Egypt 2019 Crime & Safety Report: Cairo This is an annual report produced in conjunction with the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt. The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses Egypt at Level 2, indicating travelers should exercise increased caution due to terrorism. Do not travel to the Sinai Peninsula (with the exception of travel to Sharm El-Sheikh by air) or the Western Desert due to terrorism; or to the Egyptian border areas due to military zones. Overall Crime and Safety Situation The U.S. Embassy in Cairo does not assume responsibility for the professional ability or integrity of the persons or firms appearing in this report. The American Citizens’ Services unit (ACS) cannot recommend a particular individual or location, and assumes no responsibility for the quality of service provided. Review OSAC’s country-specific page for original OSAC reporting, consular messages, and contact information, some of which may be available only to private-sector representatives with an OSAC password. Remain alert to local security developments, avoid demonstrations, and be vigilant regarding personal security at all times throughout the country. Carry identification and a cell phone or other means of communication that works in Egypt, and pre-program the U.S. Embassy’s telephone number and email address into the device. Egypt was under a government-declared State of Emergency for all of 2018. Egypt’s demonstrations law prohibits gatherings of more than ten persons without advance permission from the Ministry of Interior (MOI); authorities have quashed previous illegal demonstrations in a relatively short time. The last known demonstrations occurred after the reduction of subsidies and increase of rates for the Metro train fares in May 2018. Because of the volatility of past demonstrations, peaceful demonstrators and bystanders alike may be subject to questioning, detention, arrest, and conviction for participating in or proximity to unauthorized demonstrations. It is illegal to photograph police stations, military barracks, and certain other sensitive public buildings, or their respective personnel; authorities enforce the law in the context of demonstrations. For more information, review OSAC’s Report Picture This: Dos and Don’ts for Photography. Crime Threats There is moderate risk from crime in Cairo. The vast majority of criminal acts against foreigners tend to be crimes of opportunity, such as purse snatching and pickpocketing that are often carried out by young males. Semi-professional thieves target unaware visitors in restaurants and shops stealing purses, phones, and purchased goods. Thieves have also broken into vehicles when valuables were clearly visible. 1 There have been several instances where individuals passing on a motorbike have grabbed handbags, sometimes inadvertently injuring the victim. There were reports of criminal ruses against foreign visitors, often employing feigned concern over a stain/spill on an article of clothing; while helping to wipe the clothing, the criminal lifted a wallet from a purse or pocket. Be alert to being overcharged for various services, and for becoming victims of scams common in tourist destinations worldwide. Expect to encounter aggressive vendors at Egypt’s many tourist attractions and archaeological sites. Some will offer “free” gifts to tourists which, once accepted, often lead to demands for money. Harassment can occur anywhere. Most tourist sites have specially designated tourist police who can assist in uncomfortable situations. Other Areas of Concern Unexploded ordnance (UXO) is located on battlefields along the Mediterranean coast west of Alexandria, in the Eastern Desert between Cairo and the Suez Canal, on the Sinai Peninsula, and in the Suez Canal zone from World War II and the Egyptian-Israeli wars. Transportation-Safety Situation For more information, review OSAC’s Report, Security in Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights. Road Safety and Road Conditions Driving in Egypt is extremely hazardous; vehicle accidents remain a significant safety concern. Intercity roads are generally in good condition. Unmarked surfaces, stray animals, sandstorms fog, and disabled vehicles without lights or reflectors are among the many hazards present on highways, especially after dark. Driving Cairo’s busy streets can be extremely challenging for those used to driving in accordance with enforced rules and regulations. Even seasoned residents must use extreme care and situational awareness to navigate the hectic streets of the capital. Impatient drivers typically ignore traffic rules. Although the enforcement of traffic laws is generally lax and unpredictable, foreigners may be subject to extra scrutiny. