World Safety Map

Safest cities in Egypt

117 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04

US 2/4 Exercise increased cautionUK FCDO advises against all travel to parts of this country

Areas the UK FCDO advises against visiting

  • Egypt-Libya border
  • North Sinai
  • Northern part of South Sinai
  • Eastern part of Ismailiyah Governorate
  • Western Desert
  • Hala’ib Triangle and Bir Tawil Trapezoid
  • Luxor, Qina, Aswan, Abu Simbel and the Valley of the Kings
  • the Faiyum Governorate
  • the coastal areas between the Nile Delta and Marsa Matruh
  • the Marsa Matruh-Siwa road
  • the oasis town of Siwa
  • the Giza Governorate north-east of the Bahariya Oasis
  • the White Desert and Black Desert
  • the oasis towns of Bahariya, Farafra, Dakhla (Mut) and Kharga
  • the following roads and the desert area between them and the Nile valley: the road between Giza and Farafra and within 50km either side of this road (but FCDO advises against all but essential travel on the road between Bahariya and Siwa)
  • the road between Farafra, Dakhla (Mut) and Kharga
  • the road between Kharga and Baris
  • the road between Baris and Luxor

In full or in part — the official advisory lists exact boundaries and exceptions.

What official travel advice warns about

Terrorism

  • Terrorism in EgyptTerrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Egypt.

Political situation

  • The political environment in Egypt is restrictive. Avoid large gatherings, demonstrations and protests as the situation could change quickly and without warning. Security forces have responded forcefully to protests and disturbances.

Crime

  • Sexual assault and harassmentA number of sexual assaults have been reported to the British Embassy, including cases involving minors.
  • Protecting your belongingsPickpocketing is rare in Egypt. Take the same precautions as you would in the UK.
  • Scammers and touts at tourist sitesBe cautious in tourist areas, where scammers and touts sometimes target foreign nationals.

Laws and cultural differences

  • ReligionIt is illegal to encourage people to convert to Christianity or any other religion.
  • RamadanRamadan is a holy month for Muslims. The dates vary by year and country and you should check this before you travel. During this time, it is culturally insensitive to eat, drink or smoke in public during daylight hours. It is advisable not to play loud music, dance or swear in public.
  • Personal IDPolice check ID regularly and will ask to see your passport. They may detain you if you cannot show your ID and your visa (or a digital/paper copy).
  • Dress codeDress modestly, especially in rural areas, mosques and souqs (markets).
  • Behaviour in publicCouples showing physical affection in public is frowned upon. Holding hands is generally fine. Behaviour accepted in tourist resort areas may not be accepted elsewhere.
  • Alcohol lawsDrinking alcohol anywhere other than licensed restaurants, bars, or private homes or certain tourist resorts is illegal and can lead to arrest.
  • Illegal drugs penaltiesPossession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs is a serious offence and can, even for small amounts, lead to life imprisonment or the death penalty. People who get a life sentence on drugs charges normally spend the rest of their lives in prison with no chance of parole or a pardon.
  • Photography and filming restrictionsYou must get a permit to enter Egypt with professional photography or film equipment. This includes photography umbrellas, artificial outdoor lighting gear and any equipment that occupies or blocks public roads.
  • DronesIt is illegal to use radio-controlled helicopters or drones to take photos near sensitive sites.
  • LGBT+ travellersSame-sex sexual activity is not explicitly criminalised in Egypt. However, the Egyptian authorities have prosecuted LGBT+ people under ‘debauchery’ laws, including people flying rainbow flags at public events.
  • Child custody lawEgyptian family law is very different from UK law, particularly around child custody. See International parental child abduction for information and how to get assistance.

Outdoor activities and adventure tourism

  • Insurance for adventure activitiesMake sure your travel insurance, or the tour or dive company, will cover the costs for any air or sea rescue, which can cost more than 4,000 US dollars per hour. The Egyptian authorities will only start rescue operations when they are guaranteed payment. Book excursions for activities at your resort or through approved agents or tour operators.
  • Hot air balloonsSpeak to your tour company before booking a hot air balloon flight. Some UK tour operators have stopped selling balloon flights because they have not been able to verify safety standards.
  • Watersports and cruisesThere have been recent incidents involving British nationals on diving boats/tours in the Red Sea. Some of these have included fatalities. Safety standards of Red Sea resort diving operators and boats vary considerably. Some operators may not provide adequate safety and insurance standards.
  • Quad bikes and desert visitsThere have been several serious quad bike accidents involving British nationals in resort areas. Take the same precautions as you would in the UK. Safety standards vary considerably. Always wear a crash helmet.

