How to Get a Taxi From the Cairo Airport

This one is for the newbies.

Getting a taxi from the Cairo airport all by yourself is one of the first rites of passage that expats must go through. Out of the plane you go and into the fire. After your first culture shock with a customs officer who is too busy smoking a cigarette to help you (my first experience), you are hit across the face with a sudden realization: how the hell am I getting to my hotel?    

We already covered Getting a Taxi. This earlier post provided the basics on giving directions, agreeing on a price, and other useful phrases.

Today it’s all about negotiation. Admittedly, today’s post is a bit advanced. There are some longer sentences and a bit more complicated vocabulary. But it’s necessary. Not to scare you off, but negotiating with taxi drivers who want to rip you off is not the best place to be stumbling over words. Throw out some of these phrases and you might just stand a chance. We’re just trying to build that street cred right from the beginning. Leave the grammar for later.

Today, Cleo Lingo will be explaining…..how to get a taxi from the Cairo Airport.

Vocabulary

Hello. Are you a taxi driver? : “suhLAWM awLEEK, TEKsee?”

سلام عليكم, تاكسي؟

They shouldn’t be too hard to spot. You’ll notice them by the eye contact they make and their insistence on coming up to you and asking if they can help. They are probably surprised that you just said something in Arabic. The more linguistic control you have over the situation, the cheaper it will be. Before they can say something in English, hit them with this:

Can you help me? : “MOOmkin TIHsawEDnee?”

ممكن تساعدني؟

Here is what they will probably say:

Where are you going? : “rAWH fane?”

رايح فين؟

You are officially in a negotiation.

I want to go to….. : “ana EYEizz uhROOH…”

أنا عايز اروح…

Downtown/Maadi/Heliopolis/Dokki/6th of October. : “west elBEHlid/ elMAWdee/ HEleeOHpihliss/DOHee/SIT awkTOHbrr.”

وسط البلد \ المعادي \ هليوبولس\ الدقي \ 6 اكتوبر…

How much do you want? : “EYEizz kehm?”

عايز كام؟

This is how you will break the ice.  We’re going to tell you the truth: the moment you step out of the airport with your giant bag, you’ll be a prime target for taxi drivers. It’s not that they’re going to beat you up, or throw you in the back of their car “Taken” style. Rather, you’re just going to look like a giant walking dollar sign.

Here are some of the (overly expensive) prices you will be offered.

150 pounds : “MEEuh wuh humSEEN”

مية و خمسين

200 pounds : “meeTANE”

ميتين

250 pounds : “meeTANE w humSEEN”

ميتين و خمسين

300 pounds : “TOOLtooMEEuh”

تلتمية

350 pounds : “TOOLtooMEEuh w humSEEN”

تلتمية وخمسين

Needless to say, these are too expensive. If you are the type of person who doesn’t like a good bargaining (or if you just want to find your hotel ASAP, in which case we don’t blame you), ignore the rest of this post. If you are ready to rumble, though, let’s make this thing interesting:

That’s (too) expensive. : “daw ghAWlee (GEHdin)”

(ده غالي (جدا

Come on, man. I’m new here. You don’t want to help me? : “AY? Mish EYEizz tihsawEHDnee wawluh AY?”

ايه؟؟ انا جديد هنا مش عايز تساعدني ولا ايه؟

Are you a thief, or what? : “enta huhRAWmee wawluh AY?”

انت حرامي ولا ايه؟

With great power comes great responsibility, and the word “huhRAWmee” is powerful indeed. This accusation seems to function as a bombshell in the right situation. Use it correctly, and it’s your trump card. Use it incorrectly, though (or simply too often), and you’re officially “that guy” who doesn’t trust anybody and comes across as a jerk because of it.

As I have said, I have instantly cut the price of a taxi ride by 90 percent (or even gotten it for free). This inevitably made me feel guilty, though, which begs the question: is it worth it? This is a major insult in Egyptian culture. Be careful. Saying it with a joking tone and a slight laugh will keep things cool.

I only have     . : “Ana mawAYuh     .bess.”

.انا معايا …بس

Is that acceptable? : “YENfaw?”

ينفع؟

We will be diving deeper into uses of the word “YENfaw” at a later date.

