Can you go to egypt if your gay

According to contemporary Egyptian commandment, homosexuality itself has not been criminalized, but queer couples can still be persecuted. Discretion is recommended for gay travellers in Egypt.

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Is it Safe for Male lover Couples to Travel to Egypt?

Egypt is a Muslim country, and as such, also quite a conservative country. It certainly isn’t as conservative as other Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia. However, it is still a conservative country, and especially when it comes to things like same sex relationships.

With its incredible ancient history and its abundant instinctive beauty, Egypt is an amazing country to check in, but visitors should respect Egyptian culture. So, is it safe for male lover couples to travel to Egypt?

Let’s take a look:

Public Displays of Affection

Public displays of affection among Egyptians are something you will almost never see. This is not only the case in Egypt, but also in many other countries that are not even Muslim countries.

Sure, when it comes to the younger generation, you may see boys and girls holding hands in general, but you are not likely to see anything more than that. If displays of affection in public among heterosexua can you go to egypt if your gay

Last Updated on June 13, 2025

A while back while traveling Central America, we wrote this piece about how it feels as a lesbian couple to jump back into the closet while traveling and this one on how we live a bit of a half-in, half-out lifestyle. In this guest post by our confidant Aaron of Aaron’s Worldwide Adventures, he tells a story of his hour in Egypt, highlighting what he perceived as a possibly dangerous situation and his mixed feelings about so quickly jumping right back in to the safety of the commute closet. Read on for one glimpse of what gay travel in Egypt is like.

Did you realize that people are commonly arrested for being lgbtq+ in Egypt?

As an out gay man, I’m used to living a very open life. I never thought there would be a day where I’d hesitate to tell someone my sexuality. But what if you knew that there could potentially be a fairly violent reaction to such a revelation? Would you still be so “out and proud?” That was the mind going through my top one warm afternoon in January in Luxor, Egypt, known for being the site of the Valley of the Kings.
It all started when I was wandering along the west bank of the Nile River. I’

Is it safe for gay travelers to visit Egypt? What are the risks involved and how can these be minimized?
Read about our trip to Egypt as successfully as our practical safety tips for LGBTQ travelers.

For years we've both wanted to visit the pyramids of Giza and immerse ourselves in the remnants of what was once an unbelievable Kingdom.

For Seby in particular, visiting Eygpt has always been a lifelong ambition. Since he was a petty boy he's been obsessed with Ancient Egypt, carrying an Ankh (the hieroglyphic symbol for ‘life') in his wallet to watch over him. He's even decorated his entire left arm and torso with attractive intricate tattoos of Ancient Egyptian symbols.

However, Egypt is not the most welcoming destination for male lover travelers by a long shot. Whilst they don't contain an explicit anti-gay law in place, the government and local police detect other ways to target and harass the local LGBTQ community even using Grindr to target/arrest gay guys…yes really!

Following our experience traveling as a same-sex attracted couple in Egypt, we can confidently say it's actually fine…BUT!

And that's one big fat ‘BUT‘ in bold cap italics…

In this

Egypt

Approximately one million British people travel to Egypt each year. Most visits are trouble-free. This guide also has protection advice for regions of Egypt. 

Terrorism

There is a tall threat of terrorist strike globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.  

UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and counsel on staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out more about the global threat from terrorism.

Terrorism in Egypt

Terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Egypt. 

Terrorist attacks could be indiscriminate including in places visited by foreign nationals. Stay aware of your surroundings, keep up to date with local media reports and follow the advice of local authorities. Be vigilant in crowds and large gatherings.

Targets might include:

  • Egyptian security forces
  • religious sites
  • large public gatherings
  • places visited by foreign nationals

The authorities in Egypt have a significant security presence across the country. Extra measures are in place at tourist sites.

E

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Last updated: 17 December 2024

Types of criminalisation

  • Criminalises LGBT people
  • Criminalises sexual activity between males

Summary

Same-sex sexual activity is prohibited under the Penal Code 1937 and Law 10/1961, which criminalises acts of ‘indecency’, ‘scandalous acts’, and ‘debauchery’. These provisions lug a maximum penalty of three years’ imprisonment and a fine. The local advocacy group Bedayaa reports that, in reality, some are convicted to up to six years in prison. Only men are criminalised under this law.

These laws carry out not explicitly criminalise same-sex sexual outing but have been enforced, to varying degrees, against the LGBT community in recent decades. The provisions are of colonial origin, and their vagueness has allowed them to be applied to same-sex sexual outing over time.

There is substantial evidence of the law entity enforced in recent years, with LGBT people being frequently subject to arrest, especially since 2013 following an incident in w