Egypt – General info

Egypt – General information

Location: Northeast Africa

Area: 1,001,450 km² (or about 995,450 km² pure land area without inland waters, depending on the source)

Population: around 115 to 118 million (as of 2026) – significantly more than the previously mentioned 71.2 million (as of 2006); Egypt is now the most populous country in the Arab world and the third most populous country in Africa.

Population density: around 115–120 inhabitants per km² (based on the total area; since around 95% of the population lives in the narrow habitable strip of the Nile, the actual density there is many times higher).

Capital: Cairo (El Kahira) – Population today around 10 million in the core city, around 21–22 million in the greater Cairo/Giza area – making it by far the largest city in Africa and the Arab world (instead of the previously mentioned 7.8 million in 2006).

New administrative capital: Since 2015, Egypt has been building a completely new capital (officially “New Administrative Capital”) about 60 km east of Cairo, to which government agencies and ministries have been gradually moving since 2023. The aim is to reduce the enormous population pressure on Cairo; however, the new city has so far grown much more slowly than planned. Cairo will remain the economic, cultural and traveler-relevant center of the country for the foreseeable future.

Form of government: Presidential republic since 1953. Current constitution of 2014 (with amendments in 2019, including extension of terms of office); the emergency laws that had previously been in force since 1981 were officially repealed in 2021, but some of their powers were transferred to regular laws. Bicameral parliament (House of Representatives and the Senate, which was reintroduced in 2020). Independent since 1922 (former British protectorate).

Current president: Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, in office since June 2014 (potentially re-electable until 2030 due to a constitutional amendment in 2019).

Geography: Egypt borders the Mediterranean Sea in the north, Sudan in the south, Libya in the west and the Red Sea and Israel in the east. The Nile Delta is located in Lower Egypt, the Nile Valley in Upper Egypt. East of the Suez Canal lies the Sinai Peninsula. The vast majority of the population still lives in the agricultural Nile delta and valley; oases are the only remnants of the once fertile lowlands off the Nile. The narrow coastal regions on the Mediterranean Sea and on the African side of the Red Sea are also densely populated or developed for tourism. The Aswan Dam continues to regulate the Nile flooding, which used to recur annually.

Language: The official language is Arabic. English is now much more commonly used in tourism and business than French, which has lost its importance.

Religion: around 90% of the inhabitants are Muslims (almost exclusively Sunnis), around 10% belong to Christian minorities, mainly from the Coptic Orthodox Church.

Local time: CET + 1 (GMT+2). Egypt had abolished daylight saving time in the meantime and reintroduced it for a few months in 2023 on a trial basis; since then, a uniform time without change has been in place again all year round – travelers should check the exact current regulation shortly before departure, as it has been changed several times in recent years.

Mains voltage: 220 V, 50 Hz. In some rural areas, sometimes different values. Two-pin sockets (type C/F) are standard.

Egypt – Entry and Visa

German, Austrian and Swiss nationals still need a visa to enter Egypt – visa-free entry is not possible. There are three options to choose from:

• Visa on Arrival: available directly at the airport on arrival, cost as of March 2026 30 US dollars (previously 25 US dollars), payable in cash (USD or euros) at the bank counter before passport control.
• E-visa: to be applied for online in advance via the official Egyptian government website, recommended at least 7 days before departure, also costs around 30 US dollars for single entry (or around 65 US dollars for multiple entries).
• Visa at the embassy/consulate: available in advance in Germany, Austria or Switzerland, recommended for business trips or if a visa should be available before departure.

The standard tourist visa entitles the holder to a stay of 30 days and can be extended on site. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months upon entry and must have a free page for the visa stamp.

Important recent addition: Since February 2026, Egypt has been gradually introducing a digital entry system at international airports, where entry data is increasingly recorded online or at local terminals, rather than exclusively via paper forms, as was previously the case. Since the process is still in a transitional phase and can vary depending on the airport and airline, travelers should allow sufficient time buffers and not rely on the fact that paper forms have already been completely eliminated everywhere.

Since experience has shown that visa fees and entry requirements change more frequently, it is advisable to take a look at the information provided by the Federal Foreign Office before travelling.

Egypt – Climate

Egypt is largely located in the subtropical dry belt with low rainfall. An exception is the Nile Delta and the approximately 700 km long Mediterranean coast, where winter precipitation is more frequent.

Egypt can be divided into five climatically different weather zones:

Mediterranean and Nile Delta: Milder winters and very warm summers. Average daily temperatures are 17–20 degrees, at night it cools down to 8–11 degrees. The northern regions around Alexandria have around 30 rainy days a year (mostly in winter). In spring, summer and autumn, the daily values vary between 28–32 degrees with highs of around 45 degrees, 19–24 degrees at night, with a humidity of 60–75%. The water temperature is around 28 degrees in summer and around 17 degrees in winter.

