Egypt - Facts

Egypt FAQs

Pre-Arrival Boat: All yachts must register on the Maritime Sector Website at least 72 hours prior to arrival in the first port of entry. You will need an agent for clearance. See Clearance for details. Pre-Arrival Crew: In general, nearly all foreign nationals intending to visit Egypt will require some form of visa. Visas are not needed by anyone traveling on a yacht transiting the Suez Canal and remaining in the port area. More information at Immigration. Where can I enter? The majority of yachts coming from the south check into Egypt at Port Ghalib Marina or Hurghada Port. Port Ghalib currently has incredibly high fees, as does Hurghada. Agents recommend that based on the government’s new tariff, the best/cheapest port for check-in/out is Suez, at this time, as the new government bill has not yet been applied to the Suez Canal marinas. See Fees for more details.
Are fees high to enter by yacht? Yes fees are high for entry and services. Use of a reliable agent is recommended to avoid over paying. See Fees for details.
What security concerns should I know about? In general, safety and security for foreign tourists is moderate in Egypt. See Security for more info. Suez Canal: If you simply are transiting through Egypt via the Suez Canal and don’t intend to go ashore, you don’t need to check-into the country. Detailed Transit Notes are available to Noonsite Members via the special offers green bar.

Egypt Facts for Sailors

• Most yachts visit Egypt only to transit the Suez Canal and very few visit the country itself.
• Egypt has become more difficult to explore by yacht in recent years due to less anchorages, because of either military presence or commercial development, and greatly inflated clearance costs.
• The only area of the country worth cruising is in the Red Sea, the reefs and bays stretching from the Sudanese border to the Gulf of Suez. Day sailing along this coast is the most pleasant way to make progress against the prevailing northerlies.  See this 2023 report from SV Tuvalu.
• In past years the Red Sea coast saw a rapid growth in tourist resorts and developments including several new marinas, such as the Abu Tig and Port Ghalib Marinas, which form part of large resorts.
• If you are heading North, it is recommended to check into Egypt at Port Ghalib, not Hurghada (where fees are much higher).
• It is also possible to day sail north and stop overnight at "stop-over" anchorages.  See this 2023 report from SV Tuvalu which contains some suggested anchorages.
• If heading South, a stop at Hurghada is worthwhile, however, be very careful about fees.
• Touring / sightseeing Egypt can be done from Port Suez, Hurghada or Port Ghalib.
• In the Mediterranean, Alexandria is the only alternative to Port Said.
• Occasionally yachts manage to obtain a permit to sail up the River Nile, a fascinating but not easy way to see Egypt.