GENERAL
Official name of the state
People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria.
Capital
Algiers.
Geography
As a country starting with A defined by Countryaah, Algeria is located on the North African coast and borders Tunisia and Libya in the east, Niger in the south-east, Mali in the south-west and Mauritania and Morocco in the west. Algeria is the second largest country in Africa with a 1200 km long Mediterranean coast. On the coast, where 90% of the population live, are the largest cities, fertile land and vacation spots. Parallel to the coast lie the plateaus of the Atlas, a mountain range like the Alps, with the main chains Tell Atlas and Sahara Atlas. The mountains are z. T. over 2000 m high and covered with cedar, pine and cypress forests. South of the Tell Atlas is the highlands of the Schotts, the drainless salt lakes. Most of the country (85%) is occupied by the Sahara. Only about 500,000 people live here, mostly nomads with herds of goats and camels.
Government
Semi-presidential republic since 1962. New constitution in force since 1996. Bicameral Parliament: National Assembly (389 members) and Council of the Nation (144 members). Independent since 1962 (former French colony).
Head of state
Abdelaziz Bouteflika, since 1999.
Head of government
Abdelmalek Sellal, since April 2014.
Electricity
230 V, 50 Hz, plug type C / F.
Time zone
Central European Time: CET +2
LANGUAGE
Overview
The official language is Arabic (70%), in the south mainly Berber languages are spoken (30%). Business and official language is predominantly French.
DUTY-FREE SHOPPING
Overview
The following articles can be imported into Algeria duty-free (people over 18 years of age):
200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco;
2 liters of wine or 1 liter of spirits;
250 ml eau de toilette or 50 g perfume in opened packaging.
Prohibited imports
Radios, binoculars, weapons, gold, and jewelry.
ECONOMY
Business etiquette
Suits should always be worn in winter, shirts without a jacket are allowed in summer. Appointments are required in larger companies. Business people speak French or Arabic. Prices are negotiated. As a visitor you are often invited to hotels or restaurants, the host is rarely accompanied by his wife. Private invitations are rare. The fasting month of Ramadan is less suitable for business visits. The climate is most pleasant between October and May.
Opening hours
Business hours: Usually Sun-Thu from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Economy
Arab-German Association for Trade and Industry eV
Garnisonkirchplatz 1, D-10178 Berlin
Tel: (030) 278 90 70.
Internet: www.ghorfa.de
Austrian-Arab Chamber of Commerce
Lobkowitzplatz 1, A-1015 Vienna
Tel: (01) 513 39 65.
Internet: www.aacc.at
Chambre de Commerce d’Algiers (National Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
6 Boulevard Amilcar Cabral, Palais Consulaire, Place des Martyrs, DZ-16003 Algiers
Tel: (21) 96 66 66.
Business contacts
Arab-German Association for Trade and Industry eV
Garnisonkirchplatz 1, D-10178 Berlin
Tel: (030) 278 90 70.
Internet: www.ghorfa.de
Austrian-Arab Chamber of Commerce
Lobkowitzplatz 1, A-1015 Vienna
Tel: (01) 513 39 65.
Internet: www.aacc.at
Chambre de Commerce d’Algiers (National Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
6 Boulevard Amilcar Cabral, Palais Consulaire, Place des Martyrs, DZ-16003 Algiers
Tel: (21) 96 66 66.
COMMUNICATION
Phone
Public payphones are available, but cell phones are used almost exclusively.
Cellphone
GSM 900 network operated by the Ministère des Postes et Telecommunications (AMN). Providers include Orascom Telecom Algerie Spa (Djezzy) (Internet: www.djezzy.com). There are roaming contracts. But it’s best to buy a SIM card in Algeria that you can use in your own mobile phone. In this way one can benefit from the cheaper tariffs in the country.
Internet
There are internet cafés in all major cities. Some hotels in major cities offer access to the Internet via Wi-Fi. Most providers are owned or controlled by the state telecom itself. When transferring larger amounts of data, connection problems can occur, while communication via Skype does not pose any problems.
