ETIQUETTE: Egyptians are generally courteous, especially with foreigners. Drinks such as tea, coffee or juice will generally accompany any conversation, be it business-related or casual. A handshake is an appropriate way to greet someone in a business meeting. Close male friends will sometimes greet with a kiss on each cheek, but when meeting members of the opposite sex, a handshake will do. If you visit during Ramadan, remember that it is impolite to eat or drink in public.
DRESS: Formal business attire, generally a suit and tie, is appropriate for meetings, although modest clothing should apply in certain circumstances outside of the work environment. Women should consider dressing conservatively to avoid attracting excessive attention. This is especially relevant when visiting mosques or churches, where shoulders are to be kept covered, and shorts or skirts above the knee are considered inappropriate. Western styles of dress are, however, accepted in nightclubs, restaurants and hotels and bars in Cairo and other tourist destinations.
HEALTH: Health insurance is recommended for visitors, as are inoculations for Hepatitis A and B, typhoid and yellow fever. Visitors are advised to drink bottled water and be careful about food. Cairo has several private hospitals, including As Salam International Hospital, Badrawi Hospital and Ain Shams University Hospital.
VISAS: Visas for visitors from EU nations and the US can be obtained for $15 upon arrival at the airport and are usually valid for one month only. However, they may be extended for one-month intervals thereafter. Visitors from other countries should ask their local embassy before travelling, as they may be required to apply for a visa before entering the country.
LANGUAGE: While English is widely spoken in the business community, Arabic is the official language, with the Egyptian dialect, aamiya, understood across much of the Middle East. Newspapers, books and public information are published in classical Arabic. There are several French and English schools, and most middle- to upper-class Egyptians can speak English and/or French.
CURRENCY: The Egyptian pound (LE) is composed of 100 piastres (PT). Bills come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 pounds, while coins have been recently introduced to replace the 25-, 50- and 100-piastre notes. The exchange rate is about LE6.90:$1.
ELECTRICITY: Electricity sockets are designed for 220-V/50-Hz two-pin round plugs. Other plugs will need adapters, which can be provided by most hotels.
TIPPING: Restaurants and bars will include a special 12% service tax to the bill, but waiters will still expect to be tipped on top of that. The culture of baksheeshis widespread in Egypt, and most travellers will be confronted daily with requests for additional cash for a variety of services. Low-ranking bureaucratic officials will sometimes request extra money to perform their normal tasks, a common way to compensate for low wages.
BUSINESS HOURS: The working week runs from Sunday to Thursday: public sector institutions are generally open from 8am to 2pm, although most private companies will extend their business hours until 5pm. Stores generally open at 10am and close at 11pm. Some restaurants are known to stay open well after midnight.
COMMUNICATIONS: A SIM card will typically cost around LE25 ($3.55). There are currently three mobile phone operators: Mobinil, Vodafone Egypt and Etisalat Egypt, with Telecom Egypt soon to join the mix. Mobile top-up cards are readily available at kiosks or telecoms stores. Internet access is now becoming more widespread, particularly in bars and cafés. USB modems are offered by all three mobile operators.
TRANSPORT: Traffic is a part of daily life in Egypt, taxis are abundant, and can be a cheap and practical way to navigate Cairo. Road is the most popular mode of transport. Both white and yellow cabs have been upgraded and now offer metered fares, while in all other taxis the fares must be negotiated before setting off. Air travel is the most efficient means of transport to southern Egypt, the Red Sea coast and the Sinai Peninsula. Cairo is the first of only two full-fledged metro systems in Africa, however, it is limited to three operational lines.
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