Egypt is a transcontinental state spanning the northeast corner of Africa and the southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south, and Libya to the west. It is roughly the size of three Polands or the US state of Texas and New Mexico combined. Its strategic location governs the Suez Canal, the shortest sea link between the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean.

The country is administratively divided into 27 governorates. These governorates are the first-tier administrative divisions and are headed by governors appointed by the President of the Republic. They vary significantly in size and population density; for instance, the New Valley Governorate covers a vast portion of the Western Desert but has a very low population, whereas the Cairo and Giza governorates are densely packed urban centers. This administrative structure allows for localized governance over regions that range from industrial coastal cities to remote agricultural oases.

Egypt’s climate is predominantly a hot desert climate, characterized by aridity and extreme temperature fluctuations. Most of the country receives less than 20 millimeters of rainfall annually, with the northern coast being the only region that experiences significant winter rain. In the summer, temperatures in the interior can exceed 40°C, while winter nights in the desert can drop toward freezing. A notable meteorological phenomenon is the Khamasin, a hot, dry wind that blows from the Sahara in the spring, often carrying thick clouds of dust and sand that can drop visibility and raise temperatures rapidly.