Tips for travellers to Egypt

Etiquette

It is integral to Egyptian culture to be courteous to foreigners. A conversation, whether business-related or not, is usually accompanied by coffee, tea or juice. Social rules dictate the appropriate way to greet people in business meetings. Close friends of the same sex will sometimes greet with a kiss on each cheek, although a handshake is also typical. While it is inadvisable to drink or eat in public during Ramadan, both food and beverages are readily available.

Tipping & Vat

A special service tax of 12% will be added to the bill by bars and restaurants, but patrons are expected to tip waiters on top of that. Most travellers will face requests for additional cash for a variety of services, a widespread practice known as baksheesh.

A value-added tax of 13% was implemented at the end of 2016. This percentage is only sometimes included in the menu’s listed price.

Health

Visitors are recommended to have health insurance cover, as well as vaccines for hepatitis A and B, typhoid and yellow fever. It is advisable to drink bottled water and exercise caution when choosing a place to eat. Some of Cairo’s international hospitals include Misr International Hospital, As Salam International Hospital and Dar Al Fouad Hospital.

Communications

There are currently four mobile operators: Orange, Vodafone, Etisalat Misr and Telecom Egypt. A SIM card costs around LE25 ( which was equivalent to $1.65 as of January 2018).

Electricity

The country’s electricity sockets are designed for 220-V (or 50-Hz), two-pin round plugs. Adaptors are needed for other plugs and these can generally be obtained at most hotels.

Visas

Visas are available upon arrival for US and EU citizens and are required. Visitors may purchase visas at the airport for $25 (often required in cash in a foreign currency) and they are valid for one month. They can then be extended for up to three months, although visa regulations are subject to frequent changes, so it is best to check your embassy website before departing.

Currency

One Egyptian pound is composed of 100 piastres. Bills are in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 pounds and coins are 25, 50 or 100 piastres. The currency was floated in November 2016 and has seen considerable changes in value of late, so it is best to check the most recent numbers before departure.

Language

Arabic is the official language of Egypt, and the Egyptian dialect is widely understood and spoken throughout the Middle East.

People from more socio-economically advantaged segments of society often speak either English or French, and this tendency has been spreading. Newspapers, books and public information are published in Arabic, and increasingly, in English as well.

Business Hours

The working week runs from Sunday to Thursday. Most private companies operate from 9.00am to 5.00pm, while the public sector traditionally runs from 8.00am to 2.00pm, but sometimes later. Stores usually open at 10.00am and close at 11.00pm.

Transport

Cairo’s roads are often highly congested. Taxis are cheap and abundant, and can be a practical way to move around the city. There are yellow and white cabs, the latter being more modern and offering metered fares. If the taxi does not include a meter, fares should be negotiated before setting off. The most efficient way of travelling to southern Egypt, the Red Sea and the Sinai Peninsula is by air. Cairo is home to the first fully fledged metro system in Africa, with three operational lines, and a fourth line planned.

Dress

Men are expected to wear formal business attire such as a suit and tie, for meetings, while women should dress conservatively to avoid receiving excessive attention. In circumstances outside of the work environment, modest clothing applies. When visiting mosques or churches, women must cover their shoulders and wear shorts or skirts below the knee. It is acceptable, however, to wear more Western-style clothing at places such as nightclubs, restaurants, hotels and bars, as well as at other tourist destinations.