Travel Information

Travel to Egypt

Nearest airport: Cairo International Airport (CAI)
Visa Required: Usually yes. There are two options for obtaining the entry visa to Egypt :

First option - Tourist Visa (Preferred)
Issued after arrival, the procedure is as the following:-
• Buy two visa stamps at currency exchange counter in arrival hall (before emigration check point) cost is $15 or equivalent EURO amount. (Please note: any change will be in Egyptian currency, LE)
• Put stamps on empty page into your passport. (Passport validity is required to be min 3 month before expiration date)
• Provide passport together with landing card (you’ve received and filled out in your arriving airplane) to customs officer. Visa will be issued right away.
• Further visual passport control after security check point and before baggage claim.
• Additional visual passport control at customs check point after baggage claim area

Second option - Through the Egyptian Embassy at your country (highly recommended)

Lodging in Cairo

There are many hotels and motels that can serve your lodging needs from 1 star to 7 star hotels. Please check the conference Hotel Information web site for recommended hotels with special discounted rates for conference attendees.

Tours and Vacation planning

CIBEC'06 is currently arranging for a number of tours to be offered to conference attendees through local tourism agencies. These will include one day trips to nearby tourist sites such as the pyramids or long trips to Red Sea beaches such as Hurgada or Sharm El-Sheikh. Offers for such trips from the official conference travel agency will be posted on the web site by early November.

Currency and Sample Expenses

The cost of living in Egypt is significantly less than that in Europe, the U.S., Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., and is comparable to other Arab countries such as Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. Some examples to illustrate that are included as follows:

Egyptian currency is the Egyptian Pound (L.E.): €1 = 6.7 L.E.
Cost of an average lunch at TGI Fridays in Cairo: 75 L.E.
Cost of a trip anywhere by the subway train: 1 L.E.
Cost of a ticket to a movie theater in a 5-star hotel: 25 L.E.

Driving in Cairo

We recommend not to drive in Cairo . We recommend to move by “Cairo Cab” Taxis which are painted in yellow. Presently there are many Radio Taxi companies , The exact fare is displayed on kilometer that starts at 3.5 L.E. and adds 1 L.E. for every 1 kilometer approximately. They are ordered by telephone and pick up passengers anywhere, at no extra charge

Electric Mains Voltage in Egypt

The voltage in Egypt is 220-240v. You can find converters to 110v in most of the hotels.

Climate in Egypt

Generally dry climate. Moderate temperatures and humidity prevail on the Mediterranean coast, while in southern Egypt, the summer is hot and the winter is generally warm .

Time Zone

GMT + 2 . Egypt observes daylight saving time during the summer months.

Conference Services to Attendees New!

CIBEC'06 is please to offer a variety of services that include free ride from the airport to the conference hotel and assistance with any arrangements prior or during the conference depending on availability. Please contact cibec06@k-space.org with your questions and inquiries and you will be contacted by the right person to help you.

Also, during the conference, we will have a number of faculty/student volunteers to assist delegates during the conference in a range of things from simply finding good places to dine to making short sightseeing tours around Greater Cairo. Even though English is widely known by many in Cairo, it is always good to have a friend helping you and showing you around. We have the following people in charge of coordinating such services:

For Ladies:
Dr. Nahed Solouma (nsolouma@k-space.org)
Inas Yassine (inas_yassine@k-space.org)

For Gentlemen:
Dr. Ahmed Fahmy (fahmy@k-space.org)
Mohamed Zaky (m.zaky@k-space.org)

Authors who are looking for a roommate for their conference hotel room can also send them a note to help them find one.