Hi yes I have lived in El Gouna for seven years. There are around 4,300 property owners from all over the world here. I work in Smugglers Pub in the marina every Sunday night. Many ex-pats meet there. It is a small and cosy pub and easy to meet and chat with others. There is also a private Group on Google for all us Gounies. If you search Gouna you should find it.

 

thanks



Ok, thanks. I will try to find it Sunday night. I am not yet familiar with google groups, but I hope to change that.

 

Hi all from a cloudy England! My husband has just taken a job based in El Gouna so we'll be coming out for about 6 months as of October/November time. So looking forward to avoiding the winter here.
I'm just pondering the usual queries I guess and would really love to hear from anyone who can offer any info or advice that might help please. We are a couple in our early thirties and James is going to be working so I'm wondering what I'm going to be doing! How do I go about getting the Visa I'd need to work? And are there many opportunities out there for Brits with no other languages? I'm thinking it would be good to get a sociable job so that I can get out and meet people, maybe bar work/waitressing or something.
My husband is really in to diving and I hear there are some great sites over there - can anyone recommend a decent dive centre? I'd also be really grateful to get a heads up on anything you can't really get over there that would be good to bring out with us......like PG Tips or something I don't think I could cope without a good cuppa!! Is the Smugglers Pub still in action and seeing lots of Brit action? Thanking you in advance; look forward to hearing from any of you Gounies out there

 

Hi and welcome to the forum,


We do have a regular poster who lives in el gouna and I am sure she will be around to give you lots of information, all I can tell you is that an employer has to get you your work permit and you will not want to work in a bar or cafe for the money paid. Unemployment is huge in Egypt and I suspect that all service industry jobs will be going to Egyptians.

Always bring tea and although shampoo is relatively cheap here I find and others have also posted the same that is it no where near as good as the same brand back home.
I always bring eye lash dye as I find mascara dries up very quickly


Welcome in Egypt as we say

Maiden

 

Hi Steph
Greetings from sunny Gouna.

The Smugglers Pub is still going and will be celebrating its 10th anniversary sometime soon. I 'help Richard out' every Sunday night behind the bar. Have done for around 8 years as I love chatting with everyone and meeting new people and it is cheaper than being a customer.

We have a great dive club which you can follow on Facebook. The club is for year round residents that can't afford the 'tourist' prices of Euro 60 a day to dive. We have a special deal with Emperor Divers based at the Moevenpick Hotel though once the water temperature drops in November our enthusiasm is not so great until it warms up again. We have great social events all year and you are very welcome to us. We meet every Thursday night at the Club House in Downtown for happy hour at 7pm. Our club's facebook page is here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/60608698930/

There are a few unoffical jobs around socially but the pay is low. My friend has been helping out in a butchers and gets LE20 per hour. A delicatessen is looking for someone too. The inspectors visit to check on employment visas so it is a risk.

There are many exercise classes and gyms to meet up with friends.

The things I can't get here are fake tan, marmite, beef oxo cubes, and cat sweeties.

What will your husband be doing here?

Happy to help if you have anymore questions.

 

Hi guys and thanks for your quick messages! My husband is going to be working on a yacht; financially I wouldn't need to work but I really don't want to be bored or get lonely and would like to contribute to the pot as it were!
We will definitely come down to the Smugglers and if you need anything bringing out we're happy to help. Do I need to get a Visa just to be in the country for that length of time or is just to work that I'd need one?
I don't suppose you know of anyone that sews at all? Over here I make and sell personalised bits for babies and children like play mats/quilt and personalised cushions and I'm bringing my sewing machine along with me so would be great to meet anyone like minded! Also I wondered how the postal system is there as I could make an income from that back in the UK if I was still able to send back.
Is there any sort of volunteer work out there at all or is that a no no as well?
Can't think of anything else at the moment but I'm sure I will soon enough. Thanks again

 

Do I need to get a Visa just to be in the country for that length of time or is just to work that I'd need one?
I don't suppose you know of anyone that sews at all? Over here I make and sell personalised bits for babies and children like play mats/quilt and personalised cushions and I'm bringing my sewing machine along with me so would be great to meet anyone like minded! Also I wondered how the postal system is there as I could make an income from that back in the UK if I was still able to send back.
Is there any sort of volunteer work out there at all or is that a no no as well?
Can't think of anything else at the moment but I'm sure I will soon enough. Thanks again

Not sure if your husband's employer will be sorting out visas for you both? I live here on an annual tourist visa. You can either get one in advance from the Embassy in London or just buy a tourist visa valid for one month when you land. The visa office is in Hurghada and you can get your annual tourist visa there. You need to take copies of port, entry stamps, photos, etc. You must also have an entry/exit visa if you want to leave when you get the annual (or six month?) visa.

I have a friend who knits and crochets lots of things. It is a new hobby for her since the arrival of her grandchild. There was an Armenian lady who used to make clothes and do alterations but she is working full time on a yacht now as a hostess. Maybe that's your niche market here doing the baby things? There are ladies making pies and quiches from home but discreetly as any business you should really rent an office or shop from Orascom. I now go into Hurghada to get any alterations done to clothes or if I want something made.

The postal system has been good receiving and sending letters. There are no postmen and you go to the post office in El Gouna to collect mail. Parcels I would send signed for and may not be so reliable. For sure, any parcels arriving are opened at customs and import tax charged.

A few volunteer at an animal center on the desert road to Hurghada:
https://www.facebook.com/BluemoonAnimalcenterHurghada?fref=ts
Ideally you need a car to get there.

People do fundraising or collecting clothes and toys for different charities or orphans in Egypt. During Earth Week we do a lot of beach cleaning and island cleaning:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151597196398255.1073741830.665383254&type=1&l=9fc673742c

HEPCA do a lot for the environment:
https://www.facebook.com/HEPCA?fref=ts

Hope that helps for now

 

Hi just seen your post. Thanks for all the info it's really helpful. I guess I'll post again closer to the time but it's really nice to know there are English speakers out there who are happy to help. Very much looking forward to it now, thanks!

 

Hi all! After the worrying news about the touble in Cairo recently I just wanted an update on things in El Gouna please......is it still ok and safe there?? Hope everything is good

 

All is quiet here. Many nationalities have had their flights stopped so for example the Ocean View Hotel in Abu Tig Marina just has 80 British guests next week and has to lay off 50% of their staff.

Tourists in Hurghada, 24km away, have been advised to stay in their hotel grounds. In El Gouna we are free to travel all over town. Life goes on as usual with everyone enjoying all the activities. Even the nationalities of tourists that have been flown home, the residents have remained and not planning on going anywhere!