaving the airport transit lounge & continuing by the same or first connecting aircraft
3) Holders of South African passports must obtain a stamp in their passport from the consulate prior to travel to allow them to transit

Exit Permits

Special Notes

1) Nationals of the following countries must register at the Office of Foreigners & Nationality within 7 days of arrival (normally handled by hotels on visitor's behalf): Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belize, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Chad, Congo Dem Rep, Ghana, Honduras, India, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Yemen & holders of Palestinian documents
2) Nationals of the following countries require approval from Authorities in Cairo prior to issuing a visa: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Moldova, Morocco, Somalia, Tunisia & Vietnam
3) Nationals of Bangladesh, Congo Dem Rep, Eritrea, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Somalia, Sri Lanka & Tanzania must hold onward/return tickets

Climate

Apart from along the Mediterranean coast Egypt's climate is nearly entirely desert. The winter period (Nov-Mar) on the Mediterranean coast can be variable although it is usually warm and sunny, summers are hot but temperatures are tempered by strong sea breezes. In the south summer temperatures can be intense, however, the low humidity makes the heat more bearable and winters are dry and sunny

Clothing

Lightweights or tropical during summer with warmer clothes for winter and cooler evenings

Charts for Cairo

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max Temp (C) 18 21 24 28 33 35 36 35 32 30 26 20 Min Temp (C) 8 9 11 14 17 20 21 22 20 18 14 10 Humidity am (%) 68 64 63 55 50 55 65 69 67 67 68 70 Humidity pm (%) 40 32 27 21 18 20 25 28 31 31 38 40 Rainfall (mm) 5 5 5 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 5

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Representative

UK Tourist Office
Egyptian State Tourist Office
Egyptian House, 170 Piccadilly
London, W1J 9EJ
tel: +44 20 7493 5283
fax: +44 20 7408 0295
e-mail: egypt@freenetname.co.uk
hours: 0930-1630 (Mon-Fri)
email: info.uk@egypt.travel
website: www.egypt.travel

Embassy
Consulate of Egypt
2 Lowndes Street
London, SW1X 9ET
tel: +44 20 7235 9777, 0906 550 8933* (visa enq)
fax: +44 20 7235 5684, 0906 554 0833 (faxback visas)
website: www.egyptianconsulate.co.uk
email: info@egyptianconsulate.co.uk
hours: 0930-1130 (Mon-Fri) lodging, 1500-1600 (Mon-Fri) collection
* calls cost 1 per minute