Egypt Information

General Information

Middle East, North Africa.

Area

1,002,000 sq km (386,874 sq miles)

Population

74.9 million (UN, 2005).

Population Density

74.8 Per sq km.

People 

Egyptians, Berbers, Bedouin, Hamitic Arabs and Nubians

Language 

Arabic

Religion 

94% Muslim, 6% Christian

Capital

Cairo (El Qahira)

Population

 16.7 million (2005 estimate)

GDP

US$247 billion

GDP per capita

 US$3,600

Annual Growth

   5%

Inflation

 3%

Major Industries

  Oil & gas, metals, tourism, agriculture (especially cotton) and Suez Canal revenues

Major Trading Partners

USA, EU, Middle East

Government

Republic

Head of State

President Muhammad Hosni Mubarak since 1981

 DATE \@ "M/d/yyyy" 12/25/2007

Head of Government

 Ahmed Nazif since 2004

Recent history: Hosni Mubarak is Egypt’s longest-serving ruler since Muhammad Ali in the early 19th century and one of the longest-serving leaders in the Arab world. President Mubarak was re-elected on 7 September 2005 for his fifth successive term. On 25 May 2005, a constitutional amendment was passed to allow for free and direct Presidential elections to be contested by multiple candidates following pressure form the US and domestic political groups. In previous elections, Egyptians voted yes or no for a single candidate appointed by Parliament. The only opposition organization which has broad public support, the Muslim Brotherhood, is outlawed and could not field a candidate. Mr Mubarak succeeded Anwar Sadat, who was assassinated in 1981. He is a great survivor, having escaped no fewer than six assassination attempts. The President appoints the Prime Minister. Ahmed Nazif has occupied this post since July 2004. Elections to the 454-member Majlis al-Sha’ab are (People’s Assembly) are held every five years. The first stage of a three-stage election took place on 9 November 2005.
 

Egypt is bordered to the north by the Mediterranean, to the south by Sudan, to the west by Libya, and to the east by the Red Sea and Israel. The River Nile divides the country unevenly in two, while the Suez Canal provides a third division with the Sinai Peninsula. Beyond the highly cultivated Nile Valley and Delta, a lush green tadpole of land that holds more than 90 per cent of the population, the landscape is mainly flat desert, devoid of vegetation apart from the few oases that have persisted in the once fertile depressions of the Western Desert. Narrow strips are inhabited on the Mediterranean coast and on the African Red Sea coast. The coast south of Suez has fine beaches and the coral reefs just offshore attract many divers. The High Dam at Aswan now controls the annual floods that once put much of the Nile Valley under water; it also provides electricity.

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

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.

Social Conventions

Islam is the dominant influence and many traditional customs and beliefs are tied up with religion. The people are generally courteous and hospitable and expect similar respect from visitors. Shaking hands will suffice as a greeting. Because Egypt is a Muslim country, dress should be conservative and women should not wear revealing clothes, particularly when in religious buildings and in towns (although the Western style of dress is accepted in modern nightclubs, restaurants, hotels and bars in Cairo, Alexandria and other tourist destinations). Official or social functions and smart restaurants usually require more formal wear. Smoking is very common.

Photography: Tourists will have to pay a fee to take photographs inside pyramids, tombs and museums.