Business Customs

Business in Egypt is personal.  Egyptian and foreign business community members who have broad experience in the market give the following suggestions:
 
- Have Patience:  Unfamiliar paperwork processes and bureaucratic procedures make business conduct somewhat slow in Egypt.  Don't expect to breeze in for a week and leave with a contract.  It may take a year or more, but in the end, it is usually profitable.
 
- Get Acquainted with Local Culture:  Egyptians are a proud people who trace their civilization back 5,000 years.  Take time to learn the culture and develop an appreciation for the Islamic faith.  All private business leaders and most high-level government officials have a good command of English.  Learn as much Arabic as possible - it pleases Egyptians if you know key phrases in Arabic ... Good Morning (Sabah El Kheir), Good Evening (Messaa El Kheir), etc.
 
- Be Personable:  When you visit a businessperson, don't just walk in, shake hands, and get down to business.  If you have previously met with the person, chat about common friends; ask after their family, children, etc.
 
- Do Your Homework:  The Egyptian market is a complex and highly competitive one.  A good Egyptian agent will help you a great deal in directing you to success.  Find yourself a good local representative with the help of the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service at the American Embassy or a reliable business group.
 
- Remain Flexible:  The Egyptian market, like anywhere in the Middle East, is a changing one.  It may not be advisable for the terms of a contract to remain the same during its length.  Changing conditions in the market may suggest exploring different markets or changing from partnership to technology transfer or royalty provisions.
 

Send Your Best:  Your top experienced executive with knowledge of the area will do a better job with the Egyptian business community.  Your young, enthusiastic representative may not be as effective with the local partner, particularly in a culture that respects age and experience.
 
- Business Rules:  When doing business in Egypt, be prepared to play it in the Egyptian tradition, or you may waste your time.  A few foreign firms come to Egypt and give up after a short stay; but most foreign companies, once established with a base here, find the Egyptian market a worthwhile and profitable place to do business.

Travel Advisory

Current travel warnings and advisories can be found on the U.S. State Department’s site: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1108.html.  Travelers should check this link for any updates to the security situation before leaving the U.S.

Business travelers to Egypt seeking appointments with U.S. Embassy Cairo officials should contact the Commercial Service in advance at +20 (2) 797-2340, fax at +20 (2) 795-8368, or e-mail at: cairo.office.box@N0SPAM.mail.doc.gov

U.S. citizens may refer to the Department of State's pamphlets, A Safe Trip Abroad and Tips for Travelers to the Middle East and North Africa, to promote a trouble-free journey. 

Visa Requirements

A passport and visa are required for all non-Egyptian visitors traveling to Egypt.  
For specific requirements, consult the Egyptian Embassy in the United States, 3521 International Court, NW, Washington, D.C. 20008, http://www.egyptembassy.net/, (202/895-5400) or nearest Consulate General: CA (415/346-9700), IL (312/828-9162), NY (212/759-7120), or TX (713/961-4915).  American citizens can obtain a visa at the airport upon arrival for 15 US Dollars.  Having exact change will expedite the process. 

U.S. Companies that require travel of foreign businesspersons to the United States should be advised that the U.S. visa process can be long, often with security checks that are handled via an interagency process in Washington. Travel should be planned several months in advance, and a visa application should be the very first step before plane reservations are made.  To prepare for their interview, visa applicants should go to the following links:

Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Egypt:  http://cairo.usembassy.gov/consular/index.htm

State Department Visa Website: http://travel.state.gov/visa/index.html

United States Visas.gov: http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/

Telecommunications

The international dialing code for Egypt is +20.  Calling landlines may require a city code such as (2) for Cairo and (3) for Alexandria.  Mobile phones generally begin with either 010 or 012.  Should you dial a landline from a mobile phone, you need to dial 0 plus the city code.

Telecom Egypt (TE), Egypt’s state telecommunications company, controls the landlines telephone system.  The capacity of local public switching exchanges is 12.7 million lines.  Telephone main lines in operation are 10.4 million.  Installation of a city line for a residence costs about LE 850 ($150), and for companies about LE 1,500 ($260).  ISDN and ADSL are available.  Two private sector companies Mobinil and Vodafone provide all services for the country’s GSM 900 cellular telephone system.  A third mobile operator has been selected and is expected to operate in early 2007.  The Government of Egypt offers free dial up, and using these 777 numbers accesses Internet through ISPs, and billing is the same as making a local phone call.  Wireless internet can be found in many of the 5 star hotels and some cafes. 

Transportation

Air and Sea:  Egypt is an important air terminus for the Middle East, and Cairo is served by many major airlines. Currently, Egypt Air is the only airline serving Egypt non-stop from/to the U.S., with United involved under a code-sharing agreement with Lufthansa, Northwest with KLM, and Delta with Air France.  Other major international airlines represented in Cairo include:  Air France, Alitalia, British Airways, Japan Airlines, and Swissair.  Shipping lines serving Port Said and Alexandria (the largest port on the Mediterranean) are Adriatica, Farrel, Lykes, Ogden, Prudential, and American President Lines.  Egypt has its own merchant fleet.
 
