Is it safe to travel to Egypt? UK Foreign Office advice

It’s usually a popular tourist destination for those heading abroad from the UK in search of some sun, particularly around its Red Sea coast, Cairo and Sharm El Sheikh.

But following regional tensions which has resulted in closed airspaces and cancelled flights from the likes of Emirates, Virgin and British Airways, let’s take a look at the current Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s (FCDO) Egypt travel warnings for Brits.

Is it safe to travel to Egypt from the UK? Foreign Office’s latest advice

The Foreign Office has outlined that there is a “heightened risk of regional tension” and “escalation could lead to travel disruption and other unanticipated impacts”

It adds: “British nationals should take sensible precautions, considering their own individual circumstances.”

The FCDO recommends UK residents either in Egypt or travelling to, should:

• read guidance on “how to prepare for a crisis” with suggestions on what you might include in your emergency supplies and “what to do in a crisis”
• sign up to FCDO Travel Advice email alerts
• monitor local and international media for the latest information
• sign up to local information alerts/resources and follow the instructions of the local authorities
• stay away from areas around security or military facilities

Aside from this, it appears the UK government has not updated its advice since the start of the Middle East conflict.

FCDO advises against all travel and all but essential travel to parts of Egypt

However, there has been longstanding travel restrictions by the Foreign Office prior to the Middle East war for Brits visiting Egypt, including advice against all travel and all but essential travel to parts of the country.

This includes:

Egypt-Libya border

FCDO advises against all travel to within 20km of the Egypt-Libya border, except for the town of El Salloum, where it advises against all but essential travel.

North Sinai

FCDO advises against all travel to the North Sinai Governorate.

Northern part of South Sinai

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the northern part of the South Sinai Governorate, beyond the St Catherine-Nuweibaa road, except for the coastal areas along the west and east of the peninsula.

Your rights if your flight is cancelled or delayed

Eastern part of Ismailiyah Governorate

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the Ismailiyah Governorate east of the Suez Canal.

Western Desert

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the area west of the Nile Valley and Nile Delta regions, except for areas listed on the UK government website.

Recommended reading:

Hala’ib Triangle and Bir Tawil Trapezoid

FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the Hala’ib Triangle and the Bir Tawil Trapezoid.

Stay up to date with the latest UK travel advice to Egypt on the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s website.

Are you due to travel to Egypt soon? Let us know in the comments below.