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All About the Hotel

JW Marriott Hotel
Mirage City
Ring Road, Heliopolis
Cairo 11757
Egypt
T: 0020 (2) 411 5588
F : 0020 (2) 411 9431
Email: ebc.jwcairo@marriotthotels.com

Hotel highlights

Cairo resort with championship golf course, water park, health center for guests, Thai Spa is only 7 minutes away from Cairo Airport. Complimentary courtesy bus to downtown and the City Stars Mall. Wireless high-speed Internet in all meeting rooms and public areas.

Visa Information

SPE Middle East, North Africa and India will assist in providing a visa invitation letter, upon request in writing, to confirmed registrants after receiving full payment of registration fees. Visa invitation letters take five days to issue from the date of request and it is the delegate's responsibility to obtain their own visa. SPE cannot issue the visa nor can we guarantee it will be obtained.

All About Cairo

History of the Area

Cairo is the great Capital of Egypt. It is considered to be one of the largest cities in both the Middle East & Africa. Cairo or Al-Qahera was finally named and founded in AD 969 and it means the Triumphant City. Egypt bares a significant, flourishing historical background that starts from the Pharoanic period passing through the Greco-Roman, Jewish, and Coptic, till the Islamic period. It was here that the Virgin Mary and the Child Jesus rested after their long journey from Palestine, and that the first Islamic mosque in Africa was built by Amr Ibn Al-3as. Cairo is at least twice as old as Paris, 7 times as old as Berlin, and 15 times as old as New York City. Egypt has many spectacular historical sites that make touring in Cairo or Egypt in general like taking a virtual time journey through history. Cairo is a large city, bearing about 16 million inhabitants, so considered to be the largest city in Africa. Cairo is a complex blend of different civilizations and therefore is unique to live in. Home to the Pyramids and the Egyptian Museum, Cairo is teeming with history and culture. The past blends with the present, creating a unique, magical and exciting atmosphere.

Immigration

Egyptian consulates abroad and the immigration authorities at the port of entry will issue visas to visitors. A transit visa is sufficient for a stay of less than 7 days. Passports should be valid for at least six months from the date of entry. Visitors are advised to carry their passports at all times.

Customs

There are no restrictions on foreign currency. Items like jewellery and video cameras have to be declared on entry. Visitors are requested to confirm return flights on arrival. There is no departure tax. Every foreigner must register with the authorities within seven days of arrival.

Weather

Egypt enjoys a mild climate. However, temperatures increase as you travel due south. Cairo can be chilly between December and February, and very hot between June and September. But the heat in Egypt is made bearable by the northerly breeze that leads to a drop in temperature at night. Peak temperatures in Upper Egypt occur between May and October, and are accompanied by extremely low humidity.

Time Zone

Cairo is 3 hours ahead of GMT (+3 GMT)

Economy

Cairo economy has been experiencing a balanced growth in all sectors. Economy of Cairo accounts for almost two thirds of the Egyptian Gross National Product. Industrialization in Cairo has long begun in the 19th century and grew even more rapidly after the 1952 revolution and dealt primarily with textiles. Textile industry features as one of the most prominent industries. Fine quality long staple cotton is manufactured here and exported in large quantities, thus contributing to the national exchequer. Food processing is also one of the main industries of Cairo. Other industries include iron and steel companies and consumer goods. Today the bulk of Cairo's work force is engaged in sectors like government, commerce and financial services.

The tourism industry is the backbone of Cairo economy. Sales of weapons, export of petroleum and Suez Canal tariffs also contributes to the sustained economy in Cairo. Foreign aids are important sources of income in Cairo. Cairo's cost of living is relatively low because of the availability of agricultural products, cheap public transportation and low-cost medical care. The Cairo economy comprises diverse industrial and governmental sectors. Industries in Cairo have developed fast, churning out new job opportunities for the natives.

Currency

The official currency used in Egypt is the Egyptian Pound. Each pound is divided into 100 piastres and the rate of exchange is as below:

USD = 5.65 Egyptian pound
One EGP = .176 USD

Exchange rates are available at any bank or exchange office. There are notes of 25 and 50 piastres, and of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 100 pounds. Travellers cheques are accepted by banks and hotels.