Local:  Using Cairo's black and white taxis effectively requires some basic Arabic phrases and practice.  If you’re going to an area you do not know well, ask about local landmarks – such as hotels or cross streets – to help you and the driver find the location.  Negotiating the fare is best done before the trip.  Although some taxis have meters, the official rate is so low, the obligation to pay something realistic is clear.  Other variables are your familiarity with the city, the driver's demeanor, and the taxi's physical attributes.  Its age and size count.  While newer, larger taxis command higher fares, the cost is very reasonable, much less than in the U.S.  In 2006 a new fleet of yellow taxis began operations.  These taxis – bright yellow in color – can be found waiting at selected locations around Cairo, and may also be called for pick-up.  These taxis charge based upon the meter.
 
The Cairo Metro is a light rail system, partly underground.  One line is now running from al-Marg in the north through the center of the city to Maadi and on to Helwan.  Another line is now running from Shoubra El Kheima, north of Cairo, to Ramses Station in the city center.  A new line now runs from Tahrir Square passing by the Cairo Opera House and ending at Cairo University in Giza.
 
Regional:  Alexandria and Cairo are connected by both the Western Desert Highway, a high-speed toll road and the busier Delta Road.  Buses take 3½  hours between the cities, including a rest stop.  A non-stop Turbino train takes just over 2 hours.
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.  There are few, if any, areas for a vehicle with mechanical problems to pull off the paved surface and no system for warning other motorists.  Wild animals can regularly be found on the roads at night.  Traffic regulations are routinely ignored.  Roads in Cairo are congested and traffic is badly regulated. With such hazards, it is not surprising that Egypt is one of the world's leaders in fatal auto accidents.  It also strongly suggests that, if available, seatbelts be worn at all times.  As an alternative, the Cairo Metro (subway) system is good, but buses and commuter micro-buses are usually extremely crowded and poorly maintained.  For those who prefer to go on foot, sidewalks and pedestrian crossings are non-existent in many areas and drivers do not yield the right-of-way to pedestrians.  It should also be borne in mind that emergency and intensive care facilities are limited outside Cairo.
 
For additional general information about road safety, including links to foreign government sites, see the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1179.html.  For specific information concerning Egypt's driving permits, vehicle inspection, road tax and mandatory insurance, please contact the Egyptian National Tourist Organization offices in New York at Egypt Tourist Authority, 630 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1706, New York, NY 10111; telephone (212) 332-2570 or toll-free, (877) 773-4978; internet website: http://www.egypttourism.org; e-mail address: info@N0SPAM.egypttourism.org .
 
Aviation Safety Oversight:  The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of Egypt's civil aviation authority as Category 1 - in compliance with international aviation safety standards for oversight of Egypt's air carrier operations.  For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation within the United States at telephone 1-800-322-7873, or visit the FAA's internet website at http://www.faa.gov/avr/iasa. 

Language

Arabic is the spoken language of Egypt.  Colloquial Cairene Arabic is expressive and rich in words of Coptic, European, and Turkish origins.  The written language differs from the spoken.  Modern standard Arabic, based on the language of the Koran, is heard on radio, TV, and in formal speeches.
 
About 90% of Egyptians are Muslim, and Islam is the state religion.  Most others are Christian, either Copts, Greek Orthodox, Roman Catholic, or Anglican Protestants.  Indigenous minorities include four to six million Copts, Nubians, Bedouin, and a small Jewish community.  Coptic has remained the liturgical language of the Coptic Church.

English, and to a lesser extent French, is widely spoken amongst the business community and at hotel and tourist destinations.

Health

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, Alexandria, and Sharm El Sheikh 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 qualification. 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. Persons who swim in the Nile or its canals, walk barefoot in stagnant water, or drink untreated water are at risk of exposure to bacterial and other infections and the parasitic disease schistosomiasis (bilharzia).

It is generally 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. 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 to be safe.

Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299), or via the CDC's Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization's (WHO) website at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith.

Medical Insurance

The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and if it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. U.S. medical insurance plans seldom cover health costs incurred outside the United States unless supplemental coverage is purchased. Further, U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do not provide payment for medical services outside the United States. However, many travel agents and private companies offer insurance plans that will cover health care expenses incurred overseas, including emergency services such as medical evacuations. Please see our information on medical insurance overseas.

When making a decision regarding health insurance, Americans should consider that many foreign doctors and hospitals require payment in cash prior to providing service and that a medical evacuation to the U.S. may cost well in excess of $50,000. Uninsured travelers who require medical care overseas often face extreme difficulties. When consulting with your insurer prior to your trip, ascertain whether payment will be made to the overseas healthcare provider or if you will be reimbursed later for expenses you incur. Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death.

