Located in northeastern Africa, Egypt is now a particularly popular vacation destination. Safaga is about 60 kilometers from Hurghada.
Political and economic situation
Since June 2014, former Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has been Egypt’s sixth president. He promised the Egyptians little, only that it will be a difficult time. Sisi wants to make Egypt a stable state again and has called on Egyptians to cooperate in this.
It was recently revealed that he wants to build 20,000 new schools, 25 cities and eight airports. He also wants to make large areas of desert suitable for agriculture. He plans to pay for this by appealing to Egyptians abroad, foreign investors and other Gulf states. Sisi also faces high subsidies on energy and other basic needs, but has indicated he will leave them alone for now. However, taxes on fuel and alcohol did increase. Sisi also accomplished the construction of a second Suez Canal. Next to the existing canal which was opened in 1869 is a second canal with a length of 72 km. A new city is also being built : New Cairo, which will allow shelter for about 5 million people, along with many jobs.
Currency
Egypt has the Egyptian pound as its currency. In Arabic this is called ‘guinay’. This coin is divided into 100 piasters(pt) or 1000 millims. Incidentally, you hardly encounter this last unit anymore. There is paper money in circulation of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 LE and 200 LE and of 25 and 50 pt. Coins come in 1, 5, 10, 20, 25 and 50 piaster. There is often a lack of change. Especially in smaller towns, it is advisable to bring change.
The exchange rate against the euro fluctuates quite a lot. Those wishing to withdraw cash can do so at a number of ATMs.
Other data
Official national language: Arabic
Capital: Cairo
Surface area: 1,001,450 km²
Population: +100,000,000
Currency: Egyptian pound
Time difference: +1 (summers +2)