Lower Nile Valley (Cairo to Asyut): Milder winters, significantly hotter summers with low rainfall and humidity of 40–60%. Average temperature during the day 18–22 degrees, at night 4–9 degrees, maximum values up to 48 degrees.

Upper Nile Valley: Milder winter months, warm spring and autumn, very hot and dry summers. In Luxor, it rains on average around 2 days a year; maximum temperatures of up to 50 degrees have been measured.

Red Sea coast: Mostly mild to warm winters with temperatures above 20 degrees even at night. Long, hot and very dry summer. Bathing temperatures in the sea are between 20–29 degrees.

Sinai: Geographically occupies a special position, with much cooler temperatures in winter (at higher altitudes below 15 degrees during the day, around 5 degrees at night). In summer, temperatures rise to up to 32 degrees with a humidity of 20–40%. It rains 1–3 days a year.

Best time to visit: In the Luxor area from November to March, in the Cairo area between October and April, on the Red Sea from April to October.

Egypt – Fauna

Except for the banks of the Nile and the delta, Egypt is a very dry country. In the delta area and on the Nile there are many waterfowl such as herons, cranes and Egyptian geese. In the winter months, numerous European migratory birds join them. Birds of prey and carrion such as kites, lambs’ vultures and hawks are also native.

In addition to domesticated camels, donkeys, sheep and goats, the larger mammals also include jackals, hyenas, desert foxes (fennecs), wild cats and, in the mountains, ibex. Wild camels no longer exist. The only animal that can compete with cobras is mongooses native to Egypt.

In the desert there are hares, gerbils, numerous lizard species and scorpions. The fennec, an elegant desert fox with strikingly large ears, is shy, but at the same time curious.

The Nile is home to the Egyptian cobra. Nile crocodiles continue to live on Lake Nasser. In the Nile and in the lakes of the delta coast, there are over 160 different species of fish.

Egypt – Flora

Around 70 different plant species are endemic to Egypt. Due to the dry conditions and intensive agricultural use, the flora of Egypt is largely composed of cultivated plants.

More pronounced vegetation can be found especially in the Nile Delta, in the Nile Valley and in the oases. The most widespread tree species is the date palm. Native trees are also mulberry trees, tamarisks, acacia trees and carob trees. Introduced tree species are cypress, elm, eucalyptus, mimosa and various fruit trees.

Especially on the alluvial soils of the delta area, a diverse flora thrives with vines, various vegetables and flowers such as lotus, jasmine and roses.

In the arid areas, half-grass and various thorn bush species can be found. The papyrus bush, which once lined large parts of the Nile bank, now only grows in the far south of the country.

Egypt – History, Culture, Art

Approx. 10,000 to 3,000 BC: Settlement of the Nile region. The Nile, which repeatedly overflows its banks, leaves fertile soil; the people organize agriculture together. Favorable climatic conditions and the ability to live together in an organized community give rise to a high culture in Egypt.

Early period, ca. 3,000–2,700 BC: The rival tribes of Lower and Upper Egypt unite, Memphis becomes the capital of the new empire. In the 1st and 2nd dynasties, papyrus, hieroglyphic script and a 365-day calendar are created.

Old Kingdom, ca. 2,700–2,200 BC: The heyday of the 3rd to 6th dynasties, the “Pyramid Age” – during this time, the three pyramids of Giza, among other things, were built.

First intermediate period, ca. 2,200–2,000 BC: Decline of the pharaohs’ power (7th to 11th dynasty), the empire disintegrates; Thebes gains importance as the capital of a sub-empire.

Middle Kingdom, ca. 2,000–1,600 BC: Mentuhotep II reunites the country, second heyday (11th to 14th dynasty); Thebes remains a cultural center, many temples are built, but the pharaoh’s power dwindles again.

Second intermediate period, ca. 1,600–1,500 BC: Renewed disintegration, the Hyksos conquer the country (14th to 17th dynasty).

New Kingdom, ca. 1,500–1,100 BC: Reunification, beginning of the 18th dynasty; Egypt becomes a great power with a cultural heyday under pharaohs such as Ramses II, Akhenaten and Nefertiti as well as Queen Hatshepsut. Numerous temples are built in the Valley of the Kings.

Third intermediate period, ca. 1,100–700 BC: Division into a northern and southern empire (21st to 24th dynasty), ruled by Libyan princes.

Late period, 700–332 BC: Further heyday (25th to 30th dynasty); intermediate Persian foreign rule, which is expelled again.

332 BC: Conquest by Alexander the Great, foundation of Alexandria.

332–30 BC: Greek supremacy. Cleopatra tries to establish a new empire with Julius Caesar and later Mark Antony; after defeat by Rome, she commits suicide.

