Africa • Updated August 2026

Country Risk Report

Egypt

Overall Risk Rating

Medium

Capital

Cairo

Languages

Arabic (official); English widely used in tourism

Currency

Egyptian pound (EGP)

Executive Summary

Egypt is classified as a MEDIUM risk destination, with a clear divide between secure, heavily protected tourist corridors and specific border and Sinai zones that carry severe risk. Major governments rate the country at a general increased-caution level, with hard do not travel designations for the Northern and Middle Sinai Peninsula, the Western Desert near the Libya border and areas near the Sudan border. The main tourist areas, Cairo and the Giza pyramids, Luxor, Aswan and the Nile cruise route, Alexandria and the Red Sea resorts of Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh, function normally, with visible tourist police, site security and controlled access, and have seen no major terrorism incident since 2019. The everyday risks for visitors are petty crime, persistent vendors, scams and overcharging, road safety and heat rather than violence. North Sinai remains an active counter-terrorism zone and is off-limits, and the Western Desert frontier with Libya and the southern border with Sudan are restricted due to smuggling, militancy and cross-border insecurity, the latter compounded by the war in Sudan. Regional instability in 2026 has disrupted some connecting flights through neighbouring airspace, though Egypt itself has not been targeted and its airports operate normally.

Risk Matrix

Category	Risk Rating	Commentary
Armed Conflict	Low	No national conflict; an active counter-terrorism campaign continues in North Sinai.
Terrorism	Moderate	A general attack risk nationally; North Sinai is an active theatre. Tourist areas are heavily protected.
Kidnapping	Low	Kidnapping of travellers is rare outside restricted border and desert areas.
Crime	Low	Low violent crime against tourists; petty theft, scams and overcharging are the main issues.
Civil Unrest	Moderate	Protests are restricted and uncommon but can occur; avoid all gatherings.
Health & Medical	Moderate	Good private care in cities and resorts; more limited elsewhere. Heat is a hazard.
Internal Travel	Moderate	Restricted zones, road safety, escort requirements on some routes and heat affect travel.
Digital / Cyber	Moderate	Monitoring and content restrictions; scams occur.

Essential Precautions

1Avoid North and Middle Sinai, which are active counter-terrorism zones and off-limits, excluding Sharm El-Sheikh by air.

2Avoid the Libya and Sudan border areas, and the deep Western Desert, given smuggling, militancy and cross-border insecurity.

3Maintain terrorism vigilance, particularly at crowded places, religious sites and potential targets.

4Guard against petty crime and scams, including persistent vendors, fake guides and overcharging.

5Use official or app-based transport, and agree fares in advance to avoid disputes.

6Manage extreme heat, staying hydrated and limiting midday exposure at open sites.

7Drink only sealed bottled water, and avoid ice and tap water to prevent illness.

8Respect local laws and customs, in a conservative society, and be cautious with photography of security sites.

Security Situation

Medium

Egypt divides between secure, heavily protected tourist corridors, which function normally, and specific Sinai and border zones that carry severe risk. The everyday risks for visitors are petty crime, scams, road safety and heat rather than violence.

Cairo and the Nile Valley (Luxor, Aswan)

Medium

Cairo and the Nile Valley, including Luxor and Aswan, function normally with heavy site security, facing petty crime and scams.

The Red Sea Resorts and South Sinai (Hurghada, Sharm El-Sheikh)

Medium

The Red Sea resorts and South Sinai, including Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh, are secure, controlled resort environments.

Alexandria and the North Coast

Medium

Alexandria and the north coast function normally with standard urban precautions.

Sinai and the Borders

Extreme

North Sinai and the Libya and Sudan borders are active-conflict or restricted zones and should be avoided.

Detailed Risk Assessment

Armed Conflict

Low

Egypt is not in national conflict, but the security forces conduct an active counter-terrorism campaign against militants in North Sinai, which is a closed military zone. The rest of the country is outside armed conflict.

Terrorism

Moderate

There is a general risk of terrorist attacks nationally, which can target tourist sites, places of worship and transport, though the tourist corridors are heavily protected and have seen no major incident since 2019. North Sinai is an active theatre, and vigilance in crowded places is advisable.

Kidnapping and Detention

Low

Kidnapping of travellers is rare outside restricted border and desert areas. The authorities monitor and can detain people over online content and activism, and travellers should be mindful of what they post and photograph.

