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Welcome to Egypt

General Information

Capital: Cairo

Time:
GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from May to September).

Tel. Code: 00 20 .

Official Language:
Arabic is the official language. English and French are widely spoken.

Currency:
Egyptian Pound (E�) = 100 piastres. Notes are in denominations of E�100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1. Coins are in denominations of 50, 25, 20, 10 and 5 piastres.

Electricity:
Most areas 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Certain rural parts still use 110-380 volts AC.

Religion:
According to the 1986 census, over 94 per cent of the population follows Islam; the majority of the rest is Christian. All types of Christianity are represented, especially the Coptic Christian Church. There is also a small Jewish minority.

Climate

Climate:
Hot, dry summers with mild, dry winters and cold nights. Rainfall is negligible except on the coast. In April the hot, dusty khamsin wind blows from the Sahara.

Required clothing:
Lightweight cottons and linens during summer, with warmer clothes for winter and cooler evenings.

Airports

Cairo International (CAI), 24km (15 miles) northeast of the city at Heliopolis (travel time � 1 hour).
Borg El Arab (HBE), has replaced El Nouzha airport as the main international airport for Alexandria.
Luxor Airport (LXR) is 5.5km (3.5 miles) from Luxor. There is a regular bus service to the city centre (travel time � 15 minutes).

Departure tax: : None.

Internal Travel

Air,Sea/River,Rail and Road are the modes of transportation used within Egypt.

Public Holidays 2005

Public Holidays 2005:
Jan 7* Coptic Christmas Day.
Jan 21 Grand Feast.
Feb 10 Islamic New Year.
Apr 25 Sinai Liberation Day (Sinai only).
May 1 Labour Day.
May 2 Sham el-Nassim (Coptic Easter).
Jun 18 Liberation Day.
Jul 23 Revolution Day.
Aug 15 Wafa�a el Nil (Flooding of the Nile).
Sep 11* Coptic New Year.
Oct 6 Armed Forces Day.
Oct 24 Suez Victory Day.
Nov 3 Bairam Feast (End of Ramadan).
Dec 23 Victory Day.