HBE handles some charter flights that arrive late in the evening. If your plane lands after 10 PM, the situation at the airport changes significantly.
What is open
The terminal stays operational for arriving flights, but everything else scales back. Exchange counters may still be open for the last arrivals, but do not count on it — have some cash ready. The few small shops in the terminal close early. Wi-Fi remains available but is not reliable.
Fixed-price private transfer
HBE Al Hadrah
From€26for 2 passengers
4 passengers: €26 per vehicle, about €7 per person
- Fixed price, no meter
- Flight tracked
- 60 min free waiting
- Driver meets you at arrivals
- Free cancellation up to 24 h before pickup
Other destinations
Taxi availability
Drivers do wait for late flights — they know the schedule. But there are fewer of them, and your negotiating leverage drops. A driver who is the only option at midnight knows he can charge more. Late-night taxi fares run above the daytime going rate.
The negotiation dynamic also shifts. It is dark, you are tired, and standing outside a remote airport at midnight in an unfamiliar country is not when most people feel like haggling. Many travelers end up paying whatever is asked just to get moving.
The desert highway at night
The road from HBE to Alexandria is a modern highway, but it is through open desert with minimal lighting. Driving conditions at night are different from daytime — the road is empty, speeds are higher, and occasional hazards (slow vehicles without lights, animals) are harder to spot.
A professional driver who makes this trip regularly handles these conditions without issue. A random taxi driver in a poorly maintained car is a different story. Vehicle quality matters more at night.
Pre-booked transfer — the clear best option
For late-night arrivals at Borg El Arab, a pre-booked transfer is not just convenient — it is the prudent choice. Your driver tracks your flight, waits at the terminal, and drives a maintained vehicle with working headlights and AC. The 40 km drive happens in a vehicle you have already paid for, with a driver who knows the road.
Most transfer companies charge the same rate regardless of arrival time, though some add a surcharge for pickups after midnight. Any surcharge is shown in the quote before you book, so there is no surprise at 2 AM.
If no transport is available
Borg El Arab is remote. There are no hotels within walking distance of the airport. If you arrive and genuinely cannot find transport (unlikely but possible), stay inside the terminal until you can arrange something. The airport security presence makes the terminal safe.
As a last resort, ask airport staff for help — they can sometimes connect you with a driver or at least help you call a taxi company.
Bottom line
Daytime arrivals at HBE give you options. Nighttime arrivals narrow them to one good one: a pre-booked private transfer. The combination of a 40 km drive through dark desert, limited taxi availability, and weakened negotiating position makes it the clear choice for anyone landing after dark.
When a private transfer from HBE is the right choice
- Landing after the last train or bus: the driver is booked to your flight number and tracks the real arrival time, so a delay does not cancel the pickup.
- Arrivals after midnight: no searching for a rank or a night surcharge; the price you booked is the price you pay.
- Three or more people: a 4-seat car to Al Hadrah is from €26, about €7 per person, usually level with or below separate public-transport tickets once you count the walk, the wait and the last mile with bags.
HBE → Al Hadrah from €26Fixed price, flight tracked, free cancellation up to 24 h before pickup.
Fixed-price private transfer
HBE Al Hadrah
From€26for 2 passengers
4 passengers: €26 per vehicle, about €7 per person
- Fixed price, no meter
- Flight tracked
- 60 min free waiting
- Driver meets you at arrivals
- Free cancellation up to 24 h before pickup
Other destinations