A word of caution for female tourists visiting Egypt: be careful of the many of the men working in tourist areas in Egypt.
Although the vast majority of Egyptians have a high sense of honor and good conduct, it seems that tourist areas seem to attract a relatively high concentration of people with lax morals, who would exploit tourists in many ways. It can manifest itself as persistent aggressive begging, peddling cheap goods, charging 10X the normal prices for services and goods, and what this article focuses on: exploiting female tourists.
Looking at the bulk of the comments on my notes on compulsory army service in egypt they are mostly from non-Egyptian women who married (or intend to marry) an Egyptian man, and army service has become an obstacle.
So, once you here the word "habibti" (meaning "my love" in Arabic), and before you call him "Habibi", let alone go down the marriage route, read on below for more information.
The exploitation happens in many forms, but is normally centered around one of the following:
Easy and Free Sex
Many tourists come from countries where sex is more freely practiced outside of marriage. Youn g Egyptian men working in tourist areas who
are not married see this as an opportunity, and are met with acceptance from the female tourists.
A source for Money
Many Egyptian men who practice this scam view the "wealthy" tourist as a source of income. They keep asking their "girl friend", "fiance" or "wife" for money for various excuses, just like a professional scammer would play a confidence game on a victim.
An Opporunity for Immigration
Some of those men want to get out of Egypt, and see their marriage as a way to gain residence and citizenship in a Western country. The economy in Egypt has been stagnant for decades, and poverty, lack of opportunity and the high cost of marriage lures some youth to trying these tricks.
Why it works?
There are several factors that work in favor of the Egyptian scammers here.
One factor that helps is that most Egyptian men look desirable to Western women, being of darker complexion than their compatriots. The fact that the foreigners are white blonds work in making the women attractive and desirable for Egyptian men.
Another factor is that the woman is coming to the tourist place to have a good time. It may be a break from stressful work or study, or perhaps a past relationship. This helps blind her to what is happening.
Yet another factor is the cultural differences which also create temporary blindness.
Moreover, those workers being away from their village or city of origin, where they would be observed by their extended family and friends tend to make it easier for them to engage in sexual relationships and scams without being scrutinized by acquaintenaces, and no stigma is attached to these behaviors.
Finally, the scammers have perfected their techniques over the years, and are very skillful at what they do.
Blacklists
Blacklists have emerged on the internet, to warn potential female tourists from known exploiters. These have all the faults of user contributed content on the internet in that they can be innacurate, biased, or even rigged by rivals or pranksters. However, in the absence of any other information, they can be useful, provided they are taken with a good deal of skepticism and research and common sense applied.
- An overview article on what a "black list" is, at Arabia.pl.
- Dezy House: Blacklist for Hurghada, in English.
- Dezy House: Blacklist for Sharm El Sheikh, in English.
- Wanted List of Egypt.
- Egyptian Blacklist on Topix.
- KunstKamera blacklist.
Happens everywhere, not only Egypt
Before someone gets the impression that Egypt is a cesspool, and Egyptians are crooks, let me say it is neither.
The problem above is not limited to Egypt by any means. Any country where tourists come in to spend money has its share of exploiters. The above black lists have a Turkish one, and a Tunisian one, and there are lots of stories about French, Italian and Spanish men exploiting women tourists as well.
Of course, there is also the Russian bride fraud targeting well to do men in the West.
So, the problem is universal, although this article focuses on female tourists to Egypt.
Final Thoughts
There are many non-Egyptian women married to Egyptian men happily, so over-generalizing from the cases mentioned, or from workers at tourist resort is wrong. Chances are you will be happy with an Egyptian as a husband if you met him in a more natural settings, e.g. while studying or working, and getting to meet his family as well.
The "artificial" environment in resorts, being on holiday, and surrounded by some scammers lend itself to the disasters described.
So, beware ...
Further Reading
- Marwa Rakha: Relationship Warning: Do not get involved with Egyptian Men (also here).
- Global Voices: "Beware of Egyptian Men" says Canadian Embassy, also by Marwa Rakha.
- Trailing Grouse: Egyptian men marrying women for money.
- Yahoo Answers: Egyptian Men marrying foreign women to get out from Egypt.
