Research guide to EGYPT
Egypt’s importance in the diplomatic arena as well as its influence on Arab and Islamic
culture and thought ensure its significance in regional and global affairs. It should come
as no surprise, then, that Egypt maintains 40 governmental Websites—more than New
Zealand, Japan, Israel or any other country in the Middle East.1
—Jan Ellis
je193@columbia.edu
The State Information Service website—www.sis.gov.eg—offers, among other apps:
 live soccer games and call-in shows on NILE TV (via Shockwave/RealVideo);
 ‘100 years of singing,’ featuring the likes of Umm Kolthoum and Asmahan;
 a Cairo Press Review (in Arabic) of Egypt’s barely muzzled media;
 an internal search engine (beware of differences in transliteration);
 EgyptOnline, with articles supporting, e.g., the official position on EgyptAir
flight 990 and nuclear proliferation, plus the text of five international treaties;
 an Encylopedia of the Rulers of Egypt, “From the Pharaohs till Now”;
 ‘Mubarak on International Terrorism,’ a compilation of press coverage and
official statements dating back to 1986;
 three historic newsreels (click ‘newsreel samples’ on the ‘Calendar’ page); and
 Egypt Radio broadcasts, at www.sis.gov.eg/testram/live.ram (via RealAudio).
Once again, Misr has mastered the medium!
SCHOLARLY COLLECTIONS
Duke University (at scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/papyrus) invites you to search its Papyrus
Archives database, with significant Egyptian documentation!
The Argos ancient and medieval Internet database, at the University of Evansville, can
be readily searched (at argos.evansville.edu), along with a glorious index of virtual
resources for “exploring ancient world cultures” (at eawc.evansville.edu).
Mississippi State University Professor Don Mabry’s personal website hosts 25 working
links to historical Egyptian resources (at HistoricalTextArchive.com, click ‘Africa’)
plus oodles of primary sources concerning Egypt and the rest of North Africa at
historicaltextarchive.com/sections.php?op=listarticles&secid=5.
The University of Chicago’s Oriental Institute ABZU site posts extensive resources, at
www-oi.uchicago.edu/OI/DEPT/RA/ABZU/ABZU_REGINDX_EGYPT.HTML, for
researching pre-Islamic Egypt .
The University of Pennsylvania’s ‘Egypt Page’ offers an extraordinary compendium of
links, at www.sas.upenn.edu/African_Studies/Country_Specific/Egypt.html, ranging
from a cyberjourney of the pyramids to US State Department travel advisories.
“Webbing Governance: National Differences in Constructing the Face of Public Organizations,” @
www.cyprg.arizona.edu/publications/webbing.rtf, as published in Handbook of Public Information Systems, G. David
Garson, editor (New York: Marcel Dekker Publishers, 2000); at the same time, the US maintained 205 such sites.
1
Norway’s al Mashriq page of Egyptophilia (almashriq.hiof.no/base/egypt.html) includes
Aramco World’s coverage of the Nobel Prize awarded to eloquent Naguib Mahfouz (at
almashriq.hiof.no/egypt/900/920/naguib_mahfouz/nobel_price [sic]).
The Institute of Egyptian Art and Archaeology at the University of Memphis maintains
a great collection at www.memphis.edu/egypt.
Cambridge University’s Taylor-Schechter Genizah Research Unit, in conjunction with
Princeton, attempts to archive 140,000 fragments rescued from Cairo’s archival Ben
Ezra Synagogue, at www.lib.cam.ac.uk/Taylor-Schechter/Introduction.html..
The Newton Institute at Cambridge University offers ‘essential Egyptology resources,’
at www.newton.cam.ac.uk/egypt/essential.html. (Software geek Julia Hayden’s Ancient
World Web site links up ‘alternative theories’ at julen.net/ancient/Alternative_Theories.)
Scientific American’s “niche” magazine, Egypt Revealed (www.egyptrevealed.com),
ceased publication in 2001, but the Website still archives esoteric features (like “The
Fleas of the Pharaohs”).
A selection of “Remarkable and bizarre notes about Egypt by early travelers” is posted at
www.ccer.ggl.ruu.nl/ccer/notes.html, thanks to Holland’s Centre for Computer-Aided
Egyptological Research.
Kufta.com’s Egypt-only directory, at kufta.com/search/egypt, will connect you to the
expertise of Dr. Zawi Hawass, Egyptian undersecretary of state for monuments, whose
homepage (www.guardians.net/hawass) features lots of Egyptology (affiliated with
Andrew Bayok’s extensive offerings, at www.guardians.net/egypt, dating back to 1994.)
