Cairo - Post Report Question and Answers
Is this a good city for single people? For couples? For families? Why or why not?
This city is huge, has everything and I think it'd be good for everyone. - Mar 2023
Yes, all of the above. Most families live in Maadi and most singles live downtown. - Aug 2022
I have friends of all family types here and nearly everyone has said it's been a good post for their lifestyle. - Aug 2022
Yes, as long as you enjoy large cities you will be able to find your people and your scene here. For single people and couples without kids, it may take a bit longer and more effort to meet people and socialize. Families really seem to love this post for the schools, kid-friendly travel opportunities, and hefty post differential. - Mar 2022
Egypt is good for everyone because you can find everything you need depending on what you want. Lots to do and explore. - Dec 2021
I think for couples and families it is very good. Plenty of activities and outings. For single people I think it's fine, unless you are looking for a large dating pool. I imagine it would be harder to find people to date with western expectations. People here are super friendly, I think you definitely need to come here with reasonable expectations and just appreciate what Cairo has to offer. Lots of historic sights to see, travel to beaches, etc. Make friends and have a good time. - Feb 2021
As a single person, it's been fairly good. It's not a literal desert, but as others have noted it is a predominantly Islamic culture which is at odds with many western dating values. Still, there are plenty of options and opportunities for friendship, romance and other connections, both within and without the local population. - Nov 2020
Depends on what you're looking for, but overall it's not a great place for singles. The expat community is significant - but not large enough to ensure companionship. Dating locally will be a tough sell in many cases, but it depends what accommodations you're willing to make. Couples will have no shortage of things to explore and do, and families will also benefit from many of this. I'm not in this group though so I can't comment from personal experience. - Jan 2020
We have two little kids ages 2 and 4 and it is great. I think it is an underrated city with lots to do, as long as you have the right mindset. There is a hot nightlife in Zamelek. Maadi is quieter at night. - Jan 2018
I believe it is. However, it may be difficult for foreigners to date locals, especially if they are not Muslim. Families seem to do well here and many people take advantage of the Maadi house, which has a pool and children's playground. That said, there are really no parks in Cairo and it's very difficult to walk around the city with a stroller. - Sep 2017
Once they get settled, families seem to enjoy it here. I wouldn't recommend it for singles. - May 2017
I think it's good for anyone. - May 2017
Yes, I think for everyone. There is a lot of nightlife, and lots of other families with kids and if you are at the US embassy the pool club is a terrific resource (for example they would show kids' movies on the lawn weekly while the adults had dinner). The one substantially lacking part is that there are not a lot of options for outdoor play for kids (only at clubs) and outdoor exercise activities (there's a nearby canyon where you can mountain bike and hike, but it's pretty dusty with a lot of trash and stray dogs, and it's a bit too hot and sunny there a lot of the year). I found a track to run on but definitely would not have enjoyed running on the street. There is a beach 90 minutes' drive away. - Jan 2016
Not really a "good" post for anyone, given the traffic and poor housing - Jan 2016
Yes, although the dating scene may be difficult - Jan 2016
Yes! I think that families especially are happy. - Oct 2014
It is tough because there are no other families in our demographic where we live (downtown) so we feel isolated. I think there is more socialization for families in Maadi, but the trade-off is a longer, stressful commute and less face time with family. - Aug 2014
It is a challenge for anyone...infrastructure is poor due to lack of maintenance, including roads, sidewalks...public spaces are chaotic. Families tend to gravitate around the school and CAC is open on weekends for families to use the recreational facilities and library, which is really nice. - Aug 2014
I think this is a fine city for families/singles/couples - there are a ton of things to do - there are several balls a year; Cairo Opera has stuff all year round on Zamalek; there are really nice restaurants; lots of classes and communities to join: HHH, cat rescue, yoga, roller derby, running club, biking in Wadi Degla, community religious services, British club, tennis, biking on Friday mornings with a group in Maadi, dance classes, language lessons, women's groups for lots of nationalities if you don't work - like Chinese, Spanish-speaking, Filipina, Indian, etc. Music lessons, bands to join, choirs (several), etc. - May 2014
Used to be a good city for families. Now it's not a good city for anyone, Egyptians included. - Apr 2014
Very limited activities, given the security concerns. - Mar 2014
It's is a great place to live for anyone who is adventurous. If you like clean, quiet, safe, living -- like in the USA or Western Europe -- then you will likely hate it here. - Jul 2013
Two evacuations in three years have really put a damper on what used to be a primiere family post for the Middle East. We've been generally happy here, but over time this is going to take a toll. If you are single, you should really live downtown, as Maadi will probably be too sleepy for you. - Jul 2013
There is a lot of risk for street crime, but it's not like it was in Mogadishu, so I would say that you just have to remain vigilent and realize that it is a fluid situation. - Jun 2013
