This advice has been reviewed and updated. The overall level of the advice has not changed.

Summary

Safety and Security

Terrorism

Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers.

We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in Egypt because of the high threat of terrorist attack. Attacks could occur at any time, anywhere in Egypt.

Tourist areas and popular destinations such as Hurghada, Luxor, Aswan, Giza, Alexandria, Red Sea and Sinai resorts, Luxor and Aswan in Upper Egypt and places throughout the rest of Egypt are potential terrorist targets, as are commercial and public areas known to be frequented by foreigners. We continue to receive reports that terrorists are planning attacks against a range of targets, including but not limited to places frequented by foreigners such as tourist resorts and hotels, transport infrastructure, including the Cairo metro system and its stations, and other symbols of the Egyptian government.

Past terrorist attacks have targeted foreign tourists resulting in large numbers of deaths and often coincided with local holiday weekends. The security posture of Egyptian security forces remains at elevated levels in the Sinai and throughout Egypt.

Sinai: You should reconsider your need to travel to the Sinai at this time because of the very high threat of terrorist attack, including kidnapping. Australians could be inadvertently caught up in any attacks directed at others.

On 24 April 2006, three explosions took place in the resort town of Dahab (Sinai) resulting in a number of deaths and many injuries, including to Australians. Suicide bombers attacked Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) and Egyptian Police vehicles in the northern Sinai on 26 April 2006. Further attacks can be expected.

In April 2005, there were three attacks on crowded tourist destinations in Cairo. On 7 April 2005, a lone suicide bomber killed three foreigners at the Khan el-Khalili market. Many tourists were seriously injured.

On 23 July 2005, three bombs exploded in Sharm el-Sheikh, at the tip of the Sinai Peninsula, killing 67. Hundreds of Egyptians and a number of foreign tourists were also injured as a result of the blasts. One vehicle penetrated security positions along the driveway of a hotel and detonated in the lobby area. Another vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated on a street in the old section of Sharm el-Sheikh (Sinai). A third bomb was concealed in a bag that exploded in a pedestrian area frequented by tourists.

On 15 August 2005 near the Rafah border crossing into the Gaza Strip, a small improvised explosive device detonated near a Multinational Force and Observers vehicle, causing minor injuries to its occupants. This incident was preceded by the discovery of a one-tonne cache of explosives in El Arish, on the Mediterranean coast of the Sinai. There have been regular unconfirmed reports of the discovery of large caches of explosives in the Sinai since then.

You should be aware that some of these attacks have taken place over local holiday weekends. The attacks underline the ongoing terrorist threat to tourists. Further such attacks can be expected.

If you are considering travel to the Sinai in Egypt, you should be aware that Israeli authorities regularly warn Israeli citizens that they have received information suggesting that terrorist elements may be intending to either kidnap or attack Israeli tourists in the Sinai beaches. This is relevant both for Australian/Israeli dual nationals and others who may be taken to be Israelis.

Terrorist attacks could be directed against any locations known to be frequented by foreigners, as well as premises and symbols associated with the Egyptian Government. In planning your activities, consider the kind of places known to be terrorist targets and the level of security provided. These include places frequented by foreigners such as embassies, hotels, holiday resorts, clubs, restaurants, bars, cinemas and theatres, schools, banks, marketplaces, shopping centres, supermarkets, places of worship, public transport, outdoor recreation events and tourist areas. Shipping, ports and symbols of the Egyptian government, including government buildings and polling places, are also potential terrorist targets.

Civil Unrest/Political Tension

Domestic and international political developments and events may prompt large demonstrations. These demonstrations could turn violent and should be avoided. Recent unrest in Egypt over the rising price of bread has resulted in several violent protests. You should also read our travel bulletin entitled Broadcast of a film by Netherlands MP Geert Wilders. You should keep abreast of political events in Egypt and the region.

Crime

The crime rate in Egypt is low. While incidents of violence are rare, purse snatching, pick-pocketing and petty theft do occur. Valuables such as cash, jewellery and electronic items should not be left unsecured in hotel rooms or unattended in public places. Victims of crime should report the incident to the tourist police immediately. Failure to do so before you depart Egypt may make it impossible to seek prosecution at a later date.