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs could result in arrest or detainment. Expect vehicles that use no lighting at night; few if any road markings; vehicles traveling at high rates of speed; vehicles traveling the wrong direction on one-way streets, divided highways, and connecting ramps; drivers ignoring lane markings and squeezing vehicles in between lane markers, creating additional vehicle lanes; a high volume of pedestrians dodging traffic; and a variety of animals wandering the roadways. Visitors intending to drive in Egypt should carefully consider other options, such as a ride-hailing cellular phone-based app, taxi, or hired driver. Drivers must take the utmost precaution and drive defensively. Be especially cautious during the rare winter rains, which can cause extremely slippery road surfaces and localized flooding; Egyptian drivers are not familiar with driving in wet conditions, making such periods particularly hazardous. For more information on self-driving, review OSAC’s Report Driving Overseas: Best Practices. Pedestrians should also exercise extreme caution, especially in high-volume/high-velocity streets like Cairo’s Corniche, which follows the eastern bank of the Nile River, and Alexandria’s Corniche along the Mediterranean. 2 Egypt’s Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) reported accidents on highways occur 24.6 times per day, compared to 32.4 over the same period in 2017. It also reports 8.7 deaths from road accidents per day, compared to 10.7 over the same period in 2017. Injuries from road accidents dropped to 33 per day, compared to 40.4 in 2017. The main cause of road accidents was driver error, at 75.7%; followed by technical malfunctions, at 17.1%; and poor road maintenance at 2.9%. Information provided by the World Health Organization in a 2015 report provided conflicts with CAPMAS statistics, reflecting roughly 12,000 lives lost to traffic accidents every year, or 32 per day. Public Transportation Conditions Taxis and car-sharing services remain an efficient use of public transportation in large cities (e.g. Cairo, Alexandria). U.S. Embassy employees may travel in taxis or other car services. Foreigners can often be targets for higher taxi fares; some drivers often claim their meter is broken. Some females have found it helpful to refrain from engaging in conversation, beyond basic pleasantries, with taxi drivers. Women should consider sitting in the back seat of taxis. For more information on ride sharing, review OSAC’s Annual Briefing Report Safety and Security in the Share Economy. U.S. government personnel may not use public buses, microbuses, or ride-sharing apps, such as Uber Bus, or Cairo’s metro system. Trains are a particularly unsafe means of transportation, with accidents that sometimes involve mass casualties; Embassy personnel may not travel by train. Overcrowded metro stations and trains can be a common area for opportunistic crimes (e.g. pickpocketing, sexual harassment). Avoid using these methods of public transportation. U.S. government personnel may not travel outside the greater Cairo and Alexandria areas by motor vehicle, with the exception of travel to Alexandria and the North Coast beach resorts, or beach resorts on the western side of the Red Sea. Mission policy also prohibits personal travel via privately owned vehicle to any part of the Sinai Peninsula or the Western Desert. U.S. government personnel must limit travel outside of greater Cairo or Alexandria to daylight hours. Aviation/Airport Conditions In 2015, a Russian Metro Jet crashed shortly after takeoff from Sharm el Sheik, a popular tourist destination on the Sinai Peninsula. Although Egypt has not officially announced the findings of its investigation, ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack, publishing a photo of what it says is the improvised explosive device (IED) that brought the aircraft down. Since the Metro Jet incident, Egypt has made significant improvements to airport security. International air carriers have enhanced security measures. At Cairo International Airport (CAI), large crowds waiting for arriving passengers gather outside Terminal 3 for EgyptAir, but no longer have access to the front of the terminal. Arriving U.S. Embassy personnel typically arrange for an expeditor and/or trusted transportation company to pick them up inside the terminal. Taxis are available at the terminals at all airports, but beware unauthorized chauffeurs. Terrorism There is considerable risk from terrorism in Cairo. There are a number of terrorist organizations operating in Egypt. The self-proclaimed Islamic State-Sinai Province (IS-SP) terrorist group (formerly known as Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis (ABM), an ISIS affiliate) is the most active terrorist