COUNTRY PROFILE:
- The Capital (and largest city): Cairo
- Official Language: Arabic
- Government: Republic
- Legislative Authority: People's Assembly and Shura Council
- Establishment: 3200 BC
- The National Day: 23 July
- Area: 1.002.450 km2
- Population: 83. 082. 869
- Population density: 76/km2
- Currency: Egyptian Pound ($ 1= LE 5.46) January 2010
- Time Zone: (UTC + 2)
- Drives on the: Right
- Language:
The Arabic language is the official language in addition to using English and French in the commercial fields.
- Telephone code of the Arab Republic of Egypt:
002
City Code Number:- Cairo- Giza 00202
- Alexandria 00203
- Luxor 002095
- Asswan 002097
- Sharm El-Sheikh 002069
- Hurghada 002062
- Administrative Division:
- The Republic is administratively divided into 29 governorates. The governorates are either completely urban, or a blend of urban and rural areas.
- Cities and Ports:
- The biggest cities are Greater Cairo, Zagazig, Alexandria, Port Said, Al Mahala Al Kubra, Luxor, Mansoura, Tanta, Asyut, and Menya.
Ports: there are 32 ports in Egypt due to the extension of the coastlines to the north and south, and the most important ones are Alexandria, Damietta, Suez, Port Said and Safaga.
- The biggest cities are Greater Cairo, Zagazig, Alexandria, Port Said, Al Mahala Al Kubra, Luxor, Mansoura, Tanta, Asyut, and Menya.
- Mobile Phone:
- The first mobile phone services with GSM technology was introduced in Egypt, in 1996.
Egypt has three companies which provide mobile phone services, namely:- The Egyptian Company for Mobile Services Mobinil.
- Vodafone Egypt.
- Etisalat Egypt.
- The first mobile phone services with GSM technology was introduced in Egypt, in 1996.
- Etymology:
- "Kemet" was the name the pharaohs gave to their homeland, which means "the black land" in a metaphor for the fertile land of the Nile Valley which is black, coompared to the lands of the surrounding red desert "deshret".
In many European languages, Egypt is known with names derived from its Latin name "Aegyptus", which is derived from the Greek Αίγυπτος. Some scientist think that it is derived from the name of Ptah's Temple in the ancient capital of Memphis, applying a practice which is still carried on today to name the country after its capital.
- "Kemet" was the name the pharaohs gave to their homeland, which means "the black land" in a metaphor for the fertile land of the Nile Valley which is black, coompared to the lands of the surrounding red desert "deshret".
- National Anthem:
- The national anthem is a crystallization of a nation's history, their present and their future aspirations.
It was composed by Sayed Darwish, and written by the poet Younis El-Quadi. Egypt has taken Beladi Beladi (my homeland) as its national anthem. (Click here to listen to the National Anthem)
- The national anthem is a crystallization of a nation's history, their present and their future aspirations.
- Official Workdays:
- Official workdays in the ministries, government departments and general authorities and local administrative units are five days per week, considering Fridays and Saturdays the official holidays.
National Holidays and Religious Events:
Official Islamic holidays (Hijri Calendar):
- Islamic New Year: 1st of Muharram.
- Birth of Prophet Muhammed: 12th of Rabi' al-Awal.
- Eid al-Fitr: on 1st of Shawwal.
- The Day of `Arafah: 9th of Zul Hijjah.
- Eid al-Adha: 10th of Zul Hijjah.
- Official Coptic holidays: Christmas holiday: 7th of January.
- Other official holidays at the Gregorian calendar:
- Easter : 5th of April.
- Sinai Liberation Day: 25 th of April.
- Workers Day: 1st of May.
- July Revolution Day: 23rd of July.
- Official workdays in the ministries, government departments and general authorities and local administrative units are five days per week, considering Fridays and Saturdays the official holidays.
National Holidays and Religious Events:
Official Islamic holidays (Hijri Calendar):