Since the early 1980s the Egyptian government has gradually worked to open the country’s formerly socialist command economy to foreign investment, and as a secular Middle Eastern country, foreigners living, working and studying in Egypt are not subject to the strict Islamic legal code prevalent among its Gulf neighbors. There is also the added bonus of having thousands of thousands of years of history – from Pharonic times to the Naploeonic era and beyond – just a cab ride away.
Still, Egypt possesses an immense, largely inscrutable government bureaucracy and a buyer-beware service culture more than capable of driving a hapless expat out of his mind. Fortunately, whether you’re wondering which of the three people claiming to have your electricity bill is the one you should actually pay or exactly how many hoops you’ll have to jump through to get a hold of your work permit, our Egypt guide has the answers! And if you’re still not sure about some things, you can ask other people for advice in our Egypt expat community.