Etiquette in Egypt
Everyday customs that visitors and newcomers often find useful in Egypt.
- Greeting Greet with a handshake and 'Salaam alaykum'. Wait for women to offer a hand first.
- Dining Eat with the right hand. Hosts press food on guests; leaving a little shows you have had enough.
- Dress Dress modestly away from beach resorts, and cover up for mosques.
- Talk Haggling is part of shopping in markets, with a smile. Tipping (baksheesh) is common for small services.
- Time Prayer calls shape the day; in Ramadan, avoid eating in public in daylight.
These are general customs, not rules or legal advice. They differ between regions, generations and families, and they change over time. For visas, residency and legal requirements always use the destination country's official government sources.