Is Egypt Safe to Visit in 2024? (& Safety Tips!)

Egypt is North Africa’s most popular tourist destination, with about 12 million tourists visiting annually. It’s also home to one of the oldest civilizations in the world, and visitors today flock to see the remnants of the pyramids and tombs of the pharaohs.

In addition to its archeological sites, visits are also drawn to the beaches of Sharm El-Sheikh, which has great scuba diving, and other attractions. But while the country is rich in culture, history, and ancient ruins, is Egypt safe to visit? Here’s our take.

Is Egypt Safe to Visit?

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No, at least not right now. Egypt is a place where you should exercise increased caution and potentially postpone your trip due to a volatile security and political situation.

That being said, some travelers have visited the country recently and had a safe, pleasant vacation. If you decide to visit, make sure you stay informed of the political situation and take precautions — including precautions against petty theft.

Most countries advise some level of caution for their citizens who are visiting, including encouraging them to reconsider traveling to the country altogether.

For example, the United States advises its citizens to reconsider travel to Egypt, which is a Level 3 travel advisory, due to the risk of terrorism and arbitrary political detention. Other countries are more measured in their travel advisories for Egypt.

For example, New Zealand tells its citizens to exercise increased caution in most of the country, and to avoid travel to certain regions of the country. Knowing which regions of the country are particularly volatile is important for your safety.

Common problems tourists may encounter include:

• Civil unrest
• Terrorism
• Petty theft
• Bag snatching
• Robbery
• Kidnapping

It is possible to travel to Egypt, but you will have to be vigilant while you are on the go and it may not be the best destination for beginner travelers. The volatility of the domestic and political situation is a big reason why many governments advise caution when planning a trip there.

The political situation in Egypt is fairly repressive. After the Arab Spring protests ended, a repressive government took over. All demonstrations without a permit are banned, and protesters are arrested and often tortured in prison.

There have even been cases of people with dual citizenship, such as Egyptian-UK citizen Alaa Abd El-Fattah, being held in jail despite the efforts of their home embassy to obtain their release.

If you are visiting Egypt, make sure that you do not say anything that is critical of the government, both in person and online. Delete social media profiles that may have been critical of the government.

Avoid any and all demonstrations, because Egyptian authorities may not be receptive to claims that you were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. The recent conflict between Israel and Gaza has also affected the country, as the country borders both Israel and Gaza.

There have been protests and even deadly clashes at the borders, even before the most recent conflict erupted. Avoid the border area as the situation could escalate.

There have been massive pro-Palestine protests in Egypt, and protesters have been detained as some staged protests at non-government approved locations. Avoid all demonstrations related to the conflict.

 The conflict has also caused outbreaks of violence. On October 8th, a rogue Egyptian police officer shot dead two Israeli tourists and their local guide. Israeli citizens should avoid traveling to Egypt at this time due to the political situation.

Crime in Egypt

Cairo, EGYPT – May 2015: Store fruits and vegetables on a street in Cairo/MikeDotta/Shutterstock

Besides the political situation, crime is another area of concern for people visiting Egypt; it has an overall moderate crime rate. Its crime index score in 2023 was 47.2%, which is a moderate score. Crime has remained at a steadily moderate rate over the past few years.

The violent crime rate is fairly low. The homicide rate is 1.34 incidents per 100,000 people, which is a low to moderate rate. Although high-profile violent incidents dominate the headlines, they are not that common in everyday life.

The most common crimes are property crimes. According to statistics from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 5.3% of Egyptians are victims of petty theft each year. 2.1% are victims of burglary annually.

Crime against vehicles is also fairly high, with 8.3% of drivers being the victims of theft from vehicles each year. Respondents reported low levels of violent crime. Robbery affected about 0.9% of respondents, while personal assault affected about 0.2% of respondents.

The most common crimes people complain about are related to the government. Corruption affects many citizens, as does fraud and cheating, and ordinary Egyptians often have little recourse to get justice.

However, it’s important to take Egyptian crime statistics with a grain of salt. There is a low level of trust in the government, and many crimes go unreported, so official crime statistics may be much lower than the actual crime rate.

The government also has not published crime statistics since President Sisi came to power, probably to conceal changes in crime that are unfavorable for the government. Some crimes are also so stigmatized that victims are ashamed to report what happened to them.

For example, the official rape rate is 0.1 incidents per 100,000 people, but anecdotal, anonymous evidence shows that violence against women is a much bigger problem in Egypt than official statistics indicate.

