Papulation

The population of approximately 60 million people is concentrated along the Nile, on 3.6% of Egypt's total area. 16 million people live in Cairo and its suburbs.

Economy

Exports
Crude oil and petroleum products, cotton yarn, raw cotton, textiles, metal products, chemicals
Imports
Machinery and equipment, foods, fertilizers, wood products, durable consumer goods, capital goods
Trading Partners
US, France, Italy, Germany, Japan
Industries
Tourism, textiles, food processing, chemicals, petroleum, construction, cement, metals
Government
Republic divided into 26 administrative regions

Religion

The official religion is Islam and the spirit of tolerance and amity prevails among the Egyptian people, Muslims and Christians.

Language

The official language is Arabic. A considerable percentage of the Egyptians command foreign language, foremost among them are English and French.

Currency

Egypt's currency is the Egyptian pound. One pound is made up of 100 piastres. Coins come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 25 and 50 piastres, while bill denominations are 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 pounds. The government imposes no restrictions on the import or export of foreign currency as long as the visitor declares the amount on a customs form. When it comes to the local currency, you can only bring out a maximum of 1000 pounds.

Banking

Credit Cards
Many major shopping centers have ATMs, and most shops and establishments in Cairo accept major credit cards such as MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club and Visa. If you plan to go shopping in one of the town bazaars, paying in cash will help you get a better bargain.

Shopping

Egypt is known for its world class handicrafts, carpets, leather ware and jewelers. Khan El Khalili bazaar is the most famous shopping center where tourists can pick gifts of Egyptian perfumes, herbs spices and carved wood.

Visa - Passport

All visitors are required to have a visa and a valid passport that's not due to expire within six months. Citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen are exempted from the visa requirement. Nationals of European countries, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the U.S. can obtain entry visas upon arrival in Egypt. You can expect to pay around US$ 30 for your visa, which will remain valid for three months. Visa extensions can be obtained.

Clothes

During summer you need light clothes. In winter, a coat or jacket will be needed in the evening. Comfortable shoes are a must. In the city centers, in mosques and churches clothes that are more conservative should be worn. Cairo's predominant religion is Islam, so people dress conservatively, trying to cover as much of their skin as possible. In practice, that also means no tight-fitting clothes that reveal the contours of the body. While visitors are not expected to follow strictly local dress codes, executives who will mix some tourism along with business are advised to do so when visiting religious sites. When packing, it is advisable to bring along loose, comfortable clothing, preferably made of cotton. Those garments will help you keep cool in Egypt's hot desert climate.

Time Zone

GMT +2, same as Jerusalem, Istanbul and Helsinki. GMT+3 from April 28 to Sept. 29 (Daylight saving time)

Usefull Number

Country Dialling Code: 20
Ambulance: 123
Fire Brigade: 125
Police: 122 or 02/303-4122
Tourist Police: 02/390-6028

Electricity

220 volts AC, 50Hz. Wall plugs are the two-pronged European type. GDP Growth Rate 5%