Good to know
Good to Know
- Greetings can be lengthy—inquiries about health and family are standard and expected.
- Punctuality varies by context: strict for formal meetings, relaxed for social events. When unsure, ask if the appointment is at 'Western or Egyptian time.'
- Asking permission before photographing people (especially women or children) is not just polite but essential and legally important.
- Photography of military zones, government buildings, checkpoints, or security personnel is strictly prohibited and can result in legal consequences.
- The left hand is universally considered unclean—use only your right hand for eating, greeting, and giving/receiving items.
- Maintain calm and dignity even during disputes; shouting or aggressive behavior damages your image significantly.
- During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking, or smoking in public during daylight hours as a sign of respect for those fasting.
- Women travelers may experience attention but can respond firmly and politely; staying in busy, well-lit places is advised.
- In Cairo's urban areas, dress codes are slightly more relaxed than rural areas, but modesty is still appreciated.
- Bargaining in markets is expected and encouraged—start at roughly 50% of the asking price and negotiate in a friendly manner.
- Carry small Egyptian pound notes (10–20 EGP) for tipping in restaurants (10–15% of bill), hotels, and small services.
- Avoid discussing politics, Israeli-Palestinian relations, gender roles, sexuality, and personal finances unless the Egyptian brings up these topics.
Greetings
Verbal Greeting
- Meaning
- Peace be upon you
- Response
- Wa alaykum al-salam
- Expression
- Salaam alaykum (As-salam alaikum)
- Notes
- Handshake accompanied by a smile is common. If someone places their hand on their heart after shaking hands, it signifies respect and sincerity. During greetings, it's polite to ask about the person's health and well-being.
Same-gender Greeting
- Expression
- Handshake
- Notes
- Handshakes are common between men. Women greet women similarly. Same-gender close friends may hold hands or kiss on the cheek when greeting in public.
Cross-gender Greeting
- Expression
- Wait for the other person to extend their hand
- Notes
- Always wait for the opposite gender to extend their hand first, especially in conservative areas. In more conservative settings, men and women may not shake hands at all. If a woman does not offer her hand, a man may bow his head as a sign of acceptance.
Alternative Morning/evening
- Expression
- Sabah el Khair (good morning) or Masa el Khair (good evening)
- Notes
- Used in some areas as typical greetings, especially when entering shops or speaking with hotel staff.
Greeting Length
- Notes
- Greetings depend on class, religion, and gender of the person. If unsure about the most appropriate greeting, follow the lead of your Egyptian friend or tour guide.
- Description
- Egyptian greetings can be quite lengthy, with inquiries about your health, the well-being of your family, and other pleasantries.
Bargaining
Markets often prefer cash, especially small bills.
- Tone
- Keep it friendly and light-hearted. Smiling and showing interest makes the process enjoyable for both sides. Haggling should feel like friendly banter, not confrontation.
- Setting
- Markets and bazaars (souks)
- Warning
- If you seem overly excited, sellers may raise the price further.
- Approach
- Bargaining is expected and encouraged. Start by offering about half the seller's asking price and negotiate from there.
Punctuality
Social events
- Expectation
- Relaxed. Being late is not considered rude.
- Note
- Social events often start later than the stated time. Ask 'Western or Egyptian time?' when given an appointment for clarity.
Business meetings and formal appointments
- Expectation
- Punctuality is appreciated, but your counterpart may arrive late.
- Note
- Visitors should arrive on time. Business meetings may not start exactly on schedule but punctuality from the visitor is important.
Guided tours and formal activities
- Expectation
- Punctuality is appreciated.
- Note
- For structured activities like tours, being on time is expected.
Dining Etiquette
Right-hand eating
- Detail
- Always pass dishes with your right hand.
- Description
- Use the right hand for eating, especially when bread is used as a utensil for scooping food.
At home invitations
- Detail
- Showing gratitude and respect for the host's efforts is appreciated. Accepting offered tea, food, or help is polite, though you may decline kindly if needed.
- Description
- If invited to an Egyptian home, expect a generous spread of dishes. It's customary to compliment the host on the food and accept offers of second helpings as a sign of appreciation. Wait for the eldest or host to begin eating. Remove your shoes before entering the reception rooms.
Cleanliness before meals
- Description
- Egyptians value cleanliness, especially before meals.
Ramadan fasting
- Description
- During Ramadan, it's polite not to eat or drink in public during daylight hours, especially in the presence of those who are fasting. Many restaurants will close or have limited hours during this time, though some have special areas for tourists.
Avoid certain foods
- Description
- It's considered offensive to offer pork to Muslims as pigs and pork products are prohibited in Islam. Alcohol is generally not offered or consumed with food unless you know your Egyptian counterpart consumes it.
Sensitive Topics
Politics
- Guidance
- Approach with caution. Avoid confrontational debates about Egyptian politics, regional dynamics, or governance.
- Severity
- high
Religion and Islamic Practices
- Guidance
- Discuss with respect and sensitivity. Avoid criticizing or making jokes about religion or religious figures. During Ramadan, eating, drinking, and smoking in public during daylight hours is considered disrespectful.
- Severity
- high
Israeli-Palestinian Relations
- Guidance
- This stirs strong and sensitive feelings among Egyptians. Be diplomatic if it arises in conversation.
- Severity
- high
Gender Roles and Sexuality
- Guidance
- Avoid discussing these topics in public or with people you don't know well. Conservative social norms govern these conversations.
