The official working week in Egypt runs from Sunday to Thursday. Therefore, some establishments may be closed on Friday and Saturday. What else is worth knowing if you are going to visit Egypt, read the article “DIP”.
Before you travel, it’s best to make sure that your first aid kit (including because of prescription drugs) will not become the subject of a scandal at the Egyptian airport. For example, the analgesic Tramadol is banned in Egypt due to its use as an opioid by the locals.
There are serious consequences for foreigners for drug trafficking: deportation, long prison terms and even the death penalty.
Do you love drone photography? Alas, in this country, without special permission, it will not work to get breathtaking shots of the pyramids and deserts. And it is best to leave your drone at home (even if you are transiting through Egypt), because there have been cases when customs officers at the Cairo airport seized gadgets. If for some reason you need a drone, please inform the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority via email: info@civilaviation.gov.eg.
If you accidentally take a picture of someone near a military facility (you probably didn’t even know it was him), then officers may come up to you and demand to stop shooting. They will also ask you to show and then delete the footage you have taken.
A hotel in Egypt will not allow an Egyptian passport holder and a couple of foreigners to share a room. Egyptians of different sexes without a marriage stamp will also not be settled together. But at the same time, you can easily share a hotel room or apartment with Egyptian friends of the same gender as you.
Egypt is an Islamic country, so it is preferable to opt for modest clothing. Especially if you are planning a trip to the countryside, visiting a mosque, a bazaar (market) and during the holy month of Ramadan (holy fasting). Women are advised to wear something that covers their legs and shoulders, and men – chest.
But wearing LGBT symbols on the territory of the Egyptian state is not a good idea. Displays of intimacy and affection in same-sex couples can provoke unnecessary attention from authorities such as the police.
In June 2018, a Lebanese tourist was sentenced to eight years in prison for posting a video on social media in which she spoke obscenely about Egypt. She was arrested at the Cairo airport before flying home. Therefore, we advise you to refrain from negative statements about Egypt and its inhabitants in public space until you return to your homeland.
Do not drink alcohol in public places. This rule does not apply to restaurants, cafes (with the appropriate license to sell drinks) and hotel bars. However, be prepared for the fact that during Ramadan the “dry law” can be tightened.
Avoid all travel to North Sinai Province, the area within 50 kilometers of the Libyan border, the Siwa Oasis, the Western Desert (including the Bahariya, Bawati, Dakhla and Farafra Oases), and the White and Black Deserts due to ongoing military operations by the Egyptian military against terrorists.
From time to time, pockets of discontent among the local population flare up in Egypt. Stay away from demonstrations. Women should be especially careful as there is a serious risk of sexual assault during protests; if you are surrounded by a group of angry people, it can be difficult to escape.