Post Office
From larger cities, shipments to Europe are on the way for 3-4 days, longer from smaller towns. Post delivery Saturday to Thursday. Parcels sent with normal mail take up to two months to Algeria, and customs clearance will delay delivery further. Post office opening times: Sat-Wed 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Thu 8 a.m.-12 p.m. The main post office in Algiers (5 Boulevard Mohamed Khémisti) is open continuously.
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.
SHOP
Overview
Nice souvenirs include leather goods, rugs, copper and brass items, local clothing, jewelry and beautifully patterned Berber carpets. Beautifully lacquered wicker, pottery and stoneware are offered from the Sahara. Bargaining is common in the markets and in small shops. Rue Didouche Mourad is the best shopping street in Algiers. There are two state-run arts and crafts centers with fixed prices (one at Algiers airport). Shop opening times: Sa-Thu 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.
NIGHTLIFE
Introduction
In the larger cities, entertainment includes folklore music and dance events, nightclubs, discos and hotel restaurants. Some cinemas in Oran and Algiers show films in French and English.
CULINARY
ACCOMMODATION
Hotels
In Algiers and other commercial centers, the offer is essentially limited to luxury hotels and inexpensive hotels. The latter are popular with local business travelers and visiting relatives and are therefore often overcrowded. A room cannot be guaranteed despite a reservation. Business travelers are advised to book only in the best hotels.
Categories: All hotels are controlled by the government and are classified according to the star system: Deluxe (5 stars), 2nd class (3-4 stars) and tourist class (1-2 stars).
On the coast:New hotels are constantly being built in the resorts of the Mediterranean coast, many of which are of a high standard. There are also night clubs in many of the better vacation hotels. Winter prices apply from October 1st to May 31st, the rest of the year summer season prices.
In the oases: There are few good hotels in the big oases like Ghardaia and Ouargla. Book early during the season (October – May).
In the south: hotel rooms in the extreme south of the country are rare. In Djanet z. B., a popular stopover on Sahara expeditions and starting point for tours to Tassili N’Ajjer, is the only hotel das Zeribas that consists only of a campementconsists of 20 straw huts. Since Tamanrsasset became a popular winter vacation spot, better hotels have become available. The choice of hotel rooms is still limited overall.
Camping
Camping on common land and on the beach is free and requires a permit from the local authorities. Campsites with good facilities are available in Larhat, Ain El Turk and Annaba.
Other accommodation options
There are youth hostels almost everywhere. Information is available from the Fédération Algérienne des Auberges de Jeunesse, 213 Rue Hassiba Ben Bouali, BP 15, El Annasser, Algiers. (Tel: (021) 678 65 8/7) available.
CULTURE
Religion
Almost 100% Muslim (mostly Sunni), Christian and Jewish minorities.
Social rules of conduct
French politeness and manners are appropriate. Hospitality plays a major role in Arab and therefore also in Algerian culture. Revealing clothing such as shorts and skirts or short-sleeved tops should be avoided. An invitation is generally only meant seriously if it has been issued three times. Before entering a private apartment, you should take off your shoes. Photography: Military facilities and soldiers are not allowed to be photographed. Tip: 10% is common. Smoking: There is no general ban on smoking, hotels sometimes restrict smoking.
CLIMATE
Best travel time
South: Summer temperatures are high across the country, but the south is particularly hot and dry. Sandstorms often occur in summer, making cross-country journeys difficult and hindering air traffic. The oases in the south are very pleasant in winter. In the desert, temperatures drop sharply at night. There are frequent storms on the coast. In the whole country only little precipitation, in the southern part of the country rain rarely occurs.
Atlas Mountains: continental climate with humid winters where snowfall is possible. The summers are characterized by a long dry season.
North: In the cities in the north it is often humid, only on the coast sea breezes provide cooling all year round.
The best travel time for the desert is in October and November as well as in March and April. The best travel time for the Algerian coast and for the Atlas Mountains is from March to August.
COUNTRY DATA
Area code +213 Area (km2) 2381741 Population 39542166 Population density (per km2) 17 Population in 2015 Member of the EU No main emergency number 17