Transport risks

  • Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Egypt, see information on driving abroad.
  • Driving conditionsAccidents are common because of variable road conditions, dangerous driving and poor traffic law enforcement. Do not drive outside main cities and resorts at night. Make sure you have appropriate insurance.
  • Off-road travelIf you’re travelling off road, use a qualified guide and get a permit from the Ministry of Interior.
  • Rail and bus travelSerious bus crashes in recent years have caused many deaths, including tourists.
  • River and sea travelOvercrowding and poor safety standards have caused accidents on Red Sea ferries and Nile cruises.

Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Egypt, updated 2026-08-04 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →

Country figures

Homicide rate
1.31 /100k2017
Income inequality
Gini 28.52021
Human development
HDI 0.7542023
Income
$19,330/yrGNI per capita PPP
Road deaths
10.1 /100kWHO, 2019
Political stability
49/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
Rule of law
44/100WGI, 2024
Corruption perceptions
30/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
Natural-hazard risk
5.1/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Women, Peace & Security
0.62GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
Air quality
43.1 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
Safe drinking water
79%of population, 2024 · WHO/UNICEF JMP
Healthcare capacity
0.7 doctors /1k1.1 hospital beds per 1,000
Malaria
0 /1k at riskWHO, 2024 · endemic countries only

Natural hazards

Flood
9.9/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Tsunami
5.9/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Earthquake
4.6/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Drought
1.7/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier

Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.

Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Egypt (as of 2025).

How Egypt compares

Egypt against the median of all 180 countries in the dataset. Green means better than the median.
MeasureEgyptWorld medianDifference
Homicide rate1.3 /100k2.4 /100k−1.1 /100k — better for Egypt
Income inequality (Gini)28.535.2−6.7 — better for Egypt
Human development (HDI)0.7540.763−0.009 — better for World median
Road deaths10.1 /100k15.4 /100k−5.3 /100k — better for Egypt
Rule of law44/10052/100−8/100 — better for World median
Corruption perceptions30/10039/100−9/100 — better for World median
Air quality (PM2.5)43.1 µg/m³19.7 µg/m³+23.4 µg/m³ — better for World median
Natural-hazard risk5.1/103.8/10+1.3/10 — better for World median
And against its own region — often the more useful comparison, since Africa shares much of the context a global median averages away.
MeasureEgyptAfrica medianDifference
Homicide rate1.3 /100k4.7 /100k−3.3 /100k — better for Egypt
Income inequality (Gini)28.538.5−10.0 — better for Egypt
Human development (HDI)0.7540.560+0.194 — better for Egypt
Road deaths10.1 /100k28.2 /100k−18.1 /100k — better for Egypt
Rule of law44/10042/100+2/100 — better for Egypt
Corruption perceptions30/10031/100−1/100 — better for Africa median
Air quality (PM2.5)43.1 µg/m³27.3 µg/m³+15.8 µg/m³ — better for Africa median
Natural-hazard risk5.1/105.3/10−0.2/10 — better for Egypt

Medians, not means, so one extreme country cannot drag the reference value. Each row compares only the countries that have a published figure for that measure, and differences are plain arithmetic between stored values.

