Egypt expat guide

Indoor smoking is common in many adult social spaces. Law vibe is more formal and rule-bound around documents and public order.

Minimum budget: rural $300/mo, urban $500/mo. Medical insurance: $600/yr.

Auto: Do not rely on a Russian domestic license alone; carry an IDP, Arabic or English translation, and many visitors should use drivers outside resort areas. Rentals are roughly $25-65/day for Sunny, Logan, Elantra class, with aggressive traffic, checkpoints and high deposits. Land borders to Israel, Libya, Sudan, Gaza are not practical rental-car crossings; Sinai routes can involve extra checks.

Smoking: Indoor smoking is common in many adult social spaces.

Police / rules: Police and public-order vibe is formal and rule-aware: expect visible order and some bureaucratic seriousness, with less casual flexibility than in softer places.

Zones

• Nile Urban Corridor: Dense Nile cities, markets, ancient layers, desert light and intense street movement. Dry sunny river-valley climate with winters around 12–22°C and brutal summers around 34–42°C. Dust haze and traffic can affect air quality. Palm-lined riverbanks sharply contrast surrounding desert.
• Desert & Resort Belt: Red Sea resort towns, dive centers, gated comfort, reefs and dry desert sun. Extremely dry desert and Red Sea climate with almost nonstop sunshine. Coastal winters stay around 18–25°C while summers often push 35–45°C. Nights cool down quickly inland.