When using taxis, you should be aware that taxi drivers have assaulted passengers in the past, including foreigners.

Women travelling on their own, particularly when using taxis, may be physically and verbally harassed or assaulted.

Local Travel

Local driving practices and poor road conditions attribute to a high rate of road accidents in Egypt.

Road travel, particularly at night and outside the major cities, can be dangerous as cars, buses and trucks frequently drive without headlights and at high speed. Two major bus crashes on 10 January 2006 and 31 January 2006, in which Australians were killed and injured, highlight the risks.

The Cairo Metro (subway) system is reliable, but the maintenance and safety standards of other methods of public transport are poor.

The safety standards you might expect of transport and tour operators, including adventure activities, are not always met. Sufficient safety equipment may not be provided and recommended maintenance standards and safety precautions may not be observed.

There are landmines in some desert and coastal areas. Talk to local authorities for advice on landmine locations.

Piracy occurs in the southern Red Sea. See our travel advice on shipping and ports for more information. The International Maritime Bureau issues weekly piracy reports on its web site.

Airline Safety

Passengers on international flights to and from Australia are only allowed to carry a small amount of liquids (including aerosols and gels) in their carry-on baggage. You can find out more information at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government website. Similar restrictions apply to flights in an increasing number of countries. Contact your airline for further information.

If you have concerns about the safety standards of a particular airline or aircraft, we recommend you research the airline or aircraft through organisations such as Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has published fact sheets on security for air travellers. When staff at Australia's overseas missions are advised not to use particular airlines due to safety concerns, this will be included in the travel advisory.

The European Union (EU) has published a list of airlines that are subject to operating bans or restrictions within the EU. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through its foreign assessment program focuses on a country's ability, not the individual airline, to adhere to international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance established by ICAO.

Natural Disasters, Severe Weather and Climate

Egypt, particularly Cairo, is located in an active earthquake zone. Earthquakes most frequently occur in coastal areas.

Sand storms and dust storms can occur between March and May.

If a natural disaster occurs, follow the advice of local authorities. Information on natural disasters can be obtained from the Humanitarian Early Warning Service.

Wildlife Watching

Australians are advised to maintain a safe and legal distance when observing wildlife, including marine animals and birds. You should only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations and wardens' advice.

Money and Valuables

Before you go, organise a variety of ways to access your money overseas, such as credit cards, travellers' cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards. Check with your bank whether your ATM card will work overseas.

Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.

While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.

As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.

You are required to pay an additional fee to have a lost or stolen passport replaced. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.

For Parents

If you are planning on placing your children in schools or childcare facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or childcare facilities in Australia.

Ideas on how to select child care providers are available from the smartraveller Children's Issues page, Childwise and the National Childcare Accreditation Council.

Local Laws

When you are in Egypt, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.

Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter.

Possession of even small quantities of illicit drugs in Egypt can lead to the death penalty, long prison sentences or deportation.

Under Muslim custom, homosexuality and sexual relations outside of marriage are considered immoral. Penalties for immorality include imprisonment.

Taking photographs of bridges and canals (including the Suez Canal), as well as military personnel, building and equipment, is illegal.

If you want to get married in Egypt you should check the legal requirements before you travel, either through the Australian Embassy in Cairo, or the Egyptian Embassy in Canberra.

Immigration authorities may require proof that children of Egyptian fathers have their father's approval to leave Egypt before the children are allowed to leave.

If you are considering preaching, you should seek local advice beforehand and exercise considerable care.

Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.

Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia.

Local Customs

There are conservative standards of dress and behaviour in Egypt, particularly for women. During Ramadan, eating, drinking and smoking between sunrise and sunset is forbidden for Muslims. You should take care not to offend. If in doubt, seek local advice.

Information for Dual Nationals

If you are an Australian/Egyptian dual national and you travel to Egypt on your Egyptian passport you will be treated as an Egyptian by the local government. This may limit the ability of the Australian Government to provide consular assistance if you are arrested or detained.