All 117 cities, safest first

  1. Luxor79.6 · #1895 worldwide
  2. Asyut79.6 · #1896 worldwide
  3. El Mahalla El Kubra79.6 · #1897 worldwide
  4. Suhaj79.6 · #1898 worldwide
  5. Faiyum79.6 · #1899 worldwide
  6. Beni Suef79.6 · #1900 worldwide
  7. Al Minya79.6 · #1901 worldwide
  8. Dairut79.6 · #1902 worldwide
  9. Aswan79.6 · #1903 worldwide
  10. Tahta79.6 · #1904 worldwide
  11. Maragha79.6 · #1905 worldwide
  12. Sanhur79.6 · #1906 worldwide
  13. Mallawi79.6 · #1907 worldwide
  14. Al-Manshah79.6 · #1908 worldwide
  15. Balyana79.6 · #1909 worldwide
  16. Sidfa79.6 · #1910 worldwide
  17. Abu Tig79.6 · #1911 worldwide
  18. Girga79.6 · #1912 worldwide
  19. Samalut79.6 · #1913 worldwide
  20. Nag Hammadi79.6 · #1914 worldwide
  21. Tima79.6 · #1915 worldwide
  22. Qus79.6 · #1916 worldwide
  23. Qena79.6 · #1917 worldwide
  24. Ezbet Nazif79.6 · #1918 worldwide
  25. Sinnuris79.6 · #1919 worldwide
  26. Maghagha79.6 · #1920 worldwide
  27. Al Qusiya79.6 · #1921 worldwide
  28. Manfalut79.6 · #1922 worldwide
  29. Beni Mazar79.6 · #1923 worldwide
  30. Borj Al Burullous79.6 · #1924 worldwide
  31. Abu Qurqas79.6 · #1925 worldwide
  32. Qift79.6 · #1926 worldwide
  33. Marsa Matruh79.6 · #1927 worldwide
  34. Beni Muhammadiyat79.6 · #1928 worldwide
  35. Kawm Ombo79.6 · #1929 worldwide
  36. El-Usayrat79.6 · #1930 worldwide
  37. Fashn79.6 · #1931 worldwide
  38. Sadat79.6 · #1932 worldwide
  39. Hurghada79.6 · #1933 worldwide
  40. Al-Gharaq79.6 · #1934 worldwide
  41. Dirin79.6 · #1935 worldwide
  42. Um el Qusur79.6 · #1936 worldwide
  43. Dalga‘a79.6 · #1937 worldwide
  44. Hour79.6 · #1938 worldwide
  45. Matai79.6 · #1939 worldwide
  46. Shahin79.6 · #1940 worldwide
  47. Naj al Shaykh Hasan Abu Sabir79.6 · #1941 worldwide
  48. Bush79.6 · #1942 worldwide
  49. Biba79.6 · #1943 worldwide
  50. Al Kajuj79.6 · #1944 worldwide
  51. Ihnasya al Madinah79.6 · #1945 worldwide
  52. Esna79.6 · #1946 worldwide
  53. Deir Mawas79.6 · #1947 worldwide
  54. Cairo77.8 · #2057 worldwide
  55. Banha77.8 · #2058 worldwide
  56. Tanta77.8 · #2059 worldwide
  57. Shibin Al-Kom77.8 · #2060 worldwide
  58. Samadon77.8 · #2061 worldwide
  59. Garawan77.8 · #2062 worldwide
  60. Girza77.8 · #2063 worldwide
  61. Sers Al Layyan77.8 · #2064 worldwide
  62. Al-Santa77.8 · #2065 worldwide
  63. Al-Wasitah77.8 · #2066 worldwide
  64. 6th of October77.8 · #2067 worldwide
  65. Al Ayyat77.8 · #2068 worldwide
  66. Tala77.8 · #2069 worldwide
  67. Al Saff77.8 · #2070 worldwide
  68. Al Shuhada77.8 · #2071 worldwide
  69. Shamma77.8 · #2072 worldwide
  70. Baqlula77.8 · #2073 worldwide
  71. Alexandria75.9 · #2188 worldwide
  72. Damanhur75.9 · #2189 worldwide
  73. Kafr Al Sheikh75.9 · #2190 worldwide
  74. Dusuq75.9 · #2191 worldwide
  75. Kafr Al-Zaiyat75.9 · #2192 worldwide
  76. Al-Mahmudiya75.9 · #2193 worldwide
  77. Rosetta75.9 · #2194 worldwide
  78. Itay el-Barud75.9 · #2195 worldwide
  79. Idku75.9 · #2196 worldwide
  80. Kom Hamada75.9 · #2197 worldwide
  81. Abu Huminus75.9 · #2198 worldwide
  82. Delingat75.9 · #2199 worldwide
  83. Shubra Khit75.9 · #2200 worldwide
  84. Birma75.9 · #2201 worldwide
  85. Mit Ghamr74.8 · #2831 worldwide
  86. Suez74.8 · #2832 worldwide
  87. شبلنجة74.8 · #2833 worldwide
  88. Kafr Ibrash74.8 · #2834 worldwide
  89. Damietta71.9 · #3163 worldwide
  90. Jamasa71.9 · #3164 worldwide
  91. Bilqas71.9 · #3165 worldwide
  92. El Mansura71.4 · #3266 worldwide
  93. Al Roda71.4 · #3267 worldwide
  94. دنجواي71.4 · #3268 worldwide
  95. Kafr Ismail71.4 · #3269 worldwide
  96. Al Zaqaziq71.2 · #3270 worldwide
  97. Al Abbasa al Sharqiya71.2 · #3271 worldwide
  98. Minya Al-Qamh71.2 · #3272 worldwide
  99. Mit Habib71.2 · #3273 worldwide
  100. Bilbeis71.2 · #3274 worldwide
  101. Abu Kabir71.2 · #3275 worldwide
  102. Diyarb Nigm71.2 · #3276 worldwide
  103. El Senbellawein71.2 · #3277 worldwide
  104. Hihya71.2 · #3278 worldwide
  105. Kafr Saqr71.2 · #3279 worldwide
  106. Tenth Of Ramadan71.2 · #3280 worldwide
  107. Amrit71.2 · #3281 worldwide
  108. Al-Zawamel71.2 · #3282 worldwide
  109. Al Halawat71.2 · #3283 worldwide
  110. Birimbal al Quadima69.6 · #3446 worldwide
  111. Faqous69.5 · #3453 worldwide
  112. Al Yaudi69.5 · #3454 worldwide
  113. Salehia69.5 · #3455 worldwide
  114. Port Said69.0 · #3547 worldwide
  115. Al-Asafra69.0 · #3548 worldwide
  116. Al Ismailiya68.9 · #3550 worldwide
  117. Arish54.6 · #4881 worldwide