These crime statistics show that some forms of crime, such as petty theft, are fairly common, while more violent incidents are rarer. Tourists should certainly take precautions to keep themselves safe while in Egypt, but it is possible to visit and not be the victim of a crime.

Petty Theft

The biggest problem you need to be aware of while in Egypt is petty theft. It is the crime that most commonly affects both Egyptians and locals.

According to the Canadian government travel advisory for the country, official petty crime rates are fairly low, and many reports of Egypt being a pickpocket’s haven are based on stereotypes.

However, theft has increased in recent years as the economic depression the country has been experiencing since 2011 has pushed people into desperation, including making them turn to theft.

Crimes such as pickpocketing, bag snatching, and scams are most common in crowded areas and popular tourist destinations. Places where you should be vigilant include:

• The souks in major cities such as Cairo
• Around the Great Pyramids
• On public transportation such as the Cairo Metro
• In popular tourist destinations in Luxor
• In the cities of Giza, Alexandria, and Aswan

As you move around Egypt, be vigilant around your possessions as theft can happen. Some travel websites recommend purchasing a money belt for extra safety.

A money belt does provide extra security, especially if it fits snugly under your clothing. However, it can also be worse for personal safety because it makes you stand out when paying for things and tells thieves exactly where your valuables are.

You don’t need a money belt as long as you put your valuables in another secure location, such as an inner jacket pocket, front pants pocket, or secure cross-body bag.

Invest in an anti-RFID bag, wallet, or phone case as some thieves have started using card skimmers to commit fraud and credit card theft. Don’t put all of your valuables in one place. Distribute back-up cash across your body and leave what you don’t need for the day in a hotel safe.

Terrorism

Terrorism is unfortunately a real risk in Egypt, and one that many governments warn against in their travel advisories for the country. The UK government warns about the high risk of terrorism in its travel advisory for the country.

Certain regions have a higher risk of terrorism, such as North Sinai, the area around the Suez Canal, and the Western Desert region. These regions tend to be remote and provide a haven for terrorist groups because the government has limited authority there.

However, there have also been terrorist attacks throughout Egypt. The Australian government has a list of recent terrorist attacks in its travel advisory, such as the May 2019 attacks on tourist buses near the Great Pyramids of Giza.

Attacks can happen anywhere and sometimes target Westerners. The Egyptian government has a strong counter-terrorist regime that is improving its effectiveness against terrorist attacks but is still imperfect.

You will see heightened security around popular tourist destinations, religious buildings, and government buildings. It’s difficult to keep yourself safe from terrorism because it is a crime that is hard to predict.

Follow the news before and during your trip to see if alert levels for your destination increase. Always obey orders from local security forces. Avoid areas where there’s been a recent terrorist attack as there are often copycats.

Avoiding Bad Areas

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There are certain parts of Egypt where you shouldn’t travel at all. Avoid the Libyan border as conflict from the Libyan Civil War tends to spill over the border. Avoid North Sinai province due to the risk of terrorism.

Avoid the borders with Israel and Gaza due to conflict as well. Some regions have a higher risk of terrorism, and most governments caution against all but essential travel.

These regions include:

• The Western Desert (except for Faiyum and other tourist destinations, which tend to have higher security)
• The Western Nile Delta (except for coastal tourist resorts and other popular destinations)
• Parts of South Sinai, such as Taba, the roads of Ras Sedr, and anywhere north of the St. Catherine-Nuweiba Road.

Things to Consider

Here are some other safety tips for visiting Egypt:

• Road accidents in are common. Be very careful when crossing the road due to the danger of Egyptian drivers. Only rent a car if you are an experienced driver, and don’t drive at night. In rural areas, road conditions are poor.
• Be prepared for touts, aggressive vendors, and aggressive beggars. If someone comes up to you to get you to buy their product, the quality of what they are selling is probably low. Say no and move on. Aggressive touts in the market often pressure tourists into spending more money than they intended, so be careful.
• In the resort areas, be careful of marine life. There have been shark attacks before.
• Women are at additional risk in Egypt. Be prepared for street harassment, and sometimes worse. Avoid walking alone after dark.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Here are some common questions people may also ask while in Egypt:

So, Is Egypt Safe to Visit?

Visiting Egypt is not for the faint of heart. You will need to take additional precautions to stay safe while in the country, but it is possible to visit it safely if you avoid dangerous areas, avoid doing anything politically controversial, and keep a firm grasp on your wallet.