Nile Treasures, of Dallas, Texas, offers an encyclopedic array of Egyptian mythology
and modern Egyptian history, at www.nileriver.com.
EGYPTIAN UNIVERSITIES
Cairo’s Al Azhar, the world’s oldest seat of learning and most renowned Islamic
university, is on the Web at www.frcu.eun.eg/www/universities/html/azhar.html.
The American University in Cairo: www.aucegypt.edu.
UCLA’s index of Arab research institutes includes a further list of Egyptian universities,
at www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/url/colls/mideast/pages/arabpages/arresrch.html.
MAPS
National Geographic’s February 1923 coverage of the discovery of King Tut’s tomb in
Luxor (at www.nationalgeographic.com/egypt)
The University of California-Berkeley’s historic collection of Islamic cities includes
maps of Egypt from the 15th to the 19th centuries, and a list of seminal cartographers, at
www.ias.berkeley.edu/cmes/icmc_files/icmc/icmc.htm. (A review of Nelly Hanna’s
Making Big Money in 1600: The life and times of Isma’il Abu Taqiyya, Egyptian
Merchant is posted at garnet.berkeley.edu/~mescha/newsletter/index.html.)
The Perry-Castaneda library at the University of Texas maintains a list of current CIA
and other maps (at www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/egypt.html), plus historical cartography
(e.g., an 1856 map of Suez Bay).
INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Egypt is the most populous Arab and Middle Eastern nation, the second most populous in
Africa, and fourth among the world’s 56 Islamic countries. Cairo plays an influential role
like few developing nations, through a web of bilateral relationship that, in extent,
substantially exceed that of any other Middle Eastern country. Egypt is:
 a member of the World Trade Organization: www.wto.org;
 co-founder of the Arab League: www.leagueofarabstates.org;
 a lynchpin of the African Union, until recently d.b.a. the Organization of African
Unity: www.oau-oua.org, and
 pivotal to the impending New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)
(see www.nepad.org or www.dfa.gov.za/events/nepad.pdf).
HAPI’S BLESSINGS
The up-to-date Nile Basin Initiative site (www.nilebasin.org), maintained in the Sudan,
is an excellent starting point for questions concerning sustainable development.
A United Nations University review of Nile River development and management is
posted at www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/80858e/80858E05.htm.
A bibliography of background material concerning Nile Delta gas and hydrology, from
Canada’s Hydrosult inc.: www.hydrosult.com/niledata/biblio.htm.
Columbia University’s Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory posts an environmental
overview of the Nile at www.ldeo.columbia.edu/dees/U4735_00/lectures/08.html.
And photographer Luke Powell’s lyrical ‘Islands in the Nile’ are not to be missed, at
cr.middlebury.edu/art/Powell/Egypt/E1.HTM.
RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS
Of 15 legal parties, only the liberal al-Wafd party (www.alwafd.org) appears to maintain
a working Website. (The Greens’ url, www.egyptiangreens.com, doesn’t congeal.)
A list of the rest—including the ruling NDP (National Democratic Party), the democratic
Nasserists, the leftist Tagammu’, the Liberals, Islamist-oriented Labor, al-Wifak and
al-Takaful—and their party organs can be found on the government’s more-reliable
‘mirror-US’ site, at www.us.sis.gov.eg/eginfnew/politics/politici/html/pres0602.htm.
Egypt’s Coptic community does not have a political party per se and Copts were rarely
elected to parliament until 2001, when three Coptic politicians were elected for the first
time since 1952. Materials for the diaspora (CopticWeb), including Pope Shenouda’s
radio addresses and a Coptic history (EncyclopediaCoptica) are at www.coptic.net.
The Encyclopedia of the Orient, at lexicorient.com/e.o/index.htm, has a nice entry on
Sufis, who—they say—maintain a strong foothold in Egypt and the Sudan.
The Muslim Brotherhood (with a homepage maintained in the United Kingdom, at
www.ummah.org.uk/ikhwan) scored big in 2001, too, for the first time since 1987.
The Federation of American Scientists maintains descriptions of al Ikhwan al
Moslemoon’s more violent offshoot Jihad (at www.fas.org/irp/world/para/jihad.htm) and
its ally al Gama’at al Islamiyya (at www.fas.org/irp/world/para/ig.htm).
