Natalia: Facts and Statistics

The official name of Egypt is Arab Republic of Egypt.

The capital and also the largest city is Cairo.

Climate: desert; hot, dry summers with moderate Winter

The population is estimated to 84 million.

Religions: Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94%, Coptic Christian and other 6%

Government: republic

Language in Egypt
For almost 13 centuries Arabic has been the written and spoken language of
Egypt.

Egyptian Society & Culture

Islam is practised by the majority of Egyptians and governs their personal, political,
economic and legal lives.
Among certain obligations for Muslims are to pray five times a day - at dawn, noon,
afternoon, sunset, and evening. Friday is the Muslim holy day. Everything is
closed.

Karen- Family Values:

The family is the most significant unit of Egyptian society.

Kinship plays an important role in all social relations.
Egyptian Honour:
Honour is an important facet of interpersonal relationships.
Respect and esteem for people is both a right and an obligation

Social Class:

Social class is very apparent in Egypt since it determines your access to

power and position.
The social class an Egyptian is born into dictates their everyday life and the
opportunities they will have.
There are three social classes: upper, middle, and lower.

Etiquette & Customs in Egypt

NATA As for negotiation techniques, Egyptians are usually difficult negotiators.

The pace of business is slow in Egypt, so waiting for immediate results is not wise.
It is advisable to have an Egyptian representative to explain the major points of
your business in Arabic.
Try to avoid enquiring about the female members of their family. Do not bring up
the Israel topic.
KAREN Regarding dress code, visitors are expected to follow Egyptian discretion
standards. Despite the countrys hot temperatures, most of the body must remain
covered.
Business cards should be printed in English on one side and in Arabic on the
other.
For business meals: stringent Muslims will not touch alcohol or pork. Make sure to
have a selection of non-alcoholic drinks available if you invite them for an event.
NATA- Why negotiate in Egypt?

Egypt is the largest Arab country in the world,

According to reports published by the World Bank, Egypt is one of the top 10
economies that reformed their business regulations, providing enhancements in the
access to credit for foreign companies expanding a business in Egypt.
Egypt has launched significant reforms to recharge its economy and attract foreign
investors in the past years. Even Chinese companies, see Egypt as a key
bridgehead.
As result, there is a new feeling of confidence in the Egyptian business community
and a particular interest for UK companies.

KAREN- Business opportunities

Expanding a business in Egypt may be highly remunerative in the following

sectors:
Petroleum, power generation and transmission, and telecommunications
Tourism, as the largest earner of foreign exchange and employer of more than
10% of Egyptian workers, also offers strong possibilities.
Education & Skills - The sector is in robust expansion, with high demand for
schools, universities, international accreditation
Renewable Energy - Egypt possesses an abundance of land, sunny weather and
high wind speeds
Egypt has the potential to be counted among the emerging markets poised to offer
good returns for foreign investment.