30 BC to 700 AD: Egypt becomes a Roman province and “breadbasket of Rome”. Christianity gains in importance, Coptenism and monasticism emerge.

7th to 16th centuries: Arab conquest brings Islam to the country; Islamic rulers later resist the Crusades.

16./17. Century: Ottoman conquest, incorporation into the Ottoman Empire.

1798–1805: Napoleon Bonaparte conquers Egypt and retreats a few years later.

1805–1849: Under Mohammed Ali, the industrialization of Egypt begins.

1869: Opening of the Suez Canal.

1914–1922: British Protectorate.

1922–1952: Parliamentary monarchy; In 1952, the king was expelled by a coup d’état.

1953: Egypt becomes a republic.

1967: Closure of the Suez Canal to Israeli shipping leads to the Six-Day War; Israel occupies the Sinai.

1970: Completion of the Aswan High Dam, creation of Lake Nasser.

From 1974: Peace negotiations with Israel.

1979: Egypt is expelled from the Arab League because of the peace treaty with Israel; criticism from Islamic fundamentalists grows.

1981: President Sadat is assassinated; successor Mubarak adheres to the peace treaty with Israel and improves relations with the Arab states.

1992–1997: Attacks by Islamist fundamentalists on civilians with the aim of an Islamic state, including the attack in Luxor in 1997.

Since the 2000s – important addition that was missing in the original:

2011: In the course of the “Arab Spring”, mass protests break out nationwide; President Hosni Mubarak, in office since 1981, resigns after almost 30 years.

2012: Mohammed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood is elected president in free elections – the first democratically elected president of Egypt.

2013: After renewed mass protests against Morsi’s government, the military under the leadership of General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi deposes Morsi.

2014: Al-Sisi is elected president and takes office in June 2014; he has since been re-elected several times (most recently in 2024) and still governs the country with a much more authoritarian course than his immediate predecessors.

2015: Start of construction of the new administrative capital east of Cairo (see above).

2020: Reintroduction of the Senate as the second chamber of parliament.

2023/2024: The Gaza war following the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 once again puts Egypt – as a direct neighbour of the Gaza Strip with the Rafah border crossing – in a central diplomatic mediating role in the Middle East conflict, which it has held since the late 1990s.

To this day, Egypt remains one of the most important mediators in the Middle East conflict and a central strategic partner of the West in the region.

Egypt – Food & Drink

Egyptian cuisine in the traditional sense does not exist in its pure form. Most common dishes originally come from Arabic (Lebanese and Syrian) cuisine, such as the recipes for Baba Ghanoush or Salata Tahina. A regional speciality is Ta’ameya, the Egyptian variant of falafel.

Egyptian cuisine is also inspired by Mediterranean cuisine: béchamel sauce, moussaka and stuffed vine leaves are often on the menu.

The dishes are usually spicy, desserts are almost always very sweet. Dinner is extremely productive; you sit together for a long time in a large group.

For breakfast, tea or thin coffee is drunk, accompanied by sweet pastries or white bread with tomatoes, cucumbers, sheep’s cheese or yoghurt. At lunchtime, usually only small meals of fresh vegetables or some meat with flatbread are eaten.

Dinner often consists of an appetizer (mezze) with a variety of small appetizers – salads or stuffed vegetables. The main course is followed by various fish or meat dishes (lamb, chicken, beef – no pork due to Islam). Dessert consists of sweet cake, pudding or fresh fruit. Fruit juices or local beer can be drunk; the traditional drink remains tea, which is drunk on practically every occasion.

It is still customary to eat by hand (the left hand must not touch the food); however, eating out is usually done with European cutlery, at family dinners sometimes with cutlery, sometimes with the hand. In order to inconspicuously signal to the host that you are full, you traditionally leave the dining table and sit down in the usually adjoining living room – unusual for Europeans, but completely normal in Egypt.

Daily menu: Vegetables from the Nile Valley such as bamya (okra), beans (ful) and falafel, tomatoes, plus flatbread and rice. Meat and poultry are comparatively expensive and are more likely to be served on festive days. Juices, karkade (red mallow tea), strong black tea with mint and water are available as drinks. Decent wines are produced in the Nile Delta; the Stella lager, which is widespread in the country, is recommended.

Food, drink, health: You can eat without worries in the better restaurants. Salads that have been washed with impure tap water should be avoided. If you have an insensitive stomach, you can try kushari (lentils with rice and noodles, roasted onions and a spicy, garlic-rich tomato sauce). Meat should always be well cooked.

On hot days, you should drink enough, up to 3 litres a day; Mineral water should only come from bottles with original, intact caps.

Note: All information on population figures, political offices and entry requirements is subject to change and has been researched to the best of our knowledge as of August 2026. For up-to-date, binding information, it is advisable to take a look at the travel and security advice of the Federal Foreign Office before travelling.