- Sex, Sun, Stupidity and Gigolos.
- Amy Robson: n English girl who keeps falling in false love with Egyptian men (she finally returned to Britain).
- Someone searching on KunstKamera: for Honest Egyptian Boys?
- List if sites on Romance Fraud in German, and other languages.
- A movie documentary in the making on holiday romance, specially Hurghada.
- Female Sex Tourism on Wikipedia, has lots of links to extensive articles. While Turkey is listed as a major destination, Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco are listed as "minor destinations".
- An article from a Canadian perspective: Sex tourism in full boom. Jamaica, Barbados, Dominican Republic and the Caribbean are the major destination for Canadian women.
Comments
Anonymous (not verified)
I used to read this stuff and...
Sat, 2010/03/13 - 03:49I used to read this stuff and think that me and my Egyptian boyfriend were different. Well let me tell you, I was taken for a ride myself. Don't do it. Just don't do it. It doesn't matter if there is a spark there. The spark is not worthit. And trust me, he IS playing you if you are on here researching about Egyptian guys. Even Egyptians tell tourists to beware of Egyptian guys.
Anonymous (not verified)
marrying an egyptian
Tue, 2010/03/16 - 13:27i have been asked to marry by a guy from egypt he seems really nice he is 1 year older than me but i do belive he is a genuine guy what do you think i should do i want to do it but i am not sure i ma also catholic and he says religion doesnt matter as he loves me
Mrs Abedel aziz (not verified)
Hallo.. You dont write how
Wed, 2010/03/17 - 11:35Hallo..
You dont write how long time you know him???
But i am sorry to say it to you?? DONT DO IT..
I know not all egyptian are the same.But you have to take care;)
Lene
Isis (not verified)
To "Marrying an Egyptian"
Sat, 2010/04/03 - 06:57Your comment "he seems really nice" says it all. You don't know this man at all otherwise you would have been more convincing in your opinion of your Egyptian man. This relationship will end in disaster and you will be poorer emotionally and financially when it ends.
jojo (not verified)
hi
Thu, 2010/03/25 - 13:51i will be going to egypt and i plan to marry an egyptian christian
i am an evangilical christian he is oxthdox..
i do not know how safe it is to marry an egyptian after hearing such cases but i know it is safe with a christian? just wanted advice,, thanks God bless
hema (not verified)
why
Wed, 2010/04/07 - 15:18why always egypt as u say that happen in everywere so why egypt always is the example and u have very bad idea about the egyptain men i love spanish girl and i will get marry with her and she love me too i hope u chang ur idea about the egyptian plz thanks for ur topic
Isis (not verified)
The answer to WHY?
Sat, 2010/04/10 - 08:19I am an Australian married to an Egyptian man. My Egyptian husband is one of the good Egyptian men but I knew him for a year before we married. He is a hard working and properous man who is honest, loyal and well respected. I did not marry him the minute that I met him as happens in most oases. We took a year to get to know each other before we committed to marriage. As in your case with your future Spanish wife, there are exceptional Egyptian men.
However, there are many, many not so good men in the tourist industry in Egypt that specifically prey on foreign women for money, designer clothes, cars, flats, villas, dodgey business partnerships and of course, sex. These men want the riches in life without putting in the effort. They want the easy way to a better life and being dishonest comes easily to them. They are waiters, felucca men and hotel staff. They work in bazaars in the tourist areas and some actually do present themselves as tour operators without the correct certificates and licenses.
You must know about this scenario if you are an Egyptian. Considering all the reasons above it is understandable why foreign women generally spurn Egyptian men and why these women are cautious about meeting young Egyptian me. There are amny disaster stories that support my brief summary with some ending in unwanted pregnancies and children never knowing their Egyptian fathers. This is whay these web sites exist and I hope this answers your question.
heather (not verified)
sending money out of Morocco
Thu, 2010/04/15 - 13:43It is illegal to send money out of Morocco through Western Union or many other venues unless they are of a business nature and even then there is paper work and verification processes to go through. So don't let anyone from Morocco have you believe they will pay you back. It is most likely they already are aware of the fact that Moroccan