Explanation on Cairene Smog from Hani, resident expert who is ALREADY goofing off at work!

This is a not smog...its suspended sand and dust kicked up by wind blowing from the desert. In Egypt, these sand storms are common during Amshir, which is the sixth month of the Coptic calendar, between February 8 and March 9. The name comes from "Meshir", which is the second month of the Season of Proyet (Growth) in Ancient Egypt, which in turn comes from "Mechir", the Ancient Egyptian God of wind. Thus the sand/dust storms you see now.

Well, I say if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and honks like a duck, then it's a duck. Of course the honking is from the cars, but still...

Is this picture any better?

As predicted, the winds changed and the city cleared up.