Egypt · Safety report last updated
As of July 2026, Aswān scores 62/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: mostly — take normal precautions. Aswān is moderately safe for tourists with practical precautions, though weak governance and extreme heat require attention. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and robbery (moderate risk).
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Egypt · Assessed 29 July 2026
62
/ 100
Safer than ~60% of countries
What drives this score
01 · Official Guidance
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 2026-06-18T13:06:39Z
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 2026-07-29T14:31:46.2003107-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Mugging & robbery risk
City SignalCity Web Research
Pickpocketing & theft risk
City SignalCity Web Research
Visitor safety sentiment
City SignalCity Web Research
Urban scale factor
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
Robbery / mugging
ModerateStreet robbery and mugging risk is moderate in non-tourist areas; violent robbery is rare (homicide 1.3/100k). Avoid isolated locations at night.
Pickpocketing
ModeratePickpocketing and bag-snatching occur in crowded tourist areas (souks, ferry docks, Nile cruises). Remain vigilant on public transport.
03 · Environment
04 · Institutions
05 · Field Research
Traveller sentiment score
Cautiously positive
64/100
Aswān continues to receive tourists despite official cautions, suggesting manageable risk. However, Canada's Level 2 advisory (updated July 22, 2026) reflects the need for heightened awareness and practical precautions.
Aswān is moderately safe for tourists with practical precautions, though weak governance and extreme heat require attention.
Aswān has moderate composite safety with low violent crime (homicide 1.3/100k, well below global average) but moderate petty crime risk (Numbeo 46/100). Governance weaknesses and corruption are documented, while extreme heat in July presents an immediate environmental hazard.
Which areas are safe? District-by-district ratings are on the Safety Map→Full briefing
Bottom line: Aswān is moderately safe for visitors. Violent crime is genuinely low, but weak governance, moderate petty crime, and extreme July heat demand practical precautions.
What the data shows: Egypt's violent crime rate is low—homicide at 1.3 per 100,000 sits well below the global average (5.2/100k) and the United States (5.8/100k). Terrorism risk is minimal (0.11 deaths per million, 2021). However, governance is weak: rule of law scores only 44/100 (World Bank Governance Indicators, 2024), and corruption is endemic—historical surveys indicate 50% of respondents have encountered official bribery requests. Numbeo's crowdsourced crime index for Egypt registers 46/100, indicating moderate risk of petty theft, pickpocketing, and street crime in populated and tourist areas—typical for destinations in developing countries.
Current situation: Available reporting is thin—the dossier contains only historical and geographic articles about the Aswan High Dam, with no recent crime or safety incident reporting for the city. Official advisories provide current guidance: Canada advises "exercise a high degree of caution" (Level 2, updated July 22, 2026), and the UK Foreign Office warns against the Egypt-Libya border region, though Aswān—located hundreds of kilometers south in the Nile Valley—is not affected. Tourism continues, indicating the city remains accessible for visitors prepared for caution.
Practical safety: The most immediate hazard is extreme heat; July highs near 48°C require constant hydration, light clothing, and midday rest. For street crime, use standard precautions: conceal valuables, avoid displaying cash, use hotel safes. The critical governance issue is corruption—if an official requests payment, insist on an official receipt and document everything. Stick to established tourist zones, hire official guides for excursions, and avoid isolated areas after dark. Overall, Aswān presents moderate risk with low violent crime but requires the street awareness expected of any tourist destination in a developing country with documented governance challenges.
06 · Neighbourhoods
Our field research rated 5 Aswān districts for visitors: 1 safer, 4 needing caution. See them plotted on the Aswān safety map.
Aswan City CentercautionHotels, shops, restaurants; moderate mugging and pickpocket risk in crowds — stay alert
West Bank (Nubian residential)cautionQuieter neighborhoods; safe but less police presence — avoid alone after dark
Aswan High Dam areacautionTourist zone with security checkpoints; generally secure but sparse foot patrols outside main routes
Corniche (riverside promenade)cautionPopular with visitors and locals; pickpocket hotspot at night — keep valuables secure
Elephantine IslandsaferNubian villages, policed, calm — most visitors' preferred area
07 · After Dark
Street robbery and mugging risk is moderate in non-tourist areas; violent robbery is rare (homicide 1.3/100k). Avoid isolated locations at night.
After dark, be most careful around Aswan City Center, West Bank (Nubian residential), Aswan High Dam area, Corniche (riverside promenade). Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Trip Profiles
Who's travelling changes which risks matter. These re-weight Aswān's category data for common trip types — same data, different emphasis. Run your own profile from the interactive checker.
09 · Questions
Aswān is moderately safe for tourists with practical precautions, though weak governance and extreme heat require attention. Aswān has moderate composite safety with low violent crime (homicide 1.3/100k, well below global average) but moderate petty crime risk (Numbeo 46/100). Governance weaknesses and corruption are documented, while extreme heat in July presents an immediate environmental hazard. (Assessed 29 July 2026.)
No districts were flagged as no-go areas for visitors at the last assessment.
No widespread visitor-targeted scams were identified in the latest research.
Aswān ranks #8 of 9 Egypt destinations we've assessed, scoring 62/100. See the Egypt safety overview for the full list.
The score blends 12+ 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.
Browse the Egypt safety overview or all destinations. Raw data: aswan.json (CC BY 4.0).