Exercise Increased Caution
“Updated to reflect a change in Travel Advisory level. Exercise increased caution in Egypt due to terrorism, crime, and health.”
Updated Tue, 15 Jul 2025
Full advisory →Is Sharm el Sheikh safe? 🇪🇬
Egypt · Safety report last updated
As of September 2026, Sharm el Sheikh scores 68/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: yes — generally safe. Yes — Sharm el Sheikh remains one of Egypt's safest destinations for tourists due to its heavily secured resort zone and low violent crime against visitors. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and tourist-targeted scams. The U.S. State Department rates it Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Sharm el Sheikh 🇪🇬
Egypt · Assessed 27 September 2026
68
/ 100
Yes — generally safe
Safer than ~69% of countries
What drives this score
Crime68/100FairCrime index 46.0 / 100
Sentiment83/100GoodMostly positive
Advisories72Good
Stability55Fair
Health81Good
01 · Official Guidance
Advisories
Good
Advises against all travel to parts of the country
“Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Areas where FCDO advises against travel Egypt-Libya border FCDO advises against all travel to within 20km of the Egypt-Libya border, except for the town of El Salloum, where we advise against all but essential travel.”
Updated 2026-08-04T10:10:57Z
Full advisory →Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories)
“Canada's official risk level for Egypt: exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories).”
Updated 2026-09-24T08:53:33.120000-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Crime
Fair
Mugging & robbery risk
Low risk
92
City SignalCity Web Research
Pickpocketing & theft risk
Moderate risk
78
City SignalCity Web Research
Visitor safety sentiment
75 / 100 (Mostly positive)
75
City SignalCity Web Research
Urban scale factor
38k residents
92
City SignalCity Geocoding
Robbery / mugging
LowArmed robbery against tourists is rare and largely confined to areas outside the secured resort perimeter.
Pickpocketing
ModeratePickpocketing and bag-snatching occur in crowded spots like Naama Bay and Old Market, particularly targeting distracted tourists.
▸ 3 more indicators▾ Hide extra indicators
03 · Environment
Health & Air
Good
04 · Institutions
Stability
Fair
05 · Field Research
Current Situation
Stable
Traveller sentiment score
Mostly positive
83/100
Reported feel75Mostly positive
Robbery risk92Low risk
Pickpocket risk78Moderate risk
Recent visitor reports indicate tourists generally feel safe within the resort zones, citing visible security and hotel patrols, though some express frustration with persistent vendors and occasional overcharging.
Yes — Sharm el Sheikh remains one of Egypt's safest destinations for tourists due to its heavily secured resort zone and low violent crime against visitors.
The city benefits from a reinforced security perimeter, tourism police patrols, and vehicle checkpoints that keep serious crime rare, though petty theft and scams targeting tourists persist in busy areas. While Egypt overall carries a Level 2 advisory for terrorism and crime, Sharm el Sheikh's resort bubble insulates visitors from most risks, with health and environmental hazards posing greater concern than safety threats.
Recent developments
- Jun 2026No major Western government advises against travel to Sharm el Sheikh; the resort remains outside UK FCDO restricted zones and US State Department rates Egypt Level 2.— egyptra.pro
- Mar 2026Sharm el Sheikh operates within a heavily secured tourism bubble with visible security checkpoints, hotel patrols, and dedicated tourism police.— isitsafetovisit.com
- Sep 2026Canada advises exercising a high degree of caution for Egypt overall, but notes Red Sea resorts like Sharm el Sheikh sit outside no-go zones for border and desert regions.— travelmarketnews.com
Common scams
- Inflated taxi fares and unlicensed drivers
- Pushy vendors and overpriced goods in markets
- Misrepresented dive excursions or desert safaris
Full briefing
Sharm el Sheikh is considered one of Egypt's safest destinations for international travelers, primarily due to its purpose-built tourism infrastructure and robust security measures. The city operates within a gated resort zone featuring a 36-kilometer perimeter wall, vehicle checkpoints, and 24/7 tourism police patrols in key areas like Naama Bay, Nabq Bay, and Sharks Bay. These measures have proven effective in deterring serious crime, with violent incidents against tourists being rare. However, the overall country-level advisory remains at Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) from the U.S. and UK, and Canada advises a high degree of caution, reflecting broader concerns about terrorism and crime in Egypt that do not typically extend to the secured resort areas.
On the ground, visitors report feeling safe within the tourist corridors, especially during daylight hours and in well-populated zones. Petty crime such as pickpocketing and bag-snatching does occur in crowded spots like the Old Market and along beachfront promenades, often targeting distracted or intoxicated tourists. Scams are a more frequent concern, including inflated taxi fares, aggressive vendors in markets, and misrepresented tour offerings like overpriced desert safaris or dive trips. Travelers are advised to use only licensed taxis or hotel-arranged transport, agree on prices in advance, and keep valuables secured. Health considerations — such as drinking only bottled water and being cautious with uncooked foods — remain more pressing than safety risks for most visitors.
Recent updates from mid-2026 confirm that Sharm el Sheikh continues to benefit from its status as a protected tourism hub, having hosted major international events like COP27 and maintaining strong security protocols. While regional tensions persist, the resort’s insulated environment means that advisories against travel to border areas or the western desert do not apply here. Travelers should still exercise normal big-city caution, avoid isolated areas at night, and stay within established tourist zones. With these precautions, Sharm el Sheikh offers a relatively secure environment for enjoying the Red Sea’s beaches, diving, and resort amenities.
06 · Neighbourhoods
Safest areas and areas to avoid
Our field research rated 5 Sharm el Sheikh districts for visitors: 3 safer, 2 needing caution. See them plotted on the Sharm el Sheikh safety map.
Old MarketcautionTourist police patrol, but exercise caution, especially after dark.
City CentercautionGenerally safe and police-controlled, but be aware of surroundings.
Naama BaysaferHighly monitored tourist hub, considered very safe day and night.
Nabq BaysaferUpscale resort area with good security and tranquility.
Sharks BaysaferPopular beach and diving area with a good security presence.
07 · After Dark
Is Sharm el Sheikh safe at night?
Armed robbery against tourists is rare and largely confined to areas outside the secured resort perimeter.
After dark, be most careful around Old Market, City Center. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
Sharm el Sheikh safety FAQ
Is Sharm el Sheikh safe for tourists right now?
Yes — Sharm el Sheikh remains one of Egypt's safest destinations for tourists due to its heavily secured resort zone and low violent crime against visitors. The city benefits from a reinforced security perimeter, tourism police patrols, and vehicle checkpoints that keep serious crime rare, though petty theft and scams targeting tourists persist in busy areas. While Egypt overall carries a Level 2 advisory for terrorism and crime, Sharm el Sheikh's resort bubble insulates visitors from most risks, with health and environmental hazards posing greater concern than safety threats. (Assessed 27 September 2026.)
Which areas of Sharm el Sheikh should tourists avoid?
No districts were flagged as no-go areas for visitors at the last assessment.
What are the most common scams in Sharm el Sheikh?
- Inflated taxi fares and unlicensed drivers
- Pushy vendors and overpriced goods in markets
- Misrepresented dive excursions or desert safaris
How does Sharm el Sheikh compare with other places in Egypt?
Sharm el Sheikh ranks #3 of 9 Egypt destinations we've assessed, scoring 68/100. See the Egypt safety overview for the full list.
How is this Sharm el Sheikh safety score calculated?
The score blends 14+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry 82% of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries 18%. Full methodology.
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