Useful information on medical emergencies abroad, including overseas insurance programs, is provided in the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs brochure Medical Information for Americans Traveling Abroad , available via the Bureau of Consular Affairs home page.

List of Hospitals, Medical facilities and Physicians

http://usembassy.egnet.net/consular/acslist1.htm

Local Time, Business Hours, and Holidays

The workweek in Egypt is Sunday through Thursday, and local time is GMT+2, or 7 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.
 
Typical work hours are Sunday through Thursday 9:00am – 3:30pm.

 The following chart lists commercial holidays that will close most Egyptian business and government offices during 2007:

 January 1 New Year's Day
 January 7 Coptic Christmas
*January 20 Islamic New Year
March 31 Moulid El Nabi (Prophet's Birthday
April 9 Sham El Nessim
April 25 Sinai Liberation Day
 May 1 Labor Day
 July 23 National Day
 October 6 Armed Forces Day
*October 13-14 Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan Fasting Month 2005)
**December 19-21 Eid Al-Adha

*Depends on Lunar Calendar; a difference of a day may occur.  Sham El Nessim changes with Coptic calendar.
**The observance of the Eid Al-Adha holiday is expected to fall mid December 2007.  This holiday is also based on the lunar cycle and may vary from the dates listed.

Temporary Entry of Materials and Personal Belongings

Customs Regulations:  Egyptian customs authorities 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.  It is advisable to contact the Embassy of Egypt in Washington, D.C., or one of the Egyptian consulates in the United States for specific information regarding customs requirements.

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.  It is advisable to contact the Embassy of Egypt in Washington, D.C. or one of Egypt's consulates in the United States for specific information regarding customs requirements.

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.
 
Criminal Penalties:  While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law.  Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses.  Persons violating Egyptian laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned.
 
Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Egypt are strict, and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and heavy fines.  The death penalty may be imposed on anyone convicted of smuggling or selling marijuana, hashish, opium, LSD, or other narcotics. Law enforcement authorities prosecute and seek fines and imprisonment in cases of possession of even small quantities of drugs.

Consular Access:  U.S. citizens are encouraged to carry a copy of their U.S. passport with them at all times, so that, if questioned by local officials, proof of identity and U.S. citizenship are readily available.  In accordance with Article 36 of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, to which Egypt is a party, competent authorities in the host country must notify a consular post of the arrest of one of its citizens without delay if requested to do so by the foreign citizen.
 
Photography Restrictions:  There are restrictions on photographing military personnel and sites, bridges, and canals, including the Suez Canal.  Egyptian authorities may broadly interpret these restrictions to include other potentially sensitive structures, including embassies, other public buildings with international associations, and some religious edifices.  Visitors should refrain from taking photographs that include uniformed personnel.

Children's Issues:  For information on international adoption of children and international
parental child abduction, please refer to our website http://travel.state.gov/family/index.html or telephone the Overseas Citizens Services call center at 1-888-407-4747.  The OCS call center can answer general inquiries regarding international adoptions and will forward calls to the appropriate country officer in the Bureau of Consular Affairs.  This number is available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).  Callers who are unable to use toll-free numbers, such as those calling from overseas, may obtain information and assistance during these hours by calling 1-317-472-2328.
 
Embassy Location and Registration:  U.S. citizens living in or visiting Egypt are encouraged to register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Egypt and obtain updated information on travel and security within Egypt. The American Citizens Services office of the U.S. Embassy is located at 5 Latin America Street, Garden City, Cairo and is open to the public from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.  The workweek in Egypt is Sunday through Thursday.  Telephone calls are accepted from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
 
The mailing address from the United States is:  Consular Section, Unit 64900, Box 15, APO AE 09839-4900; in Egypt, it is 8 Kamal el-Din Salah Street, Garden City, Cairo.  The main Embassy telephone number is +20 (2) 797-3300. The Consular Section telephone number is 20-2-797-2301, the fax number is +20 (2) 797-2472, and the e-mail address is ConsularCairo@N0SPAM.state.gov .  Consular information is available via the internet at http://cairo.usembassy.gov/consular/index.htm.
 
Once a month, American citizen services are available at the American Center, 3 Pharana Street, Azarita, Alexandria from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Please check the Embassy web site for a schedule of upcoming dates at http://cairo.usembassy.gov/consular/ACSALEX.htm.   Every 5-10 weeks, American citizen services are available at the Cairo American College, Room 600, Maadi, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  Please check the Embassy website for dates and details of services available http://cairo.usembassy.gov/consular/ACSmaadi.htm.

Web Resources

Department of State Travel Sheet on Egypt:  http://travel.state.gov/travel/egypt.html
U.S. State Department’s travel warnings/advisories: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1108.html
The Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Washington, DC:  http://www.egyptembassy.net/
Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Egypt: http://egypt.usembassy.gov/consular/
State Department Visa Website: http://travel.state.gov/visa/index.html
United States Visas.gov: http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/
Egypt Tourist Authority:  http://www.egypttourism.org