Cairo is a megacity and a global city serving as the capital of Egypt. Cairo is the centre of Egypt, as it has been almost since its founding in 969 AD. 15% of all Egyptians live there. The majority of the nation's commerce is generated there, or passes through the city.

Egypt is in 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. The climate is desert with hot, dry summers and moderate winters.

The official language is Arabic. English is widely spoken in business circles in Cairo and Alexandria; while French and German are less common. English is often used in business correspondence, most road signs and company logos carry English translations. Attempts to use Arabic are appreciated. The main religions are Islam and Christianity.

The economy of Egypt depends mainly on agriculture, media, petroleum exports, and tourism; there are also more than three million Egyptians working abroad, mainly in Saudi Arabia, the Persian Gulf and Europe.

In Egypt Islamic values and local cultural sensitivities should be respected. It is not advisable to take photographs of local people, or official buildings etc. It is advisable to use your right hand for eating, greeting and accepting gifts. Expatriate business dress is conservative and formal. Expatriate women generally dress modestly, with high necklines, hems below the knee and sleeves at least to the elbows. The working week is Sunday to Thursday.

The security risk for expatriates in Egypt is medium, but high in North Sinai. Risks include those related to political activism, and terrorism, as well as violent protests, however these are not specifically targeted at expatriates. Expatriates should however be cautious not to offend Muslim sensibilities.

The currency of Egypt is the Egyptian Pound (EGP). ATMs are common, especially in the main tourist / expatriate areas. International hotels mostly accept payment by credit card.

Medical facilities outside Cairo and other major cities and resorts are generally relatively basic and require immediate payment. Hepatitis A infections have been reported.

The population of Cairo is 20.4 Million (2016 est.), while the inflation rate is 30.9% (Mar 2017).

The cost of living for expatriates / professional migrants in Cairo as at 1 April 2017 is very low in comparison to other places in the world.

Cairo is ranked as a extreme hardship location.