| General
Information |
Area: 1.002,000 sq km (386,874 sq miles).
Population: 68,359,979 (2000).
Population Density: 61.9 per sq km.
Capital: Cairo (El Qahira). Population: 6,789,000 (1996).
Geography: Egypt is bounded to the north by the Mediterranean, to the south by the Sudan, to the west by Libya,
and to the east by the Red Sea and Israel. The River Nile divides the country unevenly in two, while the Suez Canal
provides a third division with the Sinai Peninsula. Beyond the highly cultivated Nile Valley and Delta, a lush
green tadpole of land that holds more than 90% of the population, the landscape is mainly flat desert, devoid of
vegetation apart from the few oases that have persisted in the once fertile depressions of the Western Desert.
Narrow strips are inhabited on the Mediterranean coast and on the African Red Sea coast. The coast south of Suez
has fine beaches and the coral reefs just offshore attract many divers. The High Dam at Aswan now controls the
annual floods that once put much of the Nile Valley under water; it also provides electricity.
Government: Republic. Head of State: President Muhammad Hosni Mubarak since 1981. Head of Government: Dr Prime
Minister Atif Muhammed Obeid since 1999.
Language: Arabic is the official language. English and French are widely spoken.
Religion: Islam is the predominant religion. All types of Christianity are also represented, especially the Coptic
Christian Church.
Time: GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from May to September).
Electricity: Most areas 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Certain rural parts still use 110-380 volts AC.
Communications:
Telephone: Full IDD is available. Country code: 20. Outgoing international code: 00.
Mobile telephone: GSM 900. Coverage is limited to Cairo, Alexandria and along the north coast line of the Red Sea
from Suez to Sham el Sheikh and the major towns along the Nile. Network providers include MobilNil (website: www.mobilnil.com)
and ClickGSM (website: www.clickgsm.com).
Fax: Several of the major hotels in Cairo have introduced fax facilities; check with the hotel concerned before
travelling.
Telegram: International telegram services are available from the Central Post Offices in Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor
and Aswan and main hotels.
Internet/E-mail: There are cybercafés in the main cities, including Cairo, Alexandria, Dahab and Luxor.
Tourists can also access the Internet in hotels. The main ISPs include Internet Egypt (website: www.internetegypt.com),
EUN, Rite and Ritesec.
Postal: The postal system is efficient for international mail. All post offices are open daily 0900-1400 except
Friday, and the Central Post Office in Cairo is open 24 hours.
Press: The most influential Egyptian daily is Al-Ahram; others include Al-Akhbar and several weekly and periodical
publications. Two daily newspapers - Journal d'Egypte anad Le Progrès Egyptien - are published in French.
The English-language daily newspaper is the Egyptian Gazette. The Middle East Observer is the main weekly English-language
business paper. |
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| Travel |
AIR: The national airline is Egypt Air (MS). All the
main carriers service Egypt, including Cathay Pacific, KLM, Lufthansa, JAL, Olympic Airways and SwissAir. Charter
services fly direct from London Gatwick to Egypt. British Mediterranean (a franchise partner of British Airways)
operates daily services from London to Alexandria.
Approximate flight times: From London to Cairo is 4 hours 45 minutes (from London to Luxor is 5 hours 35 minutes),
from Los Angeles is 16 hours 40 minutes, from New York is 14 hours 35 minutes, from Singapore is 11 hours 45 minutes,
and from Sydney is 21 hours 30 minutes.
International airports: Cairo International (CAI), 22km (14 miles) northeast of the city at Heliopolis (minimum
travel time - 30 minutes, much longer during the rush hour). There are coach services every 5-6 minutes, and taxis
are available. Special limousines are offered by local and international operators. Hotel cars may also be available.
Airport facilities include incoming and outgoing 24-hour duty-free shops selling a wide range of goods, several
24-hour car hire firms, post office, 24-hour bank/bureau de change, 24-hour restaurants and bar, hotel reservation
service, souvenir shops, bookshop and travel insurance services.
Borg El Arab (HBE), has replaced El Nouzha airport as the main international airport for Alexandria. It lies 60
km (37 miles) southwest of Alexandria. Airport facilities include a dutyfree shop, bank and exchange services,
VIP lounge, post office and restuarant.
Luxor Airport (LXR) is 5.5km (3.5 miles) from Luxor. There is a regular bus service to the city centre. Special
limousine and local taxi services are available. Airport facilities include car hire, bank and exchange services,
and a bar and restaurant. Improvement works have taken place and are expected to continue to meet the increasing
tourist flow.
Departure Tax: None.