Yes, Cairo has something for everyone. The Maadi House is an American expat club within walking distance of many of the families housed in Maadi and offers everything that a club usually does, including a great pool. There are hundreds of restaurants and many new sushi, burger and upscale Egyptian street food restaurants are popping up all over the place. There are movie theaters, malls, a few museums, lots of interesting neighborhoods to explore. Felucca trips on the Nile are always a highlight. The Embassy community is huge and someone is always entertaining. The only problem is getting to all these places - traffic can be exhausting and the city IS huge - 20,000,000+ people! - Jun 2013
I think it is best for couples and families with kids under 12. Teenagers can be bored here, and there is very little supervision by expat parents in regards to alcohol and drugs. Marijuana is readily available. - May 2013
Families with very young children living in Maadi can have a decent run of it by spending all of their off-time at CAC, the Maadi House, and in their homes. Singles will find Egypt to be a very challenging dating environment. Couples will have a decent time if they are shut-ins. - May 2013
Living in Maadi is like living in a village. One can walk everywhere, and kids have lots of activities to choose from. It's a great location for families. Harassment is minimal in Maadi, and crime, although on the increase, is still very little compared to what we faced in daily life in Latin America. Singles and couples tend to live downtown, and some love it, some hate it. It probably depends on the person. Females alone obviously are going to have a MUCH harder time. - May 2013
As a couple with no children, we have enjoyed Cairo. Most of our friends do have chdilren, and they probably have somewhat more mixed feelings. They do enjoy parts of it, but do find that it is limited in terms of open green areas for the children to play in safely. Again, most housing is in apartments, so there are very few yards. Maadi House and the CAC campus are where most families go to let the kids run. From our perspective, there are plenty of things to do - diving, spending time with friends, desert camping, trips to Alexandria, etc. - Feb 2013
No. This isn't a good city for anyone right now, and almost everyone I know is either counting the days until they leave or investigating the possibility of cutting their time here short. - Feb 2013
I don't think this is a good post for anyone. Seriously, think long and hard about the sacrifices you and your family will be making if you come here. - Mar 2013
This is not a good city for anybody. Egyptians are trying to leave, as demonstrated by the long visa-queues at the embassy, and Americans are either counting the days remaining in their tours or hoping for Authorized Departure. - Mar 2013
No, absolutely not. You really can't take kids out on the streets much around here. It is expecially terrible for girls. The life for singles used to be better, but now that it is really not safe to be out at night, it is not a lot of fun. The real problem is you just don't know when or where protests will erupt. And crime targeting westerners is rampant. - Feb 2013
Cairo still has a pretty vibrant nightlife, but who knows what the Muslim Brotherhood will do. There are lots of very pretentious Egyptians who go to the nightclubs throughout Cairo. Singles and couples can have fun going out. - Jan 2013
I think it can be. It is mostly what you make of it. You need to remain aware at all times. Crossing the streets was a challenge for my younger ones - people honk their horns for no reason here! It's how they let you know they are around...in case you are a blind driver or something. No traffic laws are enforced --- but it kind of makes driving an adventure! You are rarely going fast enough to get into an accident that would have an injury - unless you are a pedestrian! - Nov 2012
It is a hard city to live in with a young child, unless you are very brave and interested in traveling a lot. School age kids have great opportunities with the American College. - Sep 2011
I've had several single friends bemoan this as a bad place to find a partner. My family has enjoyed it here. It's safe, there's lots to do, you can eat at the restaurants without fear of becoming ill. - Aug 2011
Yes, but dating can be a challenge due to strong religious ties within the communities. - Aug 2011
It's a good city for families, singles, and couples. There are good restaurants for all price levels and groups. There are night clubs for people who can handle late nights, sports leagues, an active Hash House Harriers, diving groups, scouts, art/dance/music lessons for adults and kids. It's a regular big city. - Jul 2011
It's good for everyone, there's lots to do. For families and couples their are trips organized by the CLO. Plenty of tour groups or you could just take a day trip or get lost in Cairo. For singles, I believe their is nightlife activity in downtown Cairo. - Jun 2011
If you are single, male, looking to get married, and either muslim, Eastern Orthodox christian, or Coptic Orthodox christian, this is your eldorado. I've been told that for many reasons a majority of the local men are unqualified or unwilling to marry, so the country is full of beautiful, nice, young ladies praying for a prince charming to save them from spinsterhood. - Sep 2010
Yes, yes, and yes. - Jun 2010
Cairo is a good city for everyone, provided you don't have respiratory health problems. There is a lot to do for people who enjoy going out - tons of cultural events at the various embassy-affiliated cultural centers, plus at Cairo's own cultural centers; lots of live music concerts, art exhibitions, restaurants, bars (though very smoky), or just going to see any number of the sites representing Cairo's several-thousand-year history! Families seem to do very well here, as there are a lot of activities centered around the American School and the local USG club (with pool and playground and children's activities), and there are a lot of families with young children here. - Dec 2009
It's a good city for families - lots of little day trips to do with the kids, and hey, how can you beat mummies and pyramids? - May 2008
