Area Code 2 – Cairo/Giza/Qalyubia

Geographic Coverage and Administrative Jurisdiction

The country calling code +20 is assigned to Egypt under the ITU-T E.164 international numbering plan. Within this national plan, the National Destination Code (NDC) 2 designates a major geographic area covering Greater Cairo, including the governorates of Cairo, Giza, and Qalyubia. This area is the political, economic, and cultural heart of Egypt, encompassing the capital city and its densely populated suburbs. The NDC 2 is used for fixed-line (PSTN) services, and it is a geographic code, meaning that the tariff and routing are based on the physical location of the line.

Dialing Formats and Number Structure

For domestic calls within Egypt to a number in the Cairo/Giza/Qalyubia region, callers dial the trunk prefix 0, followed by the NDC 2, and then the local subscriber number, which is typically 8 digits long. Thus, a domestic call format is: 0 2 XXXX XXXX (e.g., 02 2345 6789). For international callers, the format is: +20 2 XXXX XXXX (e.g., +20 2 2345 6789). It is important to note that the leading 0 of the domestic trunk prefix is omitted when dialing from abroad.

Local and International Caller Instructions

When calling from within Egypt but outside the Cairo region, you must dial the trunk prefix 0 before the NDC. For example, a caller in Alexandria would dial 02 2345 6789. When calling from any other country, you must use the international access prefix of that country (e.g., 00 from most countries, 011 from North America) followed by Egypt's country code 20, then the NDC 2 without the leading 0, and then the local number. For instance, from the United States, you would dial 011 20 2 2345 6789.

Overlay and Numbering Plan Considerations

Egypt's numbering plan does not currently employ overlay codes for the Cairo area; the NDC 2 is the sole geographic code for this region. However, the National Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (NTRA) has implemented number portability, allowing subscribers to retain their numbers when changing operators, but this does not affect the geographic significance of the code. The number length for fixed lines in Egypt is 10 digits without the trunk prefix (including the NDC), and 11 digits when dialed domestically with the trunk prefix.

Practical Examples

• Local call (within Egypt): 02 2345 6789
• International call (from abroad): +20 2 2345 6789
• From the US: 011 20 2 2345 6789

Understanding these dialing rules ensures successful connectivity to businesses, government offices, and residents in Egypt's capital region.