About Egypt
Dating back to 1958, the current flag of the Arab Republic of Egypt is
the country’s symbol of independence. The flag consists of three
superposed rectangles, black white and red, each having a specific
significance, and bears at its centre a golden eagle, the country’s
emblem and a symbol of power.
Red has been chosen to symbolize glory, white is for purity, whereas the
black stripe evokes eras of underdevelopment and colonialism that were
overcome
Politics
Egypt is a Republic, the political system of which is democratic based
on citizenship and relying on each of the legislative, executive and
judicial branches, additionally to the press, political parties, local
administrations and civil society institutions.
Religion
Islam is the official religion of the Arab Republic of Egypt. Most
non-Muslims in Egypt are Christians, the majority of whom belong to the
Coptic Orthodox Church
Administrative Division
Egypt is divided into 28 independent administrative units (governorates)
enjoying juridical personality each consisting of a number of towns,
cities and villages, additionally to the city of Luxor that holds a
distinct character
Main Airports
Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Hurghada, and Sharm El-Sheikh
Geography
Egypt is the 29th biggest country in the world, covering a total area of
1,002,450 sq. km. It is located in the northeast corner of the African
continent, on the Mediterranean Sea, at a crossroad between Africa, Asia
and Europe. It is bordered to the east by the Red Sea, Palestine and
Israel to the north-east, Libya to the west, and Sudan to the south
The country is divided into 4 main geological areas
- Nile Valley and Delta: this region extends on both sides of the Nile
from the southern limit of the river going through Aswan, Luxor, to
reach Cairo, then ramifying to the north and encompassing the
destinations of Damietta and Rosetta. These ramifications, north of
Cairo form the Nile Delta, Egypt’s most fertile agricultural land
- Western Desert: Extending from the Nile Valley in the east to the
Egypt-Libyan border in the west and from the Mediterranean coast in the
north to the southern Egyptian border, it is one of Egypt’s most arid
regions. Sparsely inhabited yet charming oases – Siwa, Bahariya,
Farafra, Kharga and Dakhla – dot this region that covers 2/3 of the
country’s total land area
- Eastern Desert: this region lies between the Nile Valley to the west,
the Red Sea and Gulf of Suez to the east, Lake Manzala to the north and
the Sudanese border to the south. This arid region embraces the Red Sea
Mountains chain, reaching an altitude of over 900 metres above sea level
at some points. The region is Egypt’s richest in natural resources. Its
underground treasures include gems, coal and oil
Population
The estimated total population of Egypt is about 79 million, according
to the 2007 population census. Most of the Egyptian population is
concentrated near the River Nile, in cities and towns such as Cairo,
Luxor, Aswan, Port Said. Smaller settlements include the Western Desert
oases, and main destinations of the Sinai Peninsula
Language
Egypt’s official language is Arabic, but foreign languages, such as
English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish are also widely spoken,
especially in educated circles
History Brief
5000 years of civilization contributed to the cultural heritage of Egypt
and to building the strength and independence of its citizens. The
country’s history is a sequence of invasions, eras or glory, battles and
victories, which can be split into the following main periods and
milestones:
- Pharaonic Era (3100 BC – 332 BC)
- Greek Era (332 BC – 32 AD)
- Roman Era (32 AD – 638 AD)
- Coptic Era (starting from 65 AD)
- Islamic Era: starting with the Islamic conquest of Egypt (640 AD – 1517 AD)
- Ottoman Rule (1517 – 1882)
- French Invasion (1798)
- British Colonization of Egypt (1882 – 1952)
- The 23rd of July Revolution (1952) after which Egypt is declared a Republic. British troops leave Egypt in 1954.