- Severity
- high
Personal Finances
- Guidance
- Avoid asking about income, savings, or financial situation. Egyptians keep financial matters private.
- Severity
- medium
Personal Health
- Guidance
- Only discuss if the person is comfortable sharing. Do not ask invasive questions about medical history or ongoing health issues.
- Severity
- low
Egyptian vs. Arab Identity
- Guidance
- Note that 'Egyptian' and 'Arab' are not synonymous but are two distinct cultures and ethnicities. Do not assume that Egyptians identify as Arab.
- Severity
- low
Compliments About Others' Family Members
- Guidance
- Avoid commenting on the beauty of someone's wife or girlfriend as this is considered ill-mannered and unbecoming.
- Severity
- medium
Tipping Baksheesh
Restaurants
- Percentage
- 10-15% of bill (if no service charge included)
- Amount
- EGP 15
- Note
- Typical tips can range from 3 EGP in ultra-cheap establishments to 10-25 EGP in smarter restaurants
Around 50-100 EGP per day
- Amount
- EGP 75
- Context
- Hotel staff (porters, housekeeping)
Larger amounts depending on length and quality of service
- Context
- Guides and drivers
Typically 1-2 EGP
- Amount
- EGP 2.00
- Context
- Café
Usually 50pt to 1 EGP
- Amount
- EGP 1.00
- Context
- Juice bar
A few Egyptian pounds are usually sufficient
- Amount
- EGP 5.00
- Context
- Small services (toilets, parking help, quick assistance)
- Note
- Tipping is known locally as 'baksheesh' and is a deeply ingrained cultural practice. Carry small denominations (10-20 EGP notes) to discreetly tip. Hand tips over quietly using the right hand. Tipping in Egyptian pounds is preferred, though small foreign currency amounts may sometimes be accepted.
Communication Style
Indirect communication
- Note
- However, senior persons may be more direct when speaking with those below them. This directness is not meant to offend.
- Description
- Egyptians tend to communicate indirectly and avoid direct confrontation. Replying with a direct 'no' is uncommon. Usually, they offer a lengthy reply that may not directly answer the question.
Language of hyperbole
- Note
- Feel encouraged by positive responses, but verify important points.
- Description
- Arabic is a language of hyperbole. When an Egyptian says 'yes,' they may actually mean 'possibly.' Do not assume that agreement has been reached even with positive responses.
Eye contact
- Note
- Avoid intense eye contact, especially if you feel uncomfortable.
- Description
- Eye contact is not particularly important in Egyptian culture. Prolonged eye contact may be misinterpreted in some contexts.
Expressing negative emotions
- Note
- If a dispute arises (e.g., taxi fare, vendor price), maintain a calm, quiet demeanor. Escalating verbally often turns bystanders against the instigator.
- Description
- Egyptians are generally not comfortable expressing negative emotions directly to others. Anger, shouting, or causing a public scene is viewed as a severe loss of dignity.
Humor
- Note
- No matter how self-deprecating their humor gets, do not try to make fun of Egypt or Egyptians.
- Description
- Egyptians frequently use humor during initial meetings and conversations. They love it when their jokes are appreciated. Egyptians may joke about themselves and their country, but outsiders should not do the same.
Religious Site Etiquette
Modest dress
- Detail
- For men: covered from below shoulder to below knee. For women: covered from wrist to ankle.
Remove shoes
- Detail
- Required before entering a mosque. Wear shoes that are easy to slip on and off. Place shoe soles together to avoid pointing them at anyone.
Remain quiet and respectful
- Detail
- Especially if people are praying. Do not walk in front of someone who is praying or talk to someone currently in prayer.
Access restrictions
- Detail
- Some mosques may restrict access to certain areas for non-Muslims. Be mindful of any signs or instructions. Check whether photography is permitted; some sites may require a photo permit (e.g., Deir el-Medina charges 300 EGP).
Hospitality And Relationships
Hospitality is central
- Detail
- Expect to be offered tea, food, or help—often even by strangers. Accepting such gestures is polite.
- Description
- Egyptians are warm, friendly, and hospitable. Guests are often encouraged to eat generously as a sign of appreciation. Hospitality is a cornerstone of Egyptian culture.
Family importance
- Detail
- Greeting someone you see every day is expected. Respect older people as they hold high status in Egyptian society.
- Description
- Family is at the core of Egyptian society. Relationships with family are very important. Not visiting someone for a long time is considered a sign of the relationship's insignificance, especially one's family.
Gift giving
- Detail
- A small gift to an Egyptian counterpart's children is welcome. Gifts tend not to be opened when received. Avoid giving flowers as they are reserved for weddings, the ill, or periods of mourning.
- Description
- Gifts are generally given and received with both hands or only the right hand. Do not give gifts that are too extravagant to avoid embarrassing the receiver.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this culture & etiquette research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
- 1.visitegypt.com
- 2.myegypttravel.com
- 3.pureniletours.com
- 4.timeless.tours
- 5.roughguides.com
- 6.granadatravelagency.com
- 7.travel2egypt.org
- 8.pagegypt.com
- 9.commisceo-global.com
- 10.nileempire.com
- 11.traveltailors.com
- 12.hidmc.com
- 13.expatexchange.com
- 14.afsusa.org
- 15.linkedin.com
- 16.focusaudits.eu
- 17.culturalatlas.sbs.com.au
- 18.linkedin.com
- 19.todaytranslations.com
- 20.nilecruisevacation.com
- 21.xe.com
- 22.tradingeconomics.com
- 23.xe.com
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Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.