TERRORISM
Egypt’s report to the UN Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution
1373 (2001) can be found at www.un.org/Docs/sc/committees/1373/1237e.pdf.
UNITED NATIONS SITES
The homepage for all UN agencies operating in Egypt is found at www.un.org.eg.
UNESCO’s report on the reconstructed Library of Alexandria, including a virtual tour of
the complex, is posted at mirror-us.unesco.org/webworld/alexandria_new/index.html
UNICEF’s current country profile: (www.unicef.org/statis/Country_1Page52.html)
The Website of the International Labor Organization’s Cairo office, serving all of
North Africa since 1959: www.ilo.org/public/english/region/afpro/cairo.
An ILO report on equal employment opportunities in Egypt, last updated in May 2001,
can be found at www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/gems/eeo/cover/egy_main.htm,
with ‘useful links’ and a great outline of the Egyptian bureaucracy.
US GOVERNMENT RESOURCES
The 2001 CIA Factbook: www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/eg.html
The Library of Congress tour de force from 1990: lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/egtoc.html
US Geological Survey’s report on “The Mineral Industry in Egypt,” from 1999:
minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/country/9210099.pdf
The US Army Area Handbook for Egypt is posted, courtesy of the University of
Missouri/St. Louis, at gopher://gopher.umsl.edu/11/library/govdocs/armyahbs/aahb7.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s
 Country brief as of December 2001: www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/egypt.html.
 Fossil Energy International overview with links to other relevant agencies:
www.fe.doe.gov/international/egypt.html.
 International Energy Information (including crude oil prices and Egyptian
production): www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/international/egypt.html.
The US Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration overview of
Egypt’s upstream energy sector: www.ita.doc.gov/td/energy/egypt.htm.
A USAID overview, at www.usaid.gov/regions/ane/newpages/one_pagers/egy.htm, hosts
reports on its various projects in Egypt; plus a USAID/Egypt Program Summary from
September 2000 at www.usaid.gov/regions/ane/newpages/one_pagers/egy.htm.
The US State Department’s country commercial guide for 2001 is available at
www.state.gov/www/about_state/business/com_guides/2001/nea/egypt_ccg2001.pdf,
along with State’s 2001 report on economic policy and trade practices, posted at
www.state.gov/documents/organization/8182.pdf.
State’s background notes dated December 2001: www.state.gov/r/pa/bgn/5309.htm.
Treasury’s take on Egyptian trade barriers: www.ustr.gov/reports/nte/2002/egypt.pdf.
THE EGYPTIAN ECONOMY
The Egyptian Economic Bulletin publishes monthly indicators from the official
Information and Decision Support Center, at www.economic-bulletin.egnet.net.
The Central Bank of Egypt website (at www.cbe.org.eg) is not working, but South
Africa’s Mbendi Corp. offers reliable background business information for the
continent, including a look at each nation’s energy sector: start with www.mbendi.com,
then choose from the list of country profiles (hidden behind the ‘regions’ menu) for some
concise insights into each country’s economic situation and interesting business news.
Further economic links are offered at Harvard’s www.hifip.harvard.edu/links/egypt.htm.
Turkey’s Oxford Business Group posts its March 2002 ‘High and Dry in Egypt’ at
www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com/weekly01.asp?id=288, with a link to OBG’s very current
country profile, noting international loans of $10.3 billion committed in February 2002.
Ernst & Young’s country profile is posted at mbendi.co.za/ernsty/cyegeyip.htm.
Arab World Online (at www.awo.net/country/overview/cregy.asp), provides relevant
business info, inc. a list of ministry addresses (www.awo.net/country/ministry/egypt.asp).
Cairo Telecomp’s economic primer: www.cairotelecomp.com/asp/egypt_economy.asp
The IMF’s index of Egypt reports (www.imf.org/external/country/egy) connects you to
www.imf.org/external/np/tre/tad/exfin2.cfm?memberKey1=275 for the current position.
The World Bank’s “Egypt, Arab Rep. at a glance,” as of 17 September 2001, is posted at
www.worldbank.org/data/countrydata/aag/egy_aag.pdf.
The American Chamber of Commerce in Cairo has a site at www.amcham.org.eg.
The Heritage Foundation proffers an interesting and up-to-date ‘index of economic
freedom’ in Egypt (“mostly unfree”), at cf.heritage.org/index/country.cfm?ID=43.
