Egypt · Safety report last updated
As of July 2026, Sharm el Sheikh scores 70/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: yes — generally safe. Yes — Sharm el-Sheikh is safe for tourists within the resort areas, with heavy security infrastructure and low violent crime, though petty theft and tourist scams require standard precautions. The main risks for visitors are pickpocketing (moderate risk) and tourist-targeted scams.
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
Egypt · Assessed 29 July 2026
70
/ 100
Safer than ~72% 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
LowViolent crime against tourists is rare in resort areas due to heavy security presence and police checkpoints; risk rises significantly outside the tourism zone and in isolated streets at night.
Pickpocketing
ModeratePetty theft and bag-snatching occur in crowded areas, markets, and busy beach zones; keep belongings close and secure in crowds.
03 · Environment
04 · Institutions
05 · Field Research
Traveller sentiment score
Very positive
86/100
Recent traveler reports describe Sharm as safer than many European cities, with consistent positive feedback from solo female travelers and families. Travelers note the visible security infrastructure and resort isolation create genuine safety; main frustrations are tourist-economy scams and inflated prices rather than personal security concerns.
Yes — Sharm el-Sheikh is safe for tourists within the resort areas, with heavy security infrastructure and low violent crime, though petty theft and tourist scams require standard precautions.
Egypt's overall safety index is moderate (65/100), but Sharm el-Sheikh operates as a heavily fortified tourism bubble with dedicated police, checkpoints, and minimal violent crime against visitors. Most issues are petty theft, tourist-targeted scams, and price inflation rather than street crime. Resort areas like Naama Bay, Nabq Bay, and Sharks Bay are the safest zones; avoid isolated streets and areas outside the resort corridor.
Recent developments
Common scams
Full briefing
Verdict: Sharm el-Sheikh is safe for tourists, particularly within its resort corridor. While Egypt's overall safety profile is moderate (65/100, comparable to countries like Colombia or parts of southern Europe), Sharm operates as a purpose-built, heavily fortified tourism zone. The security infrastructure—visible checkpoints between airport and hotel, tourism police, resort patrols—is specifically designed to protect international visitors. Violent crime against tourists is rare and uncommon in the resort areas (isitsafetovisit.com, March 2026; sphinxora.com, May 2026).
Ground Reality: Sharm's main tourist districts—Naama Bay, Nabq Bay, and Sharks Bay—are pedestrian-friendly, heavily monitored, and operate as isolated resort bubbles. Multiple recent traveler reports describe the security presence as comforting; one experienced visitor noted feeling safer walking Sharm's streets at midnight than in major European cities (sphinxora.com, May 2026). Solo female travelers report comfort in resort environments. Importantly, the UK FCDO keeps Sharm outside its restricted zones despite advisories against travel to other parts of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula—Sharm is south of the sensitive northern territories and remains accessible (gov.uk). The U.S. Embassy monitors regional Middle East developments but does not flag Sharm specifically (March 2026).
Current Situation: July 2026 headlines about Houthi activity near the Red Sea have prompted routine safety questions, but Sharm's resort operations continue normally with no reported security escalations (eTurboNews, July 2026). Egypt's government confirms that resort destinations remain broadly safe for tourists (Egyptian Streets, March 2026). The real hazards are smaller: taxi drivers may dispute fares or claim broken meters; desert safaris and dive shops occasionally overcharge or mis-sell tours; street vendors push inflated prices; pickpocketing happens in crowded markets and busy beaches. These are tourist-economy scams, not street crime—but they're common enough to warrant awareness.
Stay Safe: Remain in resort areas and main tourist zones. Book your taxis through your hotel rather than hailing them on the street; always agree on fares beforehand. For excursions—diving, desert safaris, snorkeling—book exclusively through your hotel or established operators with real reviews, never street offers. Keep money and documents in your hotel safe, not on you. Avoid walking alone after dark outside resort zones. Dress conservatively outside the resort bubble. These steps protect against the documented scams while letting you enjoy Sharm's world-class diving, snorkeling, and resort facilities that make it popular with families and solo travelers from Europe and beyond.
06 · Neighbourhoods
Our field research rated 7 Sharm el Sheikh districts for visitors: 5 safer, 2 needing caution. See them plotted on the Sharm el Sheikh safety map.
Old SharmcautionOriginal town center outside main resort zone. Less intensive security; stay alert and avoid after dark.
MontazacautionBeach area with moderate security. Safe during day with standard precautions; avoid isolated streets at night.
Naama BaysaferMain tourist hub with constant police patrols, pedestrian-friendly promenade, restaurants and dive shops. Highly monitored, safe day and night.
Nabq BaysaferUpscale resort area north of center with private security and regular patrols. Well-secured and tranquil.
Sharks BaysaferPopular diving and beach area with resort infrastructure and good security presence. Safe at all hours.
HadabasaferUpmarket residential/resort district with hotel security infrastructure. Well-protected for tourists.
Ras NasranisaferNorthern resort promontory with developed tourism infrastructure and visible security presence.
07 · After Dark
Violent crime against tourists is rare in resort areas due to heavy security presence and police checkpoints; risk rises significantly outside the tourism zone and in isolated streets at night.
After dark, be most careful around Old Sharm, Montaza. 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 Sharm el Sheikh's category data for common trip types — same data, different emphasis. Run your own profile from the interactive checker.
09 · Questions
Yes — Sharm el-Sheikh is safe for tourists within the resort areas, with heavy security infrastructure and low violent crime, though petty theft and tourist scams require standard precautions. Egypt's overall safety index is moderate (65/100), but Sharm el-Sheikh operates as a heavily fortified tourism bubble with dedicated police, checkpoints, and minimal violent crime against visitors. Most issues are petty theft, tourist-targeted scams, and price inflation rather than street crime. Resort areas like Naama Bay, Nabq Bay, and Sharks Bay are the safest zones; avoid isolated streets and areas outside the resort corridor. (Assessed 29 July 2026.)
Isolated streets after dark; Unlit areas away from developed tourist zones. See the district-by-district safety map.
Sharm el Sheikh ranks #3 of 9 Egypt destinations we've assessed, scoring 70/100. 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: sharm-el-sheikh.json (CC BY 4.0).
