How safe is Egypt for vacation right now? Is there a travel warning?
Year-round high temperatures, stunning beaches, vast deserts, breathtaking diving spots , and numerous impressive tourist attractions. Egypt is a paradise for vacationers, with almost 15 million travelers visiting the country every year.
Tourism is one of Egypt's most important sources of income and is set to be further expanded in the future with various projects such as a huge tourism center and a high-speed train .
But Egypt is currently struggling with problems, as wars and conflicts in the immediate vicinity of the country are unsettling holidaymakers.
Many people are currently asking themselves: Is a vacation in Egypt dangerous given the wars in the Middle East? Is there a travel warning for Egypt? Can I cancel my vacation to the country free of charge? How far are Egyptian vacation areas from the conflict regions? We answer the most important questions about tourist travel to Egypt.
This began with the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza in October 2023. Since Friday, June 13, the Israeli army has been attacking targets in Iran. President Benjamin Netanyahu described the initial attacks as an "opening blow" to force Iran to immediately halt its nuclear program.
Israel views its war as a defensive war against a state that aims to wipe out Israel. Iran, on the other hand, viewed the Israeli attack as a declaration of war. Since then, both states have been trading waves of attacks.
Now the United States has also directly intervened in the war alongside its ally Israel. According to President Donald Trump, the United States attacked three nuclear facilities in Iran on the night of Sunday, June 22.
How Egypt reacts to the war between Israel and Iran
Egypt, like several Arab states and Turkey, has condemned Israel's attacks on Iran. It is essential that "Israel's hostilities against Iran" cease, they said in a joint statement . The goal must be a "comprehensive ceasefire."
According to the Jordanian Foreign Ministry, the statement was supported by, among others, the foreign ministers of Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Turkey.
How Egypt reacts to the Israel-Gaza conflict
Overall, the situation on the border with Egypt has recently worsened. Israeli troops have advanced further and taken control of the Rafah border crossing on the Palestinian side, as well as a border strip between Egypt and Gaza.
Egypt supports Gaza and the two-state solution, but refuses to accept Palestinian refugees. At the same time, it was the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel 46 years ago. Thus, Egypt finds itself caught between two stools in the Israel-Gaza war.
“The security situation in Egypt is currently stable and calm overall,” the Foreign Office writes on its website .
Due to Iran's missile attack on Israel, several countries in the region closed their airspace for a short time, but the airspace over Egypt is safe. Air traffic is operating normally, the Ministry of Civil Aviation in Cairo reported.
Due to the Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, as well as the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, the Federal Foreign Office is warning against pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Egypt, some of which are attracting large numbers of participants. Tourists are advised to avoid demonstrations or large gatherings . They are advised to seek information about current events from local media and tour operators.
Although the Federal Foreign Office is not currently specifically warning Egypt of attacks by Houthi rebels, it does point to the dangers in the Red Sea. So far, these attacks have been limited to merchant ships sailing in the southern part of the Red Sea . Therefore, those vacationing in Egyptian coastal resorts on the Red Sea are not exposed to any direct danger.
Planned cruises in the Red Sea are a different matter, however; numerous German cruise lines have canceled their planned trips on this route due to concerns about the attacks.
Cruises through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea are currently not possible due to the Houthi attacks.
Source: IMAGO/Jürgen Schwenkenbecher
In October 2023, two incidents also occurred in Egyptian cities . On October 27, 2023, missiles struck the towns of Taba and Nuweiba in Sinai, injuring several people. According to the German Foreign Office, these were likely errant drones . Furthermore, on October 8, there were fatal shootings in the holiday resort of Alexandria . A police officer shot and killed two Israeli travelers and an Egyptian tour guide. The man was arrested; according to the German Foreign Office, this is an isolated incident.
Unlike Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Iran and Israel, where many airlines have suspended their flights for the time being, flights to Egypt are currently continuing.
Flight routes from Germany do not pass over the war-affected areas.
There is a partial travel warning for Egypt , although this has only limited connection to the war in Israel, Gaza, and Iran. The Federal Foreign Office warns against travel to the northern Sinai Peninsula and the Egyptian-Israeli border region . with the exception of the immediate coastal area and the town of Taba – and remote areas of the Sahara .
A state of emergency is in effect in the North Sinai Governorate, including nighttime curfews. The road from Suez to Taba is closed to non-military vehicles, the Federal Foreign Office writes. Due to the current situation, the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip is only open in exceptional cases. Travel to the neighboring Gaza Strip is also being warned against, especially for those with family members there.
Unaccompanied individual travel and overland journeys in the south of the Sinai Peninsula , which includes the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, are discouraged. Travelers should follow the advice of hotels and tour operators and only undertake excursions with a licensed, local guide.
In addition, travel warnings are issued against remote areas of the Sahara and the border regions with Libya and Sudan . These regions have been declared restricted areas, and travel there is prohibited.
Holiday trips to Egypt are currently taking place as usual. Fears due to the current situation or a general threat of terrorism are not sufficient grounds for canceling a travel contract, says Karolina Wojtal of the European Consumer Centre Germany. Travel law only applies to package tours anyway. However, those who book flights and hotels separately "also take on the risk," says Wojtal.
Travelers who no longer wish to go on or postpone a booked vacation in Egypt must contact their tour operators and hope for their goodwill . A refund through travel insurance is also not to be expected, as the Federal Foreign Office has not issued a travel warning for Egyptian vacation destinations.
Cairo is far from the conflict regions in the Middle East or the Red Sea.
Source: IMAGO/Zoonar
Egypt shares a direct border with Israel and Gaza . However, most of the country's major cities and tourist attractions are far from it . For example, the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh in the south of the Sinai Peninsula is still more than a five-hour drive from the Gaza border.
The capital Cairo, west of the Suez Canal, is also more than five hours' drive from the border town of Rafah – the popular holiday resort of Hurghada on the Red Sea is even further away.
Hurghada and the even more southerly Marsa Alam , which are particularly popular with diving tourists, are both more than 1,000 kilometers away from the conflict region with the Houthi militia .
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