Egypt is the most popular tourist destination in the Middle East. Almost everybody who hasn’t been there at least wants to go see the pyramids. As an Egyptian-American, I would like to share some advice on how to behave and dress when you go to Egypt.
Most Egyptians are friendly and welcoming to tourists. Tourism aids Egypt’s economy greatly, and for Westerners the exchange rate is pretty good.
The Egyptian people are comprised mainly of Muslims. The acceptable behaviors and customs are different from in Europe or the U.S. If one was wealthy, I would advise hiring a local tour guide to be that person’s helper and middleman.
Egypt is comprised of about 90% Muslims and 10% Coptic Christians. Overall the people are conservative in their religious beliefs. The old adage of being like a Roman in Rome is especially true in countries of the Middle East.
Clothing is expected to be modest and cover most of your body. For men, the recommended dress is similar to what you would find acceptable in an academic setting. Men should wear pants or long shorts, along with a standard shirt(t-shirt is fine). For ladies, they should dress conservatively – think 1940s American style to be safe – long skirts or regular pants that are loose fitting, along with shirt that is preferably long sleeved and also loose-fitting. Men and women should avoid revealing a lot of skin. Also avoid shirts or clothing with people or anything possibly controversial or indecent.
In Egypt, along with countries in the vicinity, public displays of affection should be kept to a minimum. It is fine, In Egypt, for a couple to hold hands or talk close to each other while sitting on the Nile. However it is not accepted for a couple to be kissing or amorously touching in public.
You need to be careful with taking pictures in Egypt. Always ask if it’s OK to take pictures of someone/something before doing so. People in rural areas will naturally be suspicious of foreigners taking pictures of them, so it’s best to ask and be friendly first. At museums signs will guide you. Do not take pictures of military people, soldiers or government-looking places.
Always remove your shoes before entering a mosque. You will see shoe racks at the entrance to mosques. Locals who invite you into their homes may also expect you to remove your shoes – ask or follow what the locals do.
If you are invited to an Egyptians dwelling for dinner, be gracious and compliment the food when you are finished. Accept a host’s offer for seconds if possible. You should eat with your right hand as this is required for Muslims. Do not ask for condiments or negatively react to any food you eat – be grateful no matter what. Say “Shukran gazeelan” after the meal (this means “thank you very much”). In fact, whenever you are in a doubtful situation you can probably say smile, say “Shukran gazeelan”, and the recipient will probably warm up to you. They may look at you in a puzzled way, but at least they’ll be lightly amused.
When you go to the bazaars to buy goods, it is OK to bargain, but do so in a cheerful and light manner. Be mindful of the fact that these people need that money more than you – after all, you’re the one buying souvenirs and artwork. Some items, like gold and other jewelry, don’t allow for much bargaining.
Be generous with taxi drivers if you are in doubt – it is best, however, to either have a local or a guide with you to deal with this or to ask the price beforehand.
Avoid talking too much about politics, and especially avoid talking about Egypt’s government in public. Focus instead of less polarizing issues and general fun events like the Egyptian soccer team or attractions in Cairo. It’s better not to talk sensitive issues. In fact it’s probably better to talk less and enjoy the scenery and sounds more, unless you’re talking to your spouse.
Do not draw a lot of attention to yourself by talking very loudly in your foreign tongue, or being immoderate in any way(shopping, eating, laughing, etc). Don’t display lots of cash because there are people in Egypt(Cairo especially) who struggle to obtain a 1 LE (called “gineeh” in Egyptian dialect, and the Egyptian pound is denoted with acronym LE, that is derived from French) Remember that Egypt is a relatively poor country and you should be considerate of the people there.
Egypt is a land of both ancient wonders and modern excitement. You can really learn a lot and gain a new perspective by visiting it. You should learn as much as you can about Egyptian society and customs before going there. Overall the society there is interesting and the people are generally very friendly. As Egyptians would say, “Masr ummi dunya! (Egypt is the mother of the world).”
