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| Entry Regulations / General Information |
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Entry for German Nationals |
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| Temple of Hatschepsut |
German travellers can obtain a visa on arrival at the airport for a touristic stay of up to 30 days (the fee is USD 15; please note that some travel businesses charge an additional service fee for the provision of the visa), provided they hold a national passport or identity card (holders of identity cards must additionally carry a passport photo) valid for at least a further three months, and confirmed tickets for their return journey.
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Geographical Location |
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Egypt is situated in northeastern Africa between latitudes 22° and 32° N. To the east it is bordered by the Red Sea and Israel, to the north by the Mediterranean Sea, to the west by Libya, and to the south by The Sudan.
Total area: 1,002,000 km².
Administrative divisions: 27 administrative districts.
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Population |
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Population: approximately 72,6 million.
Cities (approximate numbers): Cairo (capital) including Giza 12 million; Alexandria 3.3 million; Port Said 470,000; Suez 418,000; Al-Mahalla al-Kubra 395,000; Tanta 371,000; Al-Mansura 370,000; Asyut 343,000; Luxor 361,000.
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Language |
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The national language of Egypt is Arabic; English is used for communicating with partners abroad.
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Time Difference |
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Central European Time (CET) +1 hour (from early May to late September both Egypt and Europe implement summer time; accordingly the time difference remains unchanged at CET +1 hour during this period, save for some few days on which there is no time difference at all due to the difference in summer time schedules).
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Electricity |
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220 V alternating current, 50 Hz.
There are often strong fluctuations in voltage. In Egypt round plugs are used; travellers are recommended to carry an adapter.
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Postal Service |
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Postal delivery to Europe may take up to two weeks. Postcards can be mailed from the hotel or via the blue postboxes (the red postpoxes are reserved for domestic mail and the green ones for mail within Cairo).
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Telephone |
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The international dialling code for calls from Western Europe to Egypt is 0020. For international calls from Egypt, the prefix "00" must be dialled before the relevant international country code (for example in the case of calls to Germany: 00-49). Calling from hotels is very expensive. Calls from telephone offices are much cheaper; there it is also possible to purchase telephone cards for public phone boxes.
EMERGENCY NUMBERS: Police 122, ambulance 123, fire brigade 180.
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Mobile Phones |
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Mobile network technologies: GSM 900.
Information for users of mobile phones registered with German network providers: Mobile phones connected to the T-Mobile, E-Plus, O2 or Vodafone networks can be used due to international roaming agreements. Travellers intending to use other mobile phones are advised to contact their network provider for detailed information.
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Internet |
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Country code suffix: .eg
Internet cafés are available in the cities and tourist centres.
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Public Holidays |
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1 January (New Year), 7 January (Coptic Christmas), 25 April (Sinai´s Liberation Day), 1 May (Labor Day), 18 June (Evacuation Day), 23 July (Revolution Day), 6 October (Armed Forces Day), 24 October (Suez Day), 23 December (Victory Day); additionally there are numerous annual movable Islamic holidays. If a national holiday falls on a Friday, people do not work on the following workday. Business travellers are advised not to schedule trips to the country for the period from June to August, because many Egyptians are on holiday during this time.
Friday is the weekly day of rest. Government offices are closed on Fridays; private firms and firms in the public sector can determine their own individual regulations with regard to weekends (hitherto Friday/Saturday or Friday/Sunday).
The main holiday season ranges from June to August; reduced business activity must be expected.
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Opening Hours |
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Banks: Sun to Thurs 8:30a.m.-2p.m.;
Shops: Sat to Thurs 9a.m.-10p.m.; please note that shops are not bound to specific business hours;
Post Offices: Sat/Sun to Thurs 9a.m.-2p.m.;
Government offices: Sat to Thurs 9a.m.-2p.m. (private firms and other companies may be closed on Saturdays or Sundays).
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Clothes |
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In winter light woollen clothes are needed as well as some summer clothes and a between-seasons jacket; otherwise light, airy summer clothes and a jacket for the evenings should be carried. Travellers embarking on journeys to the desert should invariably take warm clothes for the nights and early mornings. Good sunglasses and some light headgear for protection against the sun is also a must.
Please note that the choice of clothes should always reflect respect for the local Islamic customs and traditions (clothes that are too tight, short or sloppy are considered unsuitable; swimming costumes should exclusively be worn on the beach and swimming pool).
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© 2001 All rights reserved TIP Gesellschaft für Touristik-Informations-Programme mbH, München Last updated: 14.03.2007 - Proposals, hints and contact - Copyright
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