Culture Shock! Egypt - A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette

A Tour of Egypt 47

Crime and Violence

Violence and violent crimes in Egypt are extremely rare.
When they do occur, they tend to be family related or between
individuals who know each other. Rape and attempted rape
are quite rare by Western standards. Punishment for these
crimes is extremely severe, including the death penalty in
some cases. Women, even unescorted, are generally safe on
the streets of Egypt although caution is prudent especially
when visiting the less touristy parts of major cities.

Being Cautious

When women are alone on the street, it is important to follow

local customs regarding dress and appropriate behaviour. Proper

dress and behaviour demonstrate respect and deter cat-calls and

other unwnted comments. In point of fact, except in extremely

rare circumstances, you will be safe on the streets—even at night.

There just seems to be no need to try to provoke locals with what

they would consider inappropriate behaviour.

Sometimes Egyptians seem to be in a heated argument
right in each other’s face. Frequently, well-wishing passers-by
get involved in the dispute and before you know it, there will
be a whole crowd of people shouting, yelling and waving their
arms. This kind of confrontation can be disconcerting and
often scares the uninitiated expatriate because it is easy to
misinterpret. In fact, it is fairly common just about anywhere
in Egypt and is simply a traditional way of communicating
that almost never leads to violence. The best thing to do
is to just ignore it and go on about your business. If, for
some reason, you happen to be the centre of one of these
discussions, just stand aside and let them settle it. This could
happen if, for example, you asked for directions and two
people disagree on what you should do. Another situation
where I see this potential is if someone thinks you are being
mistreated, cheated or otherwise treated disrespectfully and
feel it is their responsibility to take your side.
Pickpocketing, purse snatching and petty theft are not
uncommon, though they tend to occur most frequently