Crime and Lawlessness

Low

Violent crime against tourists is rare, and the main issues are petty theft in crowds, persistent vendors, fake guides, taxi overcharging and other scams. Petty crime has ticked up in downtown Cairo amid economic pressures.

Internal Travel

Moderate

The restricted Sinai and border zones, a high traffic-accident rate, escort or convoy requirements on some desert and Upper Egypt routes, and extreme heat are the main travel concerns. Domestic flights and Nile cruises are well established, and airports operate normally.

Health and Disease

Moderate

Good private healthcare is available in Cairo and the main resorts, but care is more limited elsewhere, and travellers' stomach illness from food and water and extreme heat are the common hazards. Serious cases are well handled in Cairo, and travellers should hold appropriate cover.

Cultural and Religious Sensitivities

Moderate

Egypt is a conservative Muslim society that is nonetheless highly experienced with tourism, and travellers are generally welcomed. Modest dress away from resorts, sensitivity around religion and politics, respect for Ramadan customs, and caution photographing people and security sites are advisable.

LGBT Travellers

High

Same-sex relationships are not explicitly criminalised but are effectively prosecuted under public-morality and other laws, and the authorities have used dating apps to entrap people. LGBT travellers face serious risk and should exercise absolute discretion, including over digital content.

Diplomatic and Government Situation

Moderate

Egypt is a stable, security-focused state under President Sisi, a key regional actor managing the pressures of the wider conflict and the war in Sudan, with tightly controlled political space. Consular support is available in Cairo and via resort arrangements.

Digital and Cyber Threats

Moderate

The authorities monitor communications and social media, restrict some content, and have prosecuted people over online activity, and scams occur. Travellers should avoid sensitive posts and practise good digital hygiene.

Vaccinations & Health Hazards

Strongly Recommended

Hepatitis A and Typhoid
Recommended due to contaminated food and water.
Hepatitis B and Tetanus
Recommended for many travellers.
Rabies
Consider for rural or long stays.
Routine vaccines
Ensure the standard UK schedule is complete.

Other Health Hazards

Travellers' stomach: Food and water illness is the most common problem; drink sealed water and avoid ice.
Extreme heat: Heat is severe at open sites; hydrate and limit midday exposure.
Road safety: Traffic is chaotic and accidents are common; use ride-hailing in cities.
Private care: Use reputable private facilities in cities and resorts and hold cover.

Choosing the Right Insurance

Cover for Egypt is available on a specialist basis, with North Sinai, the Libya border and the Sudan border typically excluded. The tourist corridors are manageable with standard precautions, while the restricted zones require specialist advice, and cover should include medical and evacuation provisions.

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Annex A - Key Risk Dynamics

Checkpoints and Detention Triggers

Checkpoints and tourist-police escorts operate, more so on desert and Upper Egypt routes; cooperate calmly. Carry ID and a clear travel purpose. North Sinai and the Libya and Sudan borders are restricted or closed. Do not photograph military, police or security installations.

Kidnapping and Detention Dynamics

Kidnapping of travellers is rare outside restricted areas. The Sinai, Libya and Sudan border areas carry elevated risk. People have been detained over online activity. Risk is concentrated in restricted border and desert zones.

High-Risk Travellers

Sinai and border travellers face terrorism and insecurity risk. Independent desert travellers face restrictions and smuggling-related risk. Crowd and site attendees face a residual terrorism risk mitigated by security. Those posting sensitive content face monitoring and detention risk.

Annex B - Key Preparation & Checklists

Essential Preparation and Medical

Avoid Sinai and the borders and favour the established tourist corridors. Hold medical and evacuation cover. Prepare for extreme heat at open sites. Ensure routine and food and water vaccinations are current.

Digital Security and Checkpoints

Avoid sensitive political or security posts. Guard against fake guides and overcharging. Assume communications may be monitored. Limit public location sharing.

Movement and Operational Security

Avoid restricted zones including North Sinai and the Libya and Sudan borders. Use official or app-based transport and agree fares. Follow escort or convoy requirements on some routes. Recheck connecting flights given regional disruption.

Conduct and Legal Compliance

Dress modestly away from resorts and respect religious customs. Be sensitive on religion and politics. Never photograph military or security sites, and ask before photographing people.

This report is provided for information only and does not constitute travel or security advice. Ratings are indicative and subject to change without notice. Confirm current conditions with Hotspot Cover before any deployment.