- The 6th of October War (1973)
- Egypt signs a Peace Treaty with Israel (1979)
- Hosni Mubarak is elected president of the Arab Republic of Egypt (1981)
- The January popular Revolution begins against the Egyptian government (25 January 2011)
- Hosni Mubarak steps down as President of the Arab Republic of Egypt (11 February 2001)
The People
Egypt is home to a multicultural society. Ethnic Egyptians constitute 95% of Egypt's total population whereas Egypt's minorities include Nubians, Berbers (Siwa Oasis), Bedouins, Arabs, Turks, and Greeks, additionally to small tribal communities: the Bejas and Doms. The former are concentrated in the south-eastern corner of Egypt, and the latter live mostly in the Nile Delta and the Fayoum oasis which are progressively becoming assimilated into bigger cities as urbanization increases
The Egyptians, from all origins, are known for their welcoming attitude towards tourists. If you respect the local customs and traditions, and avoid offending anyone, especially in places of worship and remote locations where some old traditions are maintained, you are sure to spend an unforgettable holiday in Egypt
The Culture
There is no such thing as a unified "Egyptian Culture", for the simple reason that Egyptians form a multicultural society, where modernity and western customs flirt with traditions, where religious practices are moderate but where religion is still deeply anchored in the everyday life of the Egyptians
However,
Egyptians from all social strata, religious beliefs, or ethnic origins
share a remarkable attachment to important social values, such as
-
Family: Egyptians consider their family as an integral entity which
they have to protect. Don't be surprised to notice that an Egyptian
feels responsible for his whole family and the behaviour of his
siblings, his parents, his cousins, etc- Friendliness and Humour:
Egyptians are known to be the most funny, friendly and helpful nation of
the Middle East. They will go out of their way to help you in any
troublesome situation, always with a smile. If you're sensitive to their
humour, which is renowned world-wide, you'll be surprised to see how
far a smile or a joke can take you in Egypt.
- Sports: and most
of all, Football! Egyptians love playing but also watching football. The
biggest and most popular national football clubs are Ahly and Zamalek,
both of which are based in Cairo.
- Folkloric Dances: Egypt is
famous for its authentic and beautiful heritage of customs and
traditions. Those are especially observed in the religious events and
during the month of Ramadan
Egypt is also known for the varied forms
of folk art and dances, proper to each region of the country. While
inhabitants of Suez, Ismailiya and Port Said are famous for group dances
accompanied by music played on the traditional “semsomiya” (an old
traditional string instrument), the southern population of Al-Saeed are
known for their “logging” and equestrian inspired dances. Nubian dances
are probably the most colourful and joyful folkloric performances;
Nubians wear colourful costumes and dance to the enticing rhythms of
Nubian songs. The folkloric Sinai dance is one where the dancers wear
beautiful hand-embroidered dresses and perform a sword-dance
Moreover,
Egypt is a lively artistic scene, world famous for its music, film,
theatre, and TV industries. And although it could be considered as
having a bigger impact on the Middle East and the Arab countries than it
does on the Western world, it is important to underline that Egypt has
contributed to the world cultural heritage through iconic figures such
as the 1988 awarded Nobel Prize for Literature Egyptian author, Naguib
Mahfouz, the acclaimed movie director, Yousef Chahine, the Egyptian
actor Omar Sherif, and the most famous Arabic diva of all times, Umm
Kolthoum, only to name a few
Egypt has also given the world
acclaimed scientists and thinkers such as Ahmed Hassan Zuweil, winner of
the 1999 Nobel Prize for Chemistry, and Sir Magdy Yaacoub, an acclaimed
surgeon, a heart transplantation specialist and renowned professor of
cardiothoracic surgery at Imperial College in London
Best Time to Come
Egypt is a rather large country with 2 general seasons, a mild winter
and a sunny summer. The majority of Egypt’s landscape is a desert,
except for the White Mediterranean coast, the Nile Valley and the Delta.
Between November and March the daytimes are pleasantly warm, whereas evenings and nights are cool and enjoyable in all of Egypt
In April and May temperatures are generally mild and this is an ideal time to visit any destination in Egypt
From June to September the weather is very hot, dry in the desert areas
and humid in the Nile Valley and on the White Med coast. Sunglasses,
sunscreen, a hat and good hydration are essential, and trips to the
desert areas aren’t advisable in that period of the year.
Late September and October, as well as April and May are thus ideal for
touring Egypt. And the November to February period offers the pleasant
balmy weather that is perfect for cruising down the Nile.
The Red Sea Riviera has great weather all year round; it is thus the
perfect sun & sea destination to escape to when the sky gets too
cloudy back in your homeland