Is Siwa Oasis safe?
Calm and small, with low crime and friendly locals. Remote desert, heat, border regions and limited medical care are the real risks.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2025-07-14.
- Homicide rate in Egypt: 1.3 per 100,000 people (2017, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Egypt: 10.1 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 122 · Ambulance 123 · Fire 180 · Tourist police 126.
Safety in Siwa Oasis at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Very little crime; occasional overcharging and pushy tour touts are the main issues. |
| At night | Quiet by 10 pm. The town center is safe to walk; desert and palm-grove roads are unlit. |
| Solo women | Quieter and more conservative than Cairo. Dress modestly, cover shoulders and knees, and book a guide for desert trips. |
| Other risks | Extreme heat in summer, cold desert nights in winter; Dune and 4x4 accidents; Limited medical help far from town |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Desert tour prices that change after you leave town
- Souvenir sellers claiming items are antique or local
- Taxi or tuk-tuk drivers quoting tourist prices
Take care
- Desert driving off marked tracks: dunes, soft sand and no signal
- Libyan border and military zones: stay on permitted roads
- Winter nights: very cold, with little heating in cheap rooms
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Photographing people needs their consent; children, officials and military sites, including the Suez Canal, are off-limits.
- Importing or flying a drone without Defence Ministry permission can mean up to 7 years in prison.
- Criticising the government, including in social media posts, can lead to detention.
How Siwa Oasis compares in Egypt
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Hurghada | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Sharm El Sheikh | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Aswan | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Dahab | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Marsa Alam | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| El Gouna | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Siwa Oasis | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Cairo | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Luxor | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Alexandria | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Siwa Oasis safe for solo female travelers?
Quieter and more conservative than Cairo. Dress modestly, cover shoulders and knees, and book a guide for desert trips.
Is Siwa Oasis safe at night?
Quiet by 10 pm. The town center is safe to walk; desert and palm-grove roads are unlit.
What is the crime rate in Siwa Oasis?
Very little crime; occasional overcharging and pushy tour touts are the main issues. Nationally, Egypt records 1.3 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2017).
What number do I call in an emergency in Siwa Oasis?
Police 122 · Ambulance 123 · Fire 180 · Tourist police 126.
More about Siwa Oasis
Going to Siwa Oasis solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Egypt Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
- Go Bus
- UK FCDO travel advice: Egypt
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.