How Does Dress Code Work in Egypt?
Last verified: 2025-06 · Middle East
1The Quick Answer
Cover shoulders and knees in most public areas; swimwear is fine at Red Sea and Mediterranean resorts.
2What You Need to Know
Egypt is a conservative Muslim-majority country and modest dress is genuinely important outside resort areas. Women should cover shoulders and knees when walking in cities, visiting markets, or entering any religious site. At mosques, women must cover their hair and wear loose full-length clothing — robes and scarves are usually available at the entrance. Men should avoid wearing shorts in mosques and in Upper Egypt (Luxor, Aswan). At Red Sea resorts (Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh) and Mediterranean beaches, standard swimwear is completely acceptable.
3Practical Tips
Practical Tips
- 1Carry a large light scarf at all times — it doubles as a head covering at mosques and a shoulder wrap in conservative areas
- 2Upper Egypt (Luxor, Aswan) is more conservative than Cairo or the Red Sea coast — err on the side of more coverage
- 3Robes and headscarves are provided at the entrances to Al-Azhar Mosque and Mohamed Ali Mosque, but wearing your own is preferred
Important Warning
Ignoring the dress code at mosques will result in refusal of entry. In more conservative areas, inappropriately dressed women may face significant harassment.
How does this compare?
Dress Code rules in nearby and similar countries:
Dress modestly in public. Shoulders and knees should be covered in malls, markets, and public areas. Swimwear is only for beaches and pools.
Dress modestly throughout Morocco — cover shoulders and knees especially in medinas, souks, and rural areas.
Foreign women are no longer required to wear an abaya, but modest dress covering shoulders and knees is expected in public.
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