Cairo Airport: What to Expect When You Land

Cairo International Airport (CAI) is most first-timers' entry point to Egypt, and it's straightforward once you know the sequence. Right after leaving the aircraft, you'll see visa bank kiosks before immigration — this is where you buy your visa-on-arrival stamp if you haven't pre-arranged an e-visa (cash only, USD or EUR, exact change speeds things up). Then it's straight to passport control, which can take anywhere from 10 minutes to over an hour depending on how many flights landed around the same time — evening arrivals tend to be busier. Baggage claim is straightforward and clearly signed by flight number. After customs (usually a walk-through, rarely a bag check for tourists), you'll exit into the arrivals hall — this is where a LOT of first-timers get overwhelmed by drivers holding signs and people offering taxis. If we're picking you up for a trip, our driver will be there with a sign with your name — look for that specifically and ignore other offers. If you're arranging your own transport: official airport taxis have a fixed-fare booth inside the arrivals hall — use that instead of negotiating with drivers outside, which almost always costs more. Ride-hailing apps (Uber, Careem) also operate from the airport with a designated pickup zone. Terminal note: Cairo airport has three terminals, and which one you land in depends on your airline — Egyptair mostly uses Terminal 3, many international carriers use Terminal 2 or 1. If you're being picked up, confirm your exact terminal with whoever's arranging it, since the arrivals halls aren't connected airside. One practical tip that saves real time: have your hotel name and address written down (or saved offline) before you land — Cairo's cell networks can be spotty for the first few minutes after everyone from your flight turns their phone back on at once.