LEGAL REGIMES
The Internet Law Library, formerly operated by the U.S. House of Representatives,
offers a list of treaties and various Egyptian legal regimes, past and present, at
www.lawguru.com/ilawlib/141.htm.
HUMAN RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES
The official Egyptian Organization for Human Rights can be found at
www.eohr.org.eg, although aphra.org, the website of the independent Arab Program for
Human Rights Activists is not working and may have been shut down by the gov’t.
The international Arab Organization for Human Rights, HQ’d in Cairo: aohr.org.
American Association for the Advancement of Science appeals for embattled Egyptian
scientists can be found at shr.aaas.org/aaashran/country.php?c_id=3.
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The 2002 country report from Human Rights Watch: hrw.org/wr2k2/mena2.html.
Amnesty International’s up-to-date report on “Torture in Egypt,” is posted at
www.amnesty-usa.org/stoptorture/egypt.html, and AI’s country guide is found at:
www.web.amnesty.org/web/ar2001.nsf/webmepcountries/EGYPT?OpenDocument.
Committee to Protect Journalists: www.cpj.org/attacks01/mideast01/egypt.html
(see www.cpj.org for the latest alerts).
US State Department: http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2001/nea/8248pf.htm
(posted 4 March 2002).
MEDIA
Egypt has been in an official state of emergency since the assassination of Anwar Sadat
in 1981, enabling authorities to try journalists in state security courts and military-style
tribunals where decisions cannot be appealed. Harsh libel laws and other statutes have
been used to prosecute and jail several journalists in recent years. On-line in English:
 The Egyptian Gazette, Egypt’s only English-language daily, can be searched via
engineer Samir Raafat’s fulsome Egy.Com (www.egy.com/search/index.shtml).
 Cairo Times is on-line at www.cairotimes.com.
 Al Ahram Weekly Online is published at www.ahram.org.eg/weekly.
 Al Wafd’s monetary coverage is available at www.alwafd.org.
 Business Today–Egypt (at www.businesstoday-eg.com), and
 Egypt Today (at www.egypttoday.com/Index.htm) are published online by
Cairo’s IBA Media.
Many more papers are online in Arabic, some of which have links to Australia’s The
Paperboy (www.thepaperboy.com.au, a directory of 5,288 papers in 176 countries and
67 languages).
A list of office addresses and telephone numbers for the country’s establishment media
can be found at www.sis.gov.eg/pressrev/html/presinfo.htm#egyptian%20gazette, on the
government’s website.
The weekly Middle East Times (www.metimes.com), owned and operated by UPI’s
parent company, News World, is published in Athens but sells the most copies in Egypt.
(For a sense of what is not fair game in the Egyptian press, click METs ‘censored’ link.)
NEW MEDIA
Mazen Hejleh’s voluminous Arab Links (www.hejleh.com/edna_yaghi/index.html)
include—in the case of Egypt—a national history of the Web, a list of Egyptian ISPs, and
a link to the Internet Society of Egypt (ISE).
From Media-Arabia.org:
 “The Development of New Media in Egypt and its Effects on Local Realities,” at
www.media-arabia.org/userfiles/hiba-E-Final.doc
 “The Media City in Egypt,” at www.media-arabia.org/userfiles/Al-shahawi%20E-Final.doc.
 there’s a reference to new private television channels in Egypt, at www.mediaarabia.org/userfiles/ACF8DF0.doc, in an article copyrighted this year, entitled,
“New Media and the Arab World: The Social and Cultural Aspect.”
 Further discussion of satellite channels and the introduction of CNN can be found
at www.media-arabia.org/userfiles/Madga%20Maurice-E.doc, in “The Arab
Viewer and Media Revolution,” by Magda Maurice.
Cairo’s IT activities are listed on the events calendar at www.intaj.net, the website of the
Information Technology Association of Jordan.
LISTSERVS, &C.
GulfWire carries some analytical articles and transcripts concerning Egypt, via:
www.arabialink.com/GulfWire/AboutGulfWire/GWSubscribe.htm.
A great newsgroup for cultural events in the New York metropolitan area can be
contacted at nyc@alwan.org or alwan.org.
For political discussion groups, try www.egyptiantalks.org/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi.
FOR FUN
P. S. Neeley’s personal site (www.xmission.com/~psneeley/Shareware/houndsja.htm)
offers some very clever shareware for recreating ancient pastimes, like the Egyptian
game of Senet (with a handy Windows help file), which is lovingly depicted in 3D at
www.fortunecity.com/victorian/lion/193/Senet.html.