SEA: The main coastal ports are Alexandria, Nuweiba, Port Said and Suez. The Saudi Sea Transport Company runs a
regular car ferry service between Suez and Jeddah. A ferry service usually travels twice a week up the Nile between
Wadi Halfa (Sudan) and Egypt High Dam, but is occasionally suspended. For further information contact the Nile
Valley Association (tel; (2) 578 9256). There is also a ferry service that operates twice daily between South Sinai
and Aqaba (Jordan). There are special rates for children under 10 and under 3 years of age. For more information
contact the Cairo Navigation Agency (tel: (2) 574 5755). The Black Sea Shipping Company sails from Odessa. Other
main passenger lines are Egyptian Navigation Company, Grimaldi/Siosa, North African Tourist Shipping, Rashid and
Prudential.
Many cruise ships stop over in Egypt as part of their African itinerary. Main cruise line operators include Orient
Lines, Festival, Royal Caribbean and Silversea Cruises.
RAIL: There are no international rail links to any of Egypt's northwestern neighbours. The railheads at Aswan and
Wadi Halfa, Sudan are connected by a ferry across Lake Nasser.
ROAD: The road border between Libya and Egypt is open. There are two border crossings between Israel and Egypt:
one runs from Cairo via El Arish to Rafiah on the north Sinai coast, and the other from Cairo via Suez and Taba
to Eilat. Daily coaches leave early in the morning from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem in Israel for travel via El Arish/Rafiah
to Cairo and vice versa. Fares are US$25-30 one way and US$45-50 return. There are no direct buses from Eilat to
Cairo; it is necessary to change in Taba. The crossing from Taba to Rafiah is open 0900-1700. The crossing from
Taba to Eilat is now open 24 hours a day. Passengers in taxis and rented cars are not permitted to cross the borders
between Israel and Egypt. Privately owned vehicles may be taken across other borders, provided the appropriate
documentation is obtained. All private vehicles entering Egypt must have a 3 month triptyche or Carnet de passage
en douane from an automobile club in the country of registration. The driver must hold an international drivers
licence. Visas should normally be obtained in advance; however, travellers entering Egypt via Taba may be able
to obtain visas at the border. Contact the Tourist Office for further details of entry restrictions. |
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| Entry |
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Passport |
Visa |
Return Ticket Required |
| Australian |
Yes |
Yes/1 |
No |
| British |
Yes |
Yes/1 |
No |
| Canadian |
Yes |
Yes/1 |
No |
| Japanese |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
| Other EU |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
| USA |
Yes |
Yes/1 |
No |
|
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PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond
the period of intended stay required by all.
VISAS: Required by all except the following:
(a) nationals of Kuwait for stays of up to 6 months;
(b) nationals of Bahrain, Djibouti, Guinea, Libya, Oman, Saudi Arabia, South Africa (provided holding diplomatic
or service passports), United Arab Emirates and Yemen for stays of up to 3 months;
(c) nationals of Jordan (if holding a 5-year passport), Malta and holders of Hong Kong (SAR) or China passports
for stays of up to 30 days;
(d) nationals of Malaysia who are on a tourist stay of a maximum of 15 days;
(e) cruise ship passengers entering Egypt at any port for a maximum stay of 3 days;
(f) holders of a re-entry permit issued by Egypt;
(g) employees of the UNO.
Note: Requirements for visas and other regulations are subject to change at short notice; check with the appropriate
authority before travelling.
Additional Visa Information:
http://www.touregypt.net |
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| Scuba
Diving |
Water Temp
Like the climate, water temps have a wide range. May to October are the warm months when water ranges in the low
80s. Minimal thermal protection is needed during this period. Should you visit in winter, a 5 or 6 mm suit may
be appropriate as water can dip into the mid to upper 60s F.
Visibility
Depending on the site, visibility ranges 50 - 130 feet most of the time.
Diving
The complete color spectrum is offered through a profusion of tropical fish species, as well as both hard and soft
coral, gorgonians and sponges. Strict rules do not allow touching marine life or growth, collecting, or spearfishing.
This has helped to sustain a pristine underwater environment. In most areas the bottom drops off very quickly.
Many sites can be accessed from shore. Charter boats allow more diversity in sites, and liveaboards can take you
to the really remote virgin sites. In addition to the beautiful reefs, wall diving is popular. Caves, arches, pinnacles
and canyons are plentiful as well. The variety of marine life offers huge schools of snapper, millions of tropicals
and lots of big critters such as turtles, morays, barracuda, sharks, and mantas. |
| |
| Misc.
Info |
CUSTOMS REGULATIONS: Egyptian customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary
importation into or export from Egypt of items such as firearms, religious materials, antiquities, medications,
business equipment, currency, and ivory.
Egyptian law allows for the imposition of duties on photographic and video equipment. However, such duties are
rarely imposed, except when large quantities of photographic equipment or expensive video equipment are brought
into Egypt. Persons bringing in such items should be prepared to comply with certain customs formalities.
Personal use items such as jewelry, laptop computers and electronic equipment are exempt from customs fees. However,
Egyptian customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from
Egypt of items such as computer peripherals, including printers and modems, which are subject to customs fees.
