🇪🇬 Egypt Info Fiche

Flag  Red, white, and black stripes with the golden Eagle of Saladin

Population  ~110 million

Capital  Cairo

Language  Arabic (العربية)

Currency  Egyptian Pound (EGP £ or ج.م)

Hello  مرحبا (Marhaban) / أهلاً (Ahlan)

National Day  July 23 — Revolution Day, commemorating the 1952 revolution that ended monarchy

Fun Fact  Over 95% of Egypt’s population lives along the Nile River, even though the country is mostly desert!

✨ Interesting Facts

• 🏺 Egypt is home to one of the world’s oldest civilizations (over 5,000 years old)

• 🏜️ The Sahara covers most of the country — yet the Nile makes it fertile and green

• 🐪 Camels are called the “ships of the desert” and are still used for transport in rural areas

• 🎶 The oud, an ancient stringed instrument, is still played in Egyptian music

• 🎥 Cairo is known as the “Hollywood of the Middle East”

🧚 Folklore & Symbols

• 🐍 Uraeus (Cobra) — symbol of protection and royalty, worn on pharaohs’ crowns

• ☀️ Ra — the ancient sun god, sailing across the sky each day

• 💎 Scarab Beetle — amulet of rebirth and good luck

• 🧞 Djinn (Genies) — spirit beings found in Middle Eastern and Egyptian tales

• 🌴 Date Palm — symbol of life and sustenance in the desert

🗿 Famous Monuments & Places

🗿 Pyramids of Giza & Sphinx  Ancient wonders over 4,500 years old🏛️ Valley of the Kings, Luxor  Burial site of pharaohs, including Tutankhamun🕌 Mosque of Muhammad Ali, Cairo  Magnificent Ottoman mosque in the Citadel🌊 Red Sea, Sharm El-Sheikh  World-famous coral reefs and diving spots🏜️ Abu Simbel Temples  Massive rock temples built by Ramses II

🍽️ Traditional Foods & Drinks

🍽 Dish / Drink	Description	Emoji Feel
🥘 Koshari	Lentils, rice, pasta, tomato sauce, crispy onions	Comfort 🍲
🥙 Falafel (Ta’ameya)	Made from fava beans (not chickpeas like elsewhere)	Crunchy 🟢
🫓 Aish Baladi	Traditional Egyptian flatbread	Essential 🍞
🍆 Baba Ghanoush	Roasted eggplant dip with tahini and garlic	Smoky 🍆
🍬 Basbousa	Sweet semolina cake soaked in syrup	Sweet 🍯
🍵 Hibiscus Tea (Karkadeh)	Deep red, tart herbal tea (served hot or cold)	Refreshing 🌺
☕ Ahwa (Egyptian Coffee)	Strong, cardamom-spiced coffee	Bold ☕

🎉 Festivals & Traditions

• 🕌 Ramadan & Eid al-Fitr  Month of fasting, ending with feasts and family gatherings

• 🐑 Eid al-Adha  Festival of Sacrifice, marked by sharing meals and charity

• 🌸 Sham El-Nessim  Spring festival dating back to ancient Egypt, celebrated after Coptic Easter

• 🎶 Moulids  Festivals honoring saints, filled with music, food, and Sufi dancing

• 🎇 Abu Simbel Sun Festival  Twice a year, the sun aligns perfectly inside the temple of Ramses II

🧳 Traveler’s Tips

• ✈️ Best time to visit: October–April (cooler and great for sightseeing)

• 🏜️ Summer warning: Desert heat can reach 45°C+

• 🚤 Nile Cruises: A great way to see Luxor, Aswan, and temples along the river

• 🙏 Etiquette: Dress modestly when visiting mosques; greetings often begin with “Salam Alaikum”

• 🐪 Must-try experiences: Camel ride by the pyramids, snorkeling in the Red Sea, exploring hidden tombs in Luxor