What to Bring With You


What to bring with you

After questions about accommodation and places to study, we often find aspiring students of the Arabic language seeking advice on things they need to bring with them. Egypt is a truly global country and you'd be surprised to hear that the majority of things we are accustomed to in the West can be found here. As such, this list isn't too long.  I've omitted general things from the list (i.e. undies, socks and oh yeah - your passport)!

In no particular order;

Cash

Pounds Sterling / Dollars are fine and you will find loads of places to exchange. Avoid the airports as they may charge you a premium (as a general rule, find out what the rate is that day on xe.com and don’t exchange with anyone charging over 2%). It's hard to say how much to bring and this is relative to you overheads and your length of stay. Please refer to the "overheads" page for an idea.

International bank / cash cards

See out post on dealing with finances and money management.

Documents/Marriage certificate

Another important one is your marriage certificate this is really important for extending your visa and you may need it if you stay at a hotel. Please note that if you have a Nikah certificate only, then make sure it has an official stamp on it from a mosque as they are unlikely to accept it without that. Please check out our “visas” page for more info on important documents you will need for the visa extension. We strongly recommend getting a three month visa as opposed to getting one month at the airport. More details on the visa page.

Dictionary

If you are new with your Arabic studies we recommend bringing an Arabic - English dictionary. Hans Wehr is a great dictionary but there are others out there. People often ask whether they should bring pens and paper. Save your space in the suitcase as study materials are readily available in Egypt.

Medication

Most medication is available at pharmacies but some of us like to travel with our own stash of paracetamol, hay fever tabs, ibuprofen, throat lozenges and diarrhoea tablets. These are all available in Egypt, and cheaper too, but you may want to bring some along for peace of mind. Definitely bring some diarrhoea tablets as the quality of the tap water in Egypt may upset your stomach.

Shoes

Make sure to bring some comfortable trainers which you are not overly attached to, as these will get ruined by the Egyptian streets. Bring some sandals too as it can be really hot and your toes will appreciate the air. Please be careful leaving nicer/ branded trainers at Masaajid as there is a very high possibility of them getting 'misplaced'.

Clothes

Think about your timing. Yes, Egypt is a hot country but the winter nights are cold you have to remember the houses are not built with a decent standard of insulation. This is often a point overlooked, so be sure to bring some sweaters, thermals and a jacket (with a hood, yes it does rain sometimes).

Food/Spices

You cannot find PG tips or Tetley tea bags in Egypt, so bring along a packet. If you are big on tea, this is a must. (Coffee lovers need not worry :D)

 Something else we hear a lot of people miss is cereal. Egypt doesn't really offer us our favourite cereals so you may want to stock up on these to bring with you. Some brands like few Kellogg’s varieties are available in supermarkets, however they are pricier than UK.

There aren’t many spices you cannot find in Egypt, however those who cook South East Asian dishes will struggle to find decent quality curry powders/ pastes amongst other related things. If this the cuisine you are accustomed to, bring your own spices.

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