Dual nationals living in Egypt for extended periods require proof of Egyptian citizenship, such as a family identification card.

Male dual nationals who have not undertaken military service are not generally required to enlist in the armed forces, however they must obtain an exemption certificate either from the nearest Egyptian Embassy or Consulate, or through the Ministry of Defence Draft Office before they can leave Egypt.

Our Travel Information for Dual Nationals brochure provides further information.

Entry and Exit Requirements

Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Egypt for the most up-to-date information.

Cash amounts of hard currency over US$10,000 (or its equivalent) should be declared. Undeclared cash over this total may be confiscated.

If you are arriving from a country infected with yellow fever you will be required to present a valid yellow fever certificate to be allowed entry into Egypt.

Health Issues

We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel.

Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about preventive measures, immunisations (including booster doses of childhood vaccinations) and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our 'Travelling Well' brochure also provides useful tips for travelling with medicines and staying healthy while overseas.

The standard of medical facilities in Cairo is adequate for routine conditions but outside of the capital facilities can be very basic. Treatment may be expensive and payment in advance may be required. In the event of a serious illness or accident, medical evacuation to a destination with appropriate facilities would be necessary. Medical evacuation costs would be considerable.

Water-borne, food-borne, insect-borne and other infectious diseases (including hepatitis, filariasis and rabies) are prevalent with more serious outbreaks occurring from time to time. There is a very limited risk of malaria in El Faiyum governorate from June through to October. We encourage you to consider having vaccinations before travelling, taking precautions against being bitten by insects and using insect repellent. We advise you to boil all drinking water or drink bottled water, avoid ice cubes and raw and undercooked food. Do not swim in fresh water, including the River Nile, to avoid exposure to certain water-borne diseases such as bilharzia (schistosomiasis). Seek medical advice if you have a fever or are suffering from diarrhoea.

Avian influenza. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has confirmed cases of avian influenza in birds in a number of countries throughout the world. For a list of these countries, visit the OIE website. For information on our advice to Australians on how to reduce the risk of infection and on Australian Government precautions see our travel bulletin on avian influenza.

There have been human deaths from avian influenza in Egypt. The Department of Health and Ageing advises Australians who reside in Egypt for an extended period to consider, as a precautionary measure, having access to influenza antiviral medicine for treatment. Long-term residents are at a greater risk of exposure to avian influenza over time. You should seek medical advice before taking antiviral medicines. Australians intending to travel to Egypt for shorter periods are at much lower risk of infection but should discuss the risk of avian influenza with their doctor as part of their routine pre-travel health checks.

If the avian influenza virus mutates to a form where efficient human-to-human transmission occurs, it may spread quickly and local authorities could move quickly to impose restrictions on travel. Australian travellers and long-term residents in Cairo should be prepared to take personal responsibility for their own safety and well-being, including deciding when to leave an affected area and ensuring they have appropriate contingency plans in place. Australians in Cairo should monitor the travel advice and bulletin for updated information and advice, and ensure that their travel documents, including passports and visas for any non-Australian family members, are up to date in case they need to depart at short notice.

The Australian Government has decided as a precautionary measure to hold a limited supply of the antiviral medicine oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and protective face masks at most of its overseas missions. The antivirals would primarily be used to protect emergency staff providing consular and other essential services in the event of a widespread outbreak of avian influenza amongst humans. Australian missions will not be in a position to provide influenza antiviral medicines to Australians in affected areas. It is the responsibility of individual Australians to secure their own supply of such medicines (such as Tamiflu or Relenza), if required.

Where to Get Help

In Egypt, you can obtain consular assistance from the:

Australian Embassy
11th floor, World Trade Centre
1191 Corniche el Nil
Boulac, Cairo
Telephone: (20 2) 2575 0444
Facsimile: (20 2) 2578 1638
Website: www.egypt.embassy.gov.au

If you are travelling to Egypt, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we encourage you to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register online or in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency – whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.

In a consular emergency if you are unable to contact the Embassy you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.

In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may be contacted on (02) 6261 3305.