It’s a rule as old as the book itself: pull out some cash right in front of his eyes, and he’ll be more willing to negotiate. This is oh so true in Cairo. A realistic, tangible 150 LE is sometimes more appetizing than a theoretical, “pay you later” 300 LE. Don’t be afraid to employ this tactic. The airport is one of the safest places to do it (we don’t recommend this strategy at 2 AM at a shawerma shop in Imbaba).

Does anybody want…..pounds? : “muhHAWdish EYEizz MEEuh w humSEEN gihNEE?”

محدش عايز 150 جنيه؟

At this point there is probably at least a few other taxi drivers gathered around you. Negotiations with a foreigner that speaks Arabic are always a sight to see. They are also a money-making opportunity. Don’t be too rude and maintain an openness to cheaper options. You don’t have to stick with the first guy that found you. Starting to sound like a dating website, but still applicable.  

Ok, fine. But I will not pay 200. I will only pay 150. : “tuhMAWM. Bess mish HEDfaw meeTANE. Hedfaw MEEuh w humSEEN bess.”

.تمام..بس مش هدفع 200. هدفع 150 بس

Is that OK? : “tuhMAWM?”

تمام؟

This is for when you want to budge a little. Here are some tips on fair prices (for foreigners). Keep in mind two things: these prices are wildly inflated from what an Egyptian would get (the taxi drivers from the airport will never just set their meters), and these prices are nonetheless still quite cheap. Argue if you want….nut just remember that you are literally arguing over a few dollars.

In reality, it’s difficult to get a ride cheaper than 150 LE. I got 110 LE once, but my Arabic is decent and I got a little lucky. Keep things in the 150-200 LE range and you should consider yourself successful.

Here are some things that the taxi driver might tell you in an effort to keep the price up. Some of them might be true, but try not to care too much. That might sound cold-hearted, but Egypt’s economy is not your fault. Keeping that in mind will keep you from getting taken advantage of.

Everything is getting more expensive in the country/ Egypt/Cairo. : “KOluh HAga BAWit ghawleeuh fe elBEHlid/MUHsrr/elcawHIHruh.”

.كل حاجة بقت غالية في البلد\مصر\القاهرة

Gas prices just recently went up. Everything is higher. : “SEH’r elbenZEEN BAW’ ghawlee…KOluh HAga BAWit ghawleeuh.”

.سعر البنزين بقى غالي..كل حاجة بقت غالية

Here are a few things you can say that might finally get you a cheaper price. I have used both, to varying effect.

That’s enough. 200/300/400 LE is too expensive!150 is enough, I swear! : “khuhLAWSS! MeeTANE/TOLtooMEEuh/ROWbuhMEEuh GHAWlee geden! MEEuh w humSEEN kiFAYuh, wuhLAWhee!”

.خلاص,…ميتين, تلتمية, ربعمية غالي جدا ..150 كفاية والله

That’s enough. I will call one of my friends, he will pick me up. : “khuhLAWSS. Ana hawKEHlum wahid sawhbee, YEEgee beeGEHBnee.”

.خلاص, انا هكلم واحد صحبي يجي يجبني

And, if all else fails:

Uber is cheaper, sir/boss! : “Uber AREkhawss yaw BEHshuh!”

!اوبر ارخص يا باشا

Often, the dude that you are talking to isn’t even the taxi driver himself. Seems like there’s some “taxi driver ring” at the airport that almost functions like the mafia. Once you’ve agreed on a price, the dud is just as liable to haand you off to one of his drivers lurking in the shadows. Maybe he gets a cut of the profit for finding business.

All we know is that you’ve found a driver and you’re on your way.

Pat yourself on the back. It’s time for a Stella.

Cultural Insight

Keep our last phrase about Uber in mind. Usually it’s enough to order it five mins before getting out of the airport (waiting in line at customs, or even as late as the baggage claim). The driver will be waiting at the parking downstairs if you are at Terminal 3 (which you most usually will be). This is easier, more convenient, and you probably know how to work it already anyway.

One thing to expect is that the Uber driver will almost assuredly call you to ask you where you are exactly. There is an inside joke among expats about this, and someday soon we will be hooking you up with a “How To Uber” post. In any case, just stand beside the “A-3” parking sign. It’s easy to find for both of you!

Good luck keeping the price under ten bucks. 🙂

…..

Happy learning,

Cleo Lingo