Banking/credit card facilities

All banks operate from 9.00am to 2.00pm, Sunday through Thursday. Most banks and other outlets offer 24-hour access to automated teller machines (ATMs). You can use credit cards at most hotels restaurants, larger shops and in order to withdraw money from ATMs. All international credit and debit cards are widely accepted. Currency Converter

Electricity

The standard electricity supply is 220/240 volts. American appliances may need a transformer.

Dress code

The best way to deal with Egypt's summers is to dress light. Cotton garments are ideal. Woolens are advisable for the winters. Egypt does tend to get chilly in the evenings, so a light sweater may be needed. But for all seasons, light walking shoes and a hat are absolute necessities. Avoid scanty dresses as the norm is conservative attire.

Language

Arabic is the official language of Egypt and English is not widely spoken, especially in business. However, tourists will rarely face a communication problem, as Egyptians speak a number of languages, including English, French, German and Italian.

Other Useful Information

Directory & Operator Information

Egypt has no toll-free directory information service. You can get directory assistance by dialing Tel. 140, but in most cases you will need to speak fluent Arabic to communicate.

Cell phones

Check with your provider in advance to see if your cell phone works in Egypt. A convenient and economical choice is to buy a local prepaid SIM card for your cell phone. Or you can rent a cell phone, sometimes even from your hotel, for a reasonable price.

Internet Access

Internet access is available in almost all the main tourist destinations, with Internet cafes sprouting up everywhere and hotels providing computers for guests to use. The charge for access at Internet cafes is usually £E5-10 an hour; hotels may charge up to £E50 an hour.

Liquor Laws

Egypt is a predominately Muslim nation, and alcoholic drinks are forbidden for strictly observant Muslims. But Egyptians tend to adopt a relaxed and tolerant view towards alcohol for non-Muslims and foreigners -- and often themselves. Alcoholic beverages are readily available in Cairo, at restaurants, bars, cafes, and liquor stores. Note, however, that public drunkenness is considered inappropriate and even offensive. Egyptian laws towards alcohol are quite liberal compared with that of most Islamic countries, except for the month of Ramadan when alcohol is strictly forbidden and only holders of foreign passports are allowed to buy alcohol.

Mail

The larger post offices in Cairo -- Muhammad Farid (Downtown), Ataba Square (next to the Postal Museum), and the Maadi offices -- are open Saturday to Thursday from 7am to 7 PM and Friday from 7am to noon. Postcards to countries outside the Middle East cost £E1.25. An express-mail letter mailed anywhere outside the Arab world costs £e45.

Newspapers & Magazines

The English-language Egyptian Gazette (on Saturday, the Egyptian Mail) carries agency reports, articles on Middle Eastern affairs and tourist features. The English weekly edition of Al-Ahram features opinion pieces on politics, sociology and international affairs.

Of the Arabic press, Egypt's oldest newspaper, Al-Ahram ("The Pyramids"), founded in 1875, reflects official thinking, as do Al-Akhbar and Al-Gomhouriya.

Police

Call Tel 122. The tourist police headquarters is at 5 Adli Street.

Safety

The incidence of violent crime in Egypt is low, and the country overall is very safe - but horrific terrorist attacks on foreigners and government officials by radical extremists in the last 10 years continue to reverberate for visitors. The Egyptian government has responded by placing armed police at all tourist sites, stations, and checkpoints, scanners in hotels, and plainclothes agents in bars and bazaars.

Otherwise, safety concerns are minor. Pickpockets are somewhat of a nuisance in heavily touristic areas like bazaars. ATMs are safe to use at virtually any hour of the day or night many banks have 24-hour guards posted. Women can avoid petty harassment by dressing conservatively.

Taxes

Egypt has no value-added tax. Meal taxes in Cairo can be as high as 26%. Hotel taxes in Cairo are 19%.

Tipping

Tipping is not only acceptable in Egypt, it's expected. It's customary to leave a 10% tip (before taxes) at a restaurant. (The bill already has a 12% service charge, a 5% government tax, and a 2% city tax included in the total.) A similar tip is expected for bartenders.

For taxi drivers, the tip is usually covered in the fare. In five-star hotels, porters should be given a £e10 tip and about half that for porters in lower-scale hotels. Chambermaids get about £e5 for each visit.

Water

It's recommended that visitors to Cairo stick to bottled water or water that has been boiled and filtered. Avoid drinks with ice.

Store hours

Stores/shops are normally open Monday to Thursday from 9am to 10pm and some open on Friday mornings.

Emergencies

Call Tel 122 for emergencies.