Cairo airport meet and assist is a service where a greeter meets you at Cairo International Airport (CAI), helps with the visa counter, passport control and baggage, and walks you to your car. It is most useful on a first visit, on a late-night arrival, or when you are travelling with family, older relatives or a lot of luggage. Below is everything you need for a smooth Cairo airport arrival: terminals, Egypt visa options, the steps after landing and how to get into the city.
Cairo International is Egypt’s main gateway and one of the busiest airports in Africa. It is run by Cairo Airport Company. Knowing your terminal matters because the arrival halls, visa counters and pick-up areas are in different buildings, and your driver or greeter needs to be in the right place.
| Terminal | Typical use (at the time of writing, October 2026) | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal 1 | The oldest terminal; used by a mix of regional, low-cost and some Egyptian carriers | Split into separate halls; linked to T2/T3 by the free people mover |
| Terminal 2 | Many foreign international airlines | Rebuilt and reopened in 2016; connected to Terminal 3 |
| Terminal 3 | EgyptAir and Star Alliance partners | The largest terminal and EgyptAir’s main base for international and domestic connections |
| Seasonal Flights Terminal | Mainly Hajj and Umrah traffic in peak periods | Unlikely to be used for a normal holiday or business trip |
Airlines do move between terminals, sometimes at short notice. Always check the terminal on your booking confirmation or the airline’s app a day before you fly, and share it with whoever is collecting you.
If you are connecting between terminals, the automated people mover runs between Terminal 1 and Terminals 2 and 3 and is free to use. Terminals 2 and 3 are joined, so walking between them is straightforward. Allow extra time if you need to collect bags and re-check them.
Most visitors need a visa to enter Egypt, but how you get it depends on your nationality. Rules and fees change, so confirm the current position with the official portal or your nearest Egyptian embassy before you travel.
The official online channel is the Egypt e-Visa portal at visa2egypt.gov.eg. It offers single-entry and multiple-entry tourist visas for eligible nationalities. Apply well ahead of your trip, print the approval, and keep a copy on your phone. Be wary of look-alike websites that charge extra; the official portal ends in .gov.eg.
Travellers from a list of eligible countries, including many European nations, the UK and the USA, can buy a visa on arrival at Cairo airport. The visa stickers are sold at bank counters in the arrivals area before you reach the passport control desks. Have cash in a major currency such as US dollars ready, as card payment is not always available. Eligibility can change, so check with the e-Visa portal or your airline before relying on this option.
| Option | Where you get it | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| e-Visa | Online at visa2egypt.gov.eg before travel | Planners who want approval in hand before flying |
| Visa on arrival | Bank counters in the CAI arrivals area, before passport control | Eligible nationalities with cash ready |
| Embassy visa | Egyptian embassy or consulate | Nationalities not eligible for the e-Visa or visa on arrival |
Cairo is a large city and traffic can be heavy at almost any hour, so journey times to Downtown, Zamalek, New Cairo or Giza vary a lot. Plan for delays rather than relying on a fixed estimate.
Taxis wait outside the terminals. Agree the fare or confirm the meter is running before you set off, and know your hotel’s address in Arabic if possible.
Both Uber and Careem operate in Cairo, including airport pick-ups. You will need mobile data, and fares can rise after late-night landings when demand peaks. Check the app’s pick-up point carefully, as drivers usually wait in designated areas rather than at the arrivals door.
A pre-booked private transfer is the simplest option if you have children, heavy luggage, a group, or an arrival in the early hours. The driver tracks your flight and meets you in the arrivals hall. You can arrange one through our airport transfers page, and combine it with a guided day at the Pyramids or the Grand Egyptian Museum through our private tours.
Public and shuttle buses do serve the airport, but routes and schedules change and they are not easy with luggage. At the time of writing there is no direct metro link to the terminals.
Sphinx International Airport lies west of Cairo on the Cairo–Alexandria desert road and is closer to Giza, the Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum than CAI. It is much smaller and is served mainly by regional and low-cost airlines on selected routes. If your hotel is in Giza or 6th of October City, it is worth checking whether a flight into SPX suits you. If you land there, the visa and arrival steps are similar, but on a smaller scale. Meet and assist availability varies by airport, so ask us before booking.
Many travellers manage CAI on their own. Meet and assist earns its place when the arrival process is likely to be stressful or when time matters.
Exact inclusions depend on the airport and the service level you choose, but a typical arrival service covers a greeter with a name board at or near the aircraft or arrivals area, help with the visa purchase and immigration formalities, assistance with baggage and customs, and an escort to your driver. Fast track lanes are subject to the airport’s own rules and may not be available at every checkpoint.
Many visitors combine Cairo with the coast. If you are flying on, we can arrange meet and assist at other airports too, including Sharm El Sheikh airport meet and greet and Alexandria Borg El Arab airport meet and assist. Booking each leg with the same team keeps your contact details and flight information in one place.
We arrange Cairo airport meet and assist for arrivals, departures and transits through vetted local partners at CAI. A greeter meets you with a name board, helps you through the visa counter, passport control and baggage, and hands you over to your driver. Every booking is confirmed in writing, and our operations desk is available 24/7, including on WhatsApp at +971 54 515 7619.
Travel agents can book on behalf of their clients through our B2B partner programme. If you have a question about your flight, terminal or group size, contact us before you book and we will tell you honestly what is possible.
It is a personal arrival, departure or transit service. A greeter meets you on arrival, usually holding a name board, and guides you through the visa counter, passport control, baggage reclaim and customs before escorting you to your car. It removes guesswork at a busy airport and is popular with families, first-time visitors and business travellers.
Yes, if your nationality is eligible. Visa stickers are sold at bank counters in the arrivals area before passport control, and cash in a major currency is the safest way to pay. Eligibility and fees change, so check the official portal visa2egypt.gov.eg or your airline before you travel. Others need an e-Visa or an embassy visa.
EgyptAir operates mainly from Terminal 3, which is also used by its Star Alliance partners. Terminal 3 is connected to Terminal 2, and a free people mover links them with Terminal 1. Terminal allocations can change, so always confirm the terminal shown on your ticket or in the EgyptAir app shortly before departure.
Yes. Uber and Careem both operate in Cairo and can collect you from the airport. You will need mobile data, so buy a local SIM or set up an eSIM first. Follow the app’s directions to the designated pick-up point, and expect higher fares at busy times, such as late at night when many flights land together.
Cairo International Airport is roughly 15 km north-east of central Cairo, beside Heliopolis. Driving time depends heavily on traffic and your destination; Giza and the Pyramids are on the far side of the city, so allow considerably longer for that journey. A pre-booked transfer avoids haggling and waiting after a long flight.
Yes. The Egyptian government’s official e-Visa portal is visa2egypt.gov.eg. Several private websites look similar and add service charges, so check the address carefully before entering passport or payment details. Print your approved e-Visa and keep a digital copy, as immigration officers may ask to see it.
Cairo International (CAI) has far more airlines and routes, plus EgyptAir’s domestic network. Sphinx International (SPX) is smaller and closer to Giza, the Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum, but has fewer, mostly regional and low-cost flights. Compare routes and your hotel location before deciding.
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