How To Call Egypt From USA: Updated For 2025

Quick Answer

To call Egypt from the United States:

• Landline: 011 + 20 + Area Code (1-2 digits) + Local Number (7-8 digits)
• Mobile: 011 + 20 + Mobile Prefix (2 digits, e.g., 10, 11, 12, 15) + Subscriber Number (8 digits)

Examples:

• For a Cairo landline (Area Code 2): 011 + 20 + 2 + XXXX XXXX
• For an Alexandria landline (Area Code 3): 011 + 20 + 3 + XXX XXXX
• For an Egyptian mobile phone (e.g., Vodafone 10): 011 + 20 + 10 + XXXX XXXX

Egypt is on EET (UTC+2) or EEST (UTC+3) during daylight saving. This is generally 7 hours ahead of US Eastern Time (ET).

Understanding Egyptian Phone Numbers

Egyptian phone numbers are structured with the country code +20. When dialing from abroad, the national trunk prefix 0 used within Egypt is dropped.

Landline Numbers

• Format from US: 011 + 20 + Area Code (1-2 digits) + Local Number (7-8 digits)
• The area code for Greater Cairo (including Giza and parts of Qalyubia) is 2, followed by an 8-digit local number.
• Other cities and regions have a 2-digit area code, typically followed by a 7-digit local number.
• Total digits after +20 for landlines: Usually 9 (e.g., 2 XXXX XXXX for Cairo or 3 XXX XXXX for Alexandria).

Mobile Numbers

• Format from US: 011 + 20 + Mobile Prefix (2 digits) + Subscriber Number (8 digits)
• Total digits after +20: Always 10 (e.g., 10 XXXX XXXX).

Egyptian Area Codes (Fixed Lines)

This is a list of National Significant Numbers (NSNs) or area codes for landlines in Egypt. Remember to dial 011 + 20 before these codes, then the local number. The leading 0 found in domestic dialing is dropped.

Egyptian Mobile Phone Prefixes

Egyptian mobile numbers are 10 digits long after the +20 country code. They consist of a 2-digit prefix followed by an 8-digit subscriber number.

*Number portability is active in Egypt, so a prefix does not definitively indicate the current operator for a specific number.

Time Difference

Egypt operates on Eastern European Time (EET), which is UTC+2. During summer months, Egypt may observe Daylight Saving Time (Eastern European Summer Time, EEST), making it UTC+3.

The time difference compared to the US East Coast (ET):

• When the US is on Standard Time (EST, UTC-5) and Egypt is on EET (UTC+2): Egypt is 7 hours ahead of ET. (e.g., 12 PM EST is 7 PM EET in Egypt).
• When the US is on Daylight Time (EDT, UTC-4) and Egypt is on EEST (UTC+3): Egypt is 7 hours ahead of ET. (e.g., 12 PM EDT is 7 PM EEST in Egypt).
• During transition periods or if one region observes DST and the other does not, the difference can be 6 hours. However, for most of the year, Egypt is 7 hours ahead of the US East Coast. Always check the current local times before calling.

Egypt's Phone System

Egypt possesses a well-developed and modernized telecommunications infrastructure, which has seen significant growth and investment. The sector benefits from effective competition and progressive government policies aimed at comprehensive digital transformation. Key players include Telecom Egypt (the incumbent, also operating as WE), Vodafone Egypt, Orange Egypt, and Etisalat Misr. Mobile phone penetration is very high, with widespread 4G coverage and ongoing 5G network rollouts. Fixed-line services, including broadband internet via ADSL, VDSL, and increasingly fiber-to-the-home (FTTH), are also widely available, supporting the nation's digital ambitions. The telecommunications history in Egypt dates back to the mid-19th century with the introduction of the telegraph, followed by telephone services in 1881.

Best Times to Call

Considering the time difference (Egypt is generally 7 hours ahead of US ET):

• A good window for business calls from the US is typically early morning ET (e.g., 8 AM - 10 AM ET), which corresponds to mid-afternoon in Egypt (3 PM - 5 PM EET/EEST).
• Egyptian business hours are generally Sunday to Thursday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Friday and Saturday are the weekend). Some businesses may operate on Saturdays.