Essentials to live in Egypt

Pack: Patience and an open mind.

All products are available here. Cereals cost a lot more.

Dont bring shorts or low cut or off the shoulder tops, you wont wanna wear them after you do it once. Bring light loose clothes that you can layer up in the evening. Bring your sense of humour aswel.

As an expat from Australia I can find pretty much anything I want. The difference is the quality. Almost everything eg from clothing to household goods and many package and tin foods are made in China. So if your looking for quality I suggest you bring your very favourite brands with you.

Female friends have mentioned :
Your favourite makeup
Underwear - apparently bras just aren't good enough here

I like to bring :
Marmite (expensive)
Bovril (unavailable)
HP Sauce (expensive)
Smoked Salmon (expensive and poor quality)
Pork sausages and bacon (unavailable, or poor quality bacon)
Various herbs & spices (availability/quality)
Red Wine (poor quality and expensive)

I've shipped various different things over the years, ziploc bags, piping bags, my own pans and knives.

Most stuff can really be bought here or you can learn to live without it.

Foods:
Imported goods here are mostly available, but twice the price (like Carrefour).
I only usually bring stuff I cannot get like Horlicks, dolly mixtures, but not alot.
Makeup:
Its hard to get darker blushers and powders here as Egyptian women try to always look light skinned  so bring darker shades with you. Also, cheap makeup is awful and the only good stuff are the big brands which cost a fortune here, Also branded perfumes are very expensive.
Training - sports shoes:
brands here are pricey, so get some good ones from shops like Sports Direct (UK).
Underwear:
yes, as a previous comment suggested, stock up on bra and pants, The quality here is not good

I have found smoked salmon in Carrefore it's not too bad. I go to Dubai regularly and top up what I cannot find here for eg vegemite, bacon and other favourite foods. Wine I bring thru duty free and then visit the duty free shop in Nasr City. It is expensive but one will pay when there's no alternative.

Before packing anything try to learn about the customs and culture from ex pats who have been living here for a long time. Also try to learn Arabic words that's commonly used as well as numbers, so you can understand the numbers in shops etc...if you happen to visit one where the prices are displayed. What is accepted and considered as common sense in your country, does not exist in Egypt. When you think you understand them, you don't.
Bring underwear, or be prepared to have a man in your face if you try to buy underwear..of which most of it looks like copies of underwear from porn movies. Undies like Playtex etc costs an arm a leg and one kidney. You will find most international brands in Cairo, but not everywhere else.
And shoes...buy your shoes at home...same story a underwear. Tampax is considered a luxury item and will not be found here. Bring loads if you use it. If you're on meds or birth control, bring enough for a few months as everything will increase over the next few month.
Keep your political opinion to yourself, there's no freedom of speech, democracy or human rights here. You cannot say anything against the regime, it could land you in a dark hole, literally. Read the latest updates of what happened to foreigners. be careful, Egypt is nothing like it was a decade ago, foreigners are no longer protected.

Don't forget warm things for the winter to wear inside the house ☺

I m surprised that the winter pyjamas they mark up quite abit .

they have wonderful tailors here can buy they can make you any thing you want so do not mind what you bring you can get any thing made here and better than you can buy    .......................... you want a nice seamstress just ask me I will give you her number and she speaks English......................

I.d.bring my favorite books
My own original phone and.laptop.because of high copies are in an abundance here
My own.seasonings
Make.up.brands
Essential oils
Good quality Bra
Shea Butter and.Organic.Coconut Oil

Hi Laady24
Please send me the name and address and phone number of your dress maker, tailor. I would very interested in having some garments made

Hi Laady24,

I'm guessing she's not in Hurghada?

We're looking for a good tailor, and a female one would be a definite bonus.

If you can pack one, A good lawyer, and a padlock for your handbag.

I've lived here 3 years now and no, you cannot find most anything!!! If you do find what you want, don't expect the same quality as you get at home.  And if you do find something you like from home, it will cost you. I love MAC makeup and found some in Cairo...it was older, looked not in the best condition and the prices were way high.  I've gone back and forth from Egypt to the US and everytime I go, I bring back things I can't find here. The hair products are limited and just cheap brands you would find in the grocery store in the states. Salon quality hair products are almost none, so bring your own. I stock up on my favorite shampoos, conditioners, makeup, underwear....the Victoria's Secret here only sells lotions and one style of granny panties!!! The quality of clothes is not what I'm used to, so I do bring lot's of my own from home. And if you do find something you like it will cost you! Also, someone wrote to bring modest clothes.....I live in Hurghada which is a tourist town. You can wear anything you like in the tourist towns in Egypt, i.e., Alexandria, Sharm, Hurghada. Lots of Europeans live here and the Russian girls wear the shortest shorts!! haha. But if you are in Cairo, you do need to be covered up . I have worn knee length shorts and dresses without a problem there but then I was with my Egyptian boyfriend so maybe that's why no one hassled me. Also medications are very cheap here and you can find most anything, but I kick myself for not bringing more Excedrin PM. lol.  Bring some very good walking shoes and sandals. As I said, if you buy here, you will get knock off Nike's and the quality is bad. Bring cottons as it gets very hot here in the summer and believe it or not, it's cold in the winter too and most places don't have heaters.  Feel free to contact me if you have any other questions. Good luck on your upcoming journey.

Virtually everything is fake here, cigarettes included and seeing as over 75% of the population smokes you would think it would be made illegal or at least policed to avoid bad health for people in the future. (These things have to come in to the country somewhere) But even though things are fake they are no cheaper than many of the real products. (Egyptian made that is)

Luxor is known for its Golden Boys, offering "Orfi" marriages to get you to spend, buy property, or whatever, once your money has gone, so have you! You have NO protection for this happening at all, just your flight ticket home and remaining penniless all your life.

This tip is really important.

Dear cristin
everything found in Egypt but this is depend on your budget
my regards

she is in Taxsium Hadayek Helwan Cairo Egypt ....she is on the metro line.....and she speaks English she can make any thing evening ware or day ware or local clothes...........................................her name Marwa.............................01009005513.....call after 5 in the after noon.....she is on second street and will met you at the metro the first time........Just tell her Doctor Maimunah sent you

she also knows the best places to buy matte rial and can go with you to buy matter........she is very sweet lady and you will like her prices she is not in Cairo out side so are very good.....

no she is in Hadayek Helwan Taxium Cairo Egypt .......but her brother has a flat in Hurgada so may be you could in invite her there get every thing she could go home and make every thing and then you could come pick it up.......we were in Hergada last year

I have a good lawyer here he goes every where in Egypt if you need

Hi
Does your lawyer speak English if so can you give the address and phone number
Thanks Lynne

Hello everyone,

Please let us exchange on the essentials items you recommend to bring  in your luggage/container.

For professional services, i invite you to recommend your contacts in the Egypt business directory or create a new thread on the Egypt forum

Thank you in advance
Bhavna

I like that

Pack: Patience and an open mind.

99% of Egyptian people are kind and helpful and will help you and many speak more than one language here.....

Hi  the number was posted by another xpat member but it was the wrong number. I am still looking for a lawyer so I will yet you know when I find one. One that speaks English

Laady 24 or anyone : good seamstress or tailor in Maadi?   Sincere thanks.

cotton made products: mainly garments, towels.
Best,