For tourists, electronic equipment is annotated in their passport, and the person is required to show the same
items upon exiting Egypt. For residents, a deposit, refunded upon departure, may be made in lieu of customs fees.
Commercial merchandise and samples require an import/export license issued by the Egyptian Ministry of Trade and
Supply in Egypt prior to travel and should be declared upon arrival.
Travelers are not required to convert foreign currency into Egyptian pounds or submit exchange currency statements
on arrival. The maximum amount of Egyptian currency that can be brought in or taken out of Egypt is 1,000 Egyptian
pounds.
SAFETY AND SECURITY: Following an attack
by extremists on tourists in the Upper Egypt town of Luxor in November 1997, Egyptian law enforcement and security
officials took measures to enhance security at airports, international hotels and tourist sites throughout the
country. There have been no attacks on tourists since that time, and there have been very few terrorist attacks
at all. Effective police operations in the past few years and the heightened security posture throughout Egypt
have made it more difficult for extremist groups to conduct terrorist operations. However, the threat has not been
eliminated.
The U.S. Embassy periodically receives information concerning extremists' intentions to target American citizens
or interests in Egypt. In light of this information, we urge Americans to be vigilant and exercise good security
practices while in Egypt. Americans may contact the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo for the most
up-to-date information concerning the security situation in Egypt.
RESTRICTED AREAS: Those wishing to visit areas near Egypt's frontiers, including oases
near the border with Libya and off-road areas in the Sinai, must obtain permission from the Travel Permits Department
of the Ministry of the Interior, located at the corner of Sheikh Rihan and Nubar Streets in downtown Cairo. Travelers
should be aware of the possible dangers of off-road travel. Mines left from previous conflicts remain buried in
several regions of the country and have caused several deaths, including deaths of Americans. As a rule, all travelers
should check with local authorities before embarking on off-road travel. Known minefields are not marked by signs,
but are usually enclosed by barbed wire. Travelers should, therefore, avoid areas enclosed by barbed wire. After
heavy rains, which can cause flooding in desert areas and the consequent shifting of land mines, travelers should
avoid driving through build-ups of sand on roadways.
CRIME: The crime rate in Egypt is low. While incidents of violence are rare, purse snatching,
pickpocketing and petty theft are not uncommon. Unescorted women are vulnerable to sexual harassment and verbal
abuse.
MEDICAL FACILITIES: There are many Western-trained medical professionals in Egypt. The
U.S. Embassy in Cairo can provide a list of local hospitals and English-speaking physicians. Medical facilities
are adequate for non-emergency matters, particularly in tourist areas. Emergency and intensive care facilities
are limited. Facilities outside Cairo fall short of U.S. standards. Most Nile cruise boats do not have a ship's
doctor, but some employ a medical practitioner of uncertain training. Hospital facilities in Luxor and Aswan are
inadequate, and they are nonexistent at most other ports of call.
Beaches on the Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts are generally unpolluted. However, persons who swim in the Nile
or in canals, walk barefoot along the Nile, or drink untreated river water are at risk of exposure to bacterial
infections, hepatitis, and the parasitic disease schistosomiasis (bilharzia). There is a low risk of exposure to
exotic diseases in Egypt such as Rift Valley Fever (RVF). RVF, which flares up in parts of the country from time
to time, is a mosquito-borne disease of domestic animals that can infect humans.
It is safe to eat properly-prepared, thoroughly-cooked meat and vegetables in tourist hotels, on Nile cruise boats,
and in tourist restaurants. Eating uncooked vegetables should be avoided because this can cause diarrhea. Tap water
is not potable. It is best to drink bottled water or water that has been boiled and filtered. Well-known brands
of bottled beverages are generally considered safe.
MEDICAL INSURANCE: U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States.
U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. Doctors
and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. Uninsured travelers who require medical
care overseas may face extreme difficulties.
Please check with your own insurance company to confirm whether your policy applies overseas, including provision
for medical evacuation, and for adequacy of coverage. Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or
medical evacuation to the United States can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Please ascertain whether payment
will be made to the overseas hospital or doctor or if you will be reimbursed later for expenses that you incur.
Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in the event
of death.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter
road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Egypt
is provided for general reference only, and it may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Safety of Public Transportation: Poor
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance: Poor
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance: Poor
Availability of Roadside Assistance: Poor
The roads in Egypt can be hazardous, particularly at night outside major cities. Cars and trucks frequently travel
at night without headlights and at a high rate of speed. Emergency and intensive care facilities are limited outside
Cairo. Egypt is one of the world's leaders in auto accidents. Traffic regulations are routinely ignored. If available,
seatbelts should be worn at all times. Roads in Cairo are congested, and traffic is badly regulated. The Cairo
Metro (subway) system is good, but buses and commuter micro-buses are usually extremely crowded and poorly maintained.
Sidewalks and pedestrian crossings are non-existent in many areas, and drivers do not yield the right-of-way to
pedestrians. |
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