Facts

Location: Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip, and the Red Sea north of Sudan, and includes the Asian Sinai Peninsula

Area (only Total) total: 1,001,450 sq km

Climate: desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters

Terrain: vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta

Population: 81,713,517

Main Language (only first): Arabic

Government type: republic

Capital (Name): Cairo

Capital (Time Difference): UTC+2

Independence: 28 February 1922

National holiday: Revolution Day, 23 July (1952)

HOLIDAYS

Date 2008 Occasion

January 7 1 Coptic Christmas Day*

March 23 - 24 Easter Sunday - Easter Monday

April 25 Sinai Liberation Day

May 1 Labour Day

June 18 Evacuation Day/Liberation Day

July 23 Revolution Day

August 15 Flooding of the Nile (Wafa'a el Nil)*

September 11 1Coptic New Year (September 12 in Leap Years)*

October 1 Eid ul-Fitr

October 6 Armed Forces Day

October 24 Suez Victory Day

December 8 Eid ul-Adha

December 23 Victory Day

December 29 Islamic New Year

* Date Not Confirmed

*Coptic Christian Holidays

1 not official

Weekend Friday, Saturday