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Cross-border route

Sudan Egypt

Driving across the border
Yes — you can drive from Sudan into Egypt: carry a certified IDP translation of your licence alongside the original so border officials and rental desks can read your credentials. Egypt expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP, prepared in the 1968 Vienna Convention format. Both countries drive on the right, so there is no change of driving side at the border. Plan your border crossing in advance and keep your passport, national licence and IDP together.

Last reviewed July 2026

Route at a glance
FromSudan
ToEgypt
IDP in EgyptStrongly recommended
Accepted format1968 Vienna
Driving sideright (no change)
Currency in EgyptEGP
Emergency number122 (police), 123 (ambulance)
Top speed limit100–120 km/h desert highways
Driving in Egypt
SudanEgypt

Crossing the border

Sudan and Egypt share a land border you can cross by car. Keep your passport, national driving licence and International Driving Permit together, and check opening hours and any toll or vignette requirements before you travel.

Driving rules in Egypt

  • Dense, assertive urban traffic.
  • Headlights used sparingly at night by locals — drive defensively.
  • Checkpoints common between cities.
  • Carry passport, licence and IDP.

What to see when you arrive in Egypt

  • the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx
  • the temples of Luxor and Karnak
  • the Valley of the Kings
  • Abu Simbel
  • a Nile cruise

Once you're driving in Egypt

Destination-specific detail sourced from national road authorities, motoring clubs and rental policies — the things that catch cross-border drivers out.

Driving on a foreign licence

Tourists may drive on a foreign licence, but rental firms and police require an International Driving Permit (or certified Arabic/English translation) carried alongside the home licence; an IDP cannot be obtained inside Egypt, so secure one before arrival.

Tolls & road charges

Major intercity roads (Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road, Cairo-Suez, Cairo-Ain Sokhna, the Regional Ring Road) are tolled via overhead ANPR cameras and a smart electronic system, with cash booths still in use; tourists in rentals normally just pay the small cash toll at the gate.

Parking in the cities

In central Cairo parking is chaotic and largely informal, with 'sayes' (freelance attendants) directing cars and expecting a few pounds; illegally parked or obstructing vehicles can be ticketed or have plates removed by traffic police.

Fines & camera enforcement

Under the 2025/26 tightened traffic law, speeding and lane violations carry fines of roughly EGP 2,000-10,000; seatbelt and handheld-phone offences are enforced, and radar cameras issue plate-based fines that rental companies later charge to your card.

If you have an accident

Call 122 for police or 128 for the traffic police, and 123 for an ambulance; do not move the vehicles unless they block traffic dangerously, as a police report ('mahdar') is mandatory for any insurance claim.

Driving in the capital

Cairo's Ring Road and downtown corridors are gridlocked with lane markings widely ignored; expect aggressive merging, constant horn use and pedestrians crossing motorways.

Sources: rac.co.uk · sixt.co.uk · tollguru.com · dailynewsegypt.com

Common questions

01
Do I need an International Driving Permit to drive from Sudan to Egypt?
Yes — Egypt commonly asks foreign drivers to carry an IDP with their national licence. Egypt recognises the 1968 Vienna Convention format, which is the format your certified IDP translation is prepared in.
02
Does the driving side change between Sudan and Egypt?
No. Both Sudan and Egypt drive on the right.
03
What is the emergency number and speed limit in Egypt?
In Egypt, dial 122 (police), 123 (ambulance) for emergencies; 112 also works from most GSM phones. The maximum for cars on the fastest road class is 100–120 km/h desert highways, but posted limits in towns and on secondary roads are lower and always take precedence.
04
How do tolls and road charges work in Egypt?
Major intercity roads (Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road, Cairo-Suez, Cairo-Ain Sokhna, the Regional Ring Road) are tolled via overhead ANPR cameras and a smart electronic system, with cash booths still in use; tourists in rentals normally just pay the small cash toll at the gate.
05
How quickly can I get an IDP for this trip?
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