UPDATE!!! *Al Masry Al Youm added that it would include all tourists but this decision has been reversed to include ONLY diplomatic visitors*
Commencing January 15th 2012
all visitors to Egypt will require a biometric visa in their passport.
This includes diplomatic visitors.
The biometric visa can be obtained in the visitors country of residence at the nearest Egyptian Mission prior to travel to Egypt on approval.
Applications for the visa at the mission must include a digital photograph and fingerprints which will be taken at the mission on application.
note:
this is not a biometric passport!
This is a biometric visa needed to enter Egypt which will be places in the passport!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
Find your polling station by phone.
Egypt telecom has just launched a new service to help would be voters locate their nearest polling station.
Voters can now call Telecom’s 140 phone directory, provide their national ID Number and within seconds be told their constituency, polling station and their number on the voting list.
Voters can now call Telecom’s 140 phone directory, provide their national ID Number and within seconds be told their constituency, polling station and their number on the voting list.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Real Life Farmville in Cairo
The founder Christian Mahot from Anjou in France, now resident in Dreamland Compound started the project in 2010 thanks to a plot of land given to Mr Mahot by Dreamland developer Ahmed Bahgat.
The aim of the project is mainly to recycle all of Dreamparks garden refuse into useable organic compost.
His team of workers collect all the refuse and sort it at the Eco Station behind Dreampark, shredding the waste and laying it out in rows to decompose into beautiful rich dark organic compost.
In the future he hopes to build a hammam house to collect pigeon manure and to install bee hives to collect honey to sell to visitors to help finance his project.
He would also love to own a truck to that his small band of collecters can collect the garden waste rather than contractors being paid to do this. (If anyone knows of anyone willing to donate a truck or small pick up to his project it would be great!!! )
Christian welcomes groups large and small to free tours around his Eco Station to help educate adults and children on recycling Egypts garden waste into useable compost, you just have to call and he will show you or your group around.
Christian also works with his friend Michel and his wife bird spotting and insect identification around the project. It's a great way for kids to get to know the lifecycle of plants and wildlife around them. He encourages schools to take part, but also welcomes family groups.
Kids joining in the fun and watering the rows of compost and collecting insects
If you would like to have a wander around and see a real life Farmville in operation just give Christian a call and he will arrange a visit most days except Fridays.
The Eco Station is a 5 minute drive from the main Dreamland Compound gate on the Al Wahat Road 6th October City next to Dreampark Theme Park.
You can reach Christian on tele: 01091546390
You can read more about the project here:
Eco Station Project in Cairo the real live Farmville
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
To Egyptians Living Abroad (Elections) how ro register
To all my readers who are Egyptians living outside Egypt please click the link and register to vote.
Registration opens Thursday 10th November.
You can register using your i.d card number or the number on the new style Egyptian passport.
Register here to vote if you live outside Egypt
To give you an idea of the parties manifestos you can complete a 29 question quiz to show you which party aligns with your own ideals.
You can take part in the quiz here.
Find out which electoral party aligns with your own ideals here
Happy Voting !
Registration opens Thursday 10th November.
You can register using your i.d card number or the number on the new style Egyptian passport.
Register here to vote if you live outside Egypt
To give you an idea of the parties manifestos you can complete a 29 question quiz to show you which party aligns with your own ideals.
You can take part in the quiz here.
Find out which electoral party aligns with your own ideals here
Happy Voting !
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Rafah Crossing in North Sinai closures October 2011
Rafah Crossing in North Sinai will be closed on 6th and 7th October 2011 to celebrate 6th October Day.
It will reopen 8th October.
It will reopen 8th October.
October short tours
1. 6th of October Long Weekend
- Fall Hike 'Eagle Eye': Guided search to the lost city. Red Sea Mountains & Beaches. 3 Days / 2 Nights. EGP490.link
- Paintball Battle: MiSSiOn III. 6th of October battle. Day Trip. EGP200.
2. Fri. 14th
- Fishing Trip: Cruise the Sea on board a private yacht. Full day trip. EGP350. Location either Alex or Sokhna (to be announced)
3. Fri. 21st & Sat. 22nd
- Mini Safari: Color Festival. Finally you can throw paint at your friends. Full day trip. EGP250.
- Zaafarana Hike: following our hiking program, this month is time to check Zaafarana Mountains. 2 Days / 1 Night. EGP530.
4. Fri. 28th
- Old Cairo Tour: Do you wanna know how this city looked like in the past. Full day trip. EGP140.
- La La Land: A visit to the green Island right in front of your eyes. Full day trip. EGP160.
Private Trips
- All the above and more is available for private groups and individuals
Reservation
- Call +2 017 6300160.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Property Taxes
Introduction of the Property Tax will be postponed until January 2013.
An official at the Ministry of Finance said that the changes are related to increasing the tax exemption limit on annual rental income from LE6,000 to LE12,600.
The exemption limit for individual homes will be lifted from LE 500,000 to LE 1 million for single-unit owners and to LE2 million for owners of more than one
residential unit.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Friday, September 30, 2011
Voting procedure and database to check id card and polling station
Below is the Ministry's Official Election website.
link
By entering your i.d card number you can access your polling information like local polling station.
Steps to vote:
1.Enter i.d card number in box enter id card no here to retrieve local polling station.
2. Go to polling station on appointed day for each governerate with national i.d card.
3. I.D card will then be used as ONLY mechanism to collect ballot paper and numbered ballot paper will be handed to voter who will then enter cross in appropriate box of choice using Pen ink and not pencil. Votes by any other means than a ink cross in a box will be invalid unless voter is illiterate then a thumbprint with a judges official signature will be entered after consulting with voter what choice he wants to make.
4. Ballot paper is then folded and placed in one of 2 boxes. One for the Independant candidate and one for a party.
5. Finger of voter is then dipped in phosphoric ink removable after 24 hours ensures no return to cast another ballot.
6. Blind or otherwise disabled voters will be offered assistance by judges representatives present.
Votes open at 08.00 and close at 19.00 hours.
link
By entering your i.d card number you can access your polling information like local polling station.
Steps to vote:
1.Enter i.d card number in box enter id card no here to retrieve local polling station.
2. Go to polling station on appointed day for each governerate with national i.d card.
3. I.D card will then be used as ONLY mechanism to collect ballot paper and numbered ballot paper will be handed to voter who will then enter cross in appropriate box of choice using Pen ink and not pencil. Votes by any other means than a ink cross in a box will be invalid unless voter is illiterate then a thumbprint with a judges official signature will be entered after consulting with voter what choice he wants to make.
4. Ballot paper is then folded and placed in one of 2 boxes. One for the Independant candidate and one for a party.
5. Finger of voter is then dipped in phosphoric ink removable after 24 hours ensures no return to cast another ballot.
6. Blind or otherwise disabled voters will be offered assistance by judges representatives present.
Votes open at 08.00 and close at 19.00 hours.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Sinai Parliamentary and Shura Council Elections dates
The Supreme Council for the Armed Forces have announced the dates for the Parliamentary and Shura Council Elections.
The Parliamentary Elections will be held in 3 waves starting November 28th 2011.
The First wave 28th November will include the following governerates:
Cairo , Fayoum , Port Said, Damietta, Alexandria, Kafr El Sheikh, Asuit , Luxor and Red Sea.
Second wave will be on the 14th December 2011 and include the following:
Giza , Bani Sawif , Monufia , Sharkia , Ismailia, Suez, Bahaira , Sohag and Aswan.
Third wave will be on the 3rd January 2012 and will include:
Al Minya, Qalubiya , Gharbiya , Dakhalia , North Sinai, South Sinai, Marsa Matrouh , Qena and New Valley.
The voting for the Shura Council elections will take place on 29th January 2012.
The opening session for the elected Parliament will take place on the 16th March 2012.
The opening session for the elected Shura Council will take place on 24th March 2012.
The Parliamentary Elections will be held in 3 waves starting November 28th 2011.
The First wave 28th November will include the following governerates:
Cairo , Fayoum , Port Said, Damietta, Alexandria, Kafr El Sheikh, Asuit , Luxor and Red Sea.
Second wave will be on the 14th December 2011 and include the following:
Giza , Bani Sawif , Monufia , Sharkia , Ismailia, Suez, Bahaira , Sohag and Aswan.
Third wave will be on the 3rd January 2012 and will include:
Al Minya, Qalubiya , Gharbiya , Dakhalia , North Sinai, South Sinai, Marsa Matrouh , Qena and New Valley.
The voting for the Shura Council elections will take place on 29th January 2012.
The opening session for the elected Parliament will take place on the 16th March 2012.
The opening session for the elected Shura Council will take place on 24th March 2012.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Giza Pyramids Ticket Prices 2011-2012 and update
I went to the Giza Pyramids yesterday and there were quite a decent number of foreign tourists and tour buses returning after the recent revolution.
Let's hope the numbers increase.
There is a new ticketing system. It consists now of an electronic glossy card, 2 part ticket. The small portion is removed and inserted into slot in turnstile and the larger brown portion with Pyramids picture is retained as a souvenir.
Lots of turnstiles and help to get you through.
X Ray machine checks bags and you now walk through metal detector like in airports and hotels.
2 great vantage points for taking photographs.
One is the top of the hill at the helicopter landing pad and the other is the walled off enclosure at the top of the plateau where the souvenir sellers have all been relocated past Menkaure Pyramid and beside the Tourist Police Office. You can get a great view all across the plateau of all 6 pyramids, (3 main and 3 smaller) and mastabas and solar boat museum.
Prices are:
(Tourists)
Adults 60le
Students 30le
Khufu Pyramid entrance to Burial chamber and 'sky chambers' 100le
Menkaure Pyramid entrance 30le
Car parking 2le
(Egyptians)
2le
Let's hope the numbers increase.
There is a new ticketing system. It consists now of an electronic glossy card, 2 part ticket. The small portion is removed and inserted into slot in turnstile and the larger brown portion with Pyramids picture is retained as a souvenir.
Lots of turnstiles and help to get you through.
X Ray machine checks bags and you now walk through metal detector like in airports and hotels.
2 great vantage points for taking photographs.
One is the top of the hill at the helicopter landing pad and the other is the walled off enclosure at the top of the plateau where the souvenir sellers have all been relocated past Menkaure Pyramid and beside the Tourist Police Office. You can get a great view all across the plateau of all 6 pyramids, (3 main and 3 smaller) and mastabas and solar boat museum.
Prices are:
(Tourists)
Adults 60le
Students 30le
Khufu Pyramid entrance to Burial chamber and 'sky chambers' 100le
Menkaure Pyramid entrance 30le
Car parking 2le
(Egyptians)
2le
Visitors are advised to ignore all hustlers at entrance Mena House Oberoi side.
DO NOT!!! be pressured into parking you car at the outside of the Mena House opposite the Al Ahram Police Station. These are hustlers so do not stop for them as they try to direct you to park, just drive past on up the hill.
At the top of the hill close to the great pyramid you will see the ticket office. First buy your tickets and go through turnstile and meet your driver at the other side of the turnstile as he will, with his ticket drive the car to the official car park beside the pyramids.
You can drive your car or take a horse, or camel or caleche around the various roads around the plateau.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Fancy a road challenge through Egypt on a Vespa scooter?
Cross Egypt Challenge will test roads in tourism promotion bid
The journey will take place over nine days in a bid to promote tourism in post-Mubarak Egypt.
The aim, says Ahmed Elzoghby, a participant and the group’s spokesperson, is to “attract world attention [to the fact] that Egypt post-revolution is not that dangerous and still has so much to offer in terms of touristic sites and world-class resorts.”
The cross-country challenge will also put Egypt’s roads to the test. According to the World Health Organisation, Egypt has one of the highest traffic death rates per person in the world. Elzoghby admits that “it is quite a challenge to ride as a group on highway roads.”
One route they have slight concerns about is the road between Suez and Taba in South Sinai, though Elzoghby said they have been coordinating with the Ministry of Interior to ensure security.
Another goal is to promote alternative modes of transport, such as scooters, bicycles and motorcycles, which are environmentally more friendly than cars and take less space on the roads, the group argues.
The idea for the challenge came about three months ago, on a casual Friday, when the group of friends met in Alexandria, where they all live. Initially, the suggestion was to take a Vespa trip to Sharm el-Sheikh. “At the time, we were already driving scooters,” Elzoghby said. They then thought about extending it to Luxor and Aswan, and finally Abu Simbel. “We wanted to grab the world’s attention during these difficult times.”
Tourism revenue, which accounts for 11 percent of gross domestic product, has dropped significantly since the uprising in January and February, which ousted former President Hosni Mubarak. This fiscal year’s tourism revenue, up to June 2011, is expected to be $3 billion less than last year’s, according to the Ministry of Tourism.
In an effort to counter this downward trend, and remind the world about Egypt’s touristic highlights, the riders will pass by its major landmarks: the modern Bibliotheca in Alexandria, the Great Pyramids of Giza in Cairo, the Suez Canal, South Sinai’s tourist spots, the Karnak temples and the Valley of the Kings near Luxor. The tour will finish at Abu Simbel.
Asked how the post-Mubarak environment has affected the preparations for such a tour, Elzoghby said he was pleasantly surprised at the support he received from government ministries, something that might have been difficult in the past. As an example, he said that the group met with the tourism minister after just sending a letter informing him about the not-for-profit initiative.
“Before the revolution, things of that nature wouldn’t have had that momentum. There’s a lot of positive energy around,” Elzoghby said.
One of the biggest challenges in preparing for the trip, he said, was setting a date. Early September would have still been too hot in Upper Egypt, and mid-September would have, at the time, clashed with parliamentary elections. The elections have now been set for November, and the group has reached a compromise of starting the journey on 14 October.
The Cross Egypt Challenge is at the moment self-financed, though the participants are looking for sponsorship. Elzoghby said their total budget is LE370,000, a sum that includes accommodation, meals, gas, helmets, photography and other equipment.
“If we can’t find enough sponsors, we might end up staying in camps. But we’re determined to make this journey successful, with or without sponsors,” Elzoghby said.
The group is offering complimentary Vespas to anyone who wants to join the main team for the whole journey, with registration open till Friday 9 September.
Otherwise, interested motorists can join the challenge for two segments of the journey: from Alexandria to Cairo (210km) and Cairo to Suez (140km). Registration will be open until 1 October.
You can register here
Register here
Monday, September 5, 2011
Trial period for legalising marriage and birth certificates
BIRTH AND MARRIAGE CERTIFICATES ISSUED BY THE GENERAL REGISTRARS OFFICE, UNITED KINGDOM.
In September 2011 the British Embassy in Cairo will work with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on a trial basis to make it easier for British nationals in Egypt to legalise the signature and seal of British birth and marriage certificates issued by the General Registrar’s Office.This trial is the first of its kind, and if successful may be adopted by British Embassies worldwide.
Why are we doing this?
We are looking to find alternative options for customers who are already in Egypt and find it difficult to access the service overseas.
Why is legalisation of GRO certificates needed?
Having accepted a job offer to work in Egypt, many British nationals bring their families with them to live here. Local requirements need certain administrative tasks to be completed in order to obtain residency visas for your spouse and children. One of these is to get your marriage certificate and children’s birth certificates legalised.
What does legalisation involve?
Legalisation of GRO documents is when the signature and seal of the certificate is checked against a vast UK-wide database in order to confirm the document is genuine. That signature and seal is then formally confirmed through a process called legalisation.
The Embassy does not have access to this database, so currently the documents have to be returned to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s (FCO) Legalisation Office in the UK.
So what happens during this trial process?
Instead of your returning the document to the UK, you will bring it to the Embassy. We will scan the signature and seal on the document and send it to the FCO’s Legalisation Office, who in turn will check the UK database and confirm to us whether or not the signature / seal is genuine. Upon confirmation, we will then legalise the signature and/or seal for you.
How will this work in practice?
Step 1
You bring the original birth or marriage certificate to the British Embassy in Cairo. (Please visit our website for current payment and fee details – www.ukinegypt.fco.gov.uk).
You will need to tell us the name of the signatory on your certificate and the district in which it was issued.
Step 2
We will scan the relevant part of the document to the FCO’s Legalisation Office.
Step 3
The Legalisation Office will check the signatures and respond to us within 5 working days.
When the document is ready for collection we will try to either send you an e-mail or call you. Alternatively, after seven days, you can call us on 27916000.
And then what?
After we have legalised your document and you have collected it, you will need to take it to the local Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who in turn will legalise our signature and stamp. Here are their details:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Orabi St, Mohandessin, Giza
When can you come to see us to try this out?
We are open to the public from 1000 - 1300 Sunday through to Thursday. Further information, including directions to the Embassy, the cost of this service and information on any closures for public holidays etc, can be found on our website, www.ukinegypt.fco.gov.uk.
WE CANNOT
- We cannot legalise the document if we are not able to get confirmation from London.
- We are not able to provide certified copies of these documents.
- We are not able to provide a refund.
Disclaimer: The British Embassy accepts no responsibility if the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Egypt does not notarise the certificate without the Foreign and Commonwealth Office legalisation.
British Embassy
Monday, August 15, 2011
Sinai Trip 30th Aug - 2nd Sept 3 nights $115
Cruising Sinai: Eid El Fitr Vacation ..
Visit Sinai's Must See Sites: Cruising Sinai is a trip concept created in 2007 by Haitham Hozayen & Yehia El Decken. More of a road trip cruising through the Sinai Peninsula covering some of its main must see sites. Sinai is famous for its mountains, sea and other glorious destinations & spots. It’s the only part of Egypt that lies in Asia, covering around 6.8% of Egypt's total surface area & hosting the country's highest peak. Sinai must see sites include the most flavor able sea side cities in Egypt: Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab & Neweiba.  With their city centers Naema Bay, Assla & Tarabein successively, those cities are formed in a way to allow visitors to enjoy more. No exclusive beaches or restaurants inside a specific hotel facility and not the other. On the contrary all leisure facilities are accessible by guests of all hotels. A little bit of touristic communism ;). Cruising Sinai Program 1 will allow some time to enjoy the structure of the above mentioned cities and feel their flavors. Also a visit to Blue Hole one of the world's most famous destinations for diving, with its water clarity and mysterious stories about earlier divers and their adventures. On the list of visits are three very exotic destinations: Hammam Pharaon or Pharaohs Springs, which is a cave by the sea on the Gulf of Suez with hot mineral water coming out from the mountains. Also, Pharaoh Island, seems that pharaohs had great impact on Sinai :). The Island is part of the Egyptian territories with nothing but a huge citadel built by Saladin (yes there are more than once Saladin Citadels in Egypt) to defend the empire during war with Crusaders. The Island is accessible from Taba by a 5 minute boat ride in Gulf of Aqaba, the view from top of the Citadel is amazing, as you could keep turning around seeing parts of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Occupied Territories & Egypt. You could also roam up to 13 networks using your mobile phone. If time allows your group leader might take you to Ras Muhammed at the very beginning of the trip to visit/enjoy/learn more about the tip of the peninsula and its magical spots.
For more information click on the following URL: http://www.holiday.com.eg/vacation-packages/cruising-sinai.html For Reservation: Call +202 2590-5289 or +2 017 6300 160 or email us: sales@holiday.com.eg. Send a photocopy of your national ID/passport to sales@holiday.com.eg Mohamed Rady, Omar Kordia, Abdulrahman Shams, Moody Radwan, Khaled Kadry, Hisham Mady, Mohamed Atef, Tamer El Mahrouky & Yehia El Decken Tourism Department, Holiday Tours [since 1973] Tel.: +202 2590-5289 Tax: +202 2591-0499 www.holiday.com.eg Member of IATA & Licensed from the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism #: 110 |
Holiday Tours ... 14 Alfy Street, Down Town, Cairo, Egypt.
Tel.: +(202) 2590-5289 , +(2017) 6300-160 Fax: +(202) 2591-0499
sales@holiday.com.eg http://www.holiday.com.eg
Monday, August 1, 2011
Radio Egypt
Nile Radio will be the first Arab country in the region to broadcast the American Top 40 hosted by Ryan Seacrest every Saturday at 12 noon.
Tune into Nile FM on 104.3 FM
Nile FM
Tune into Nile FM on 104.3 FM
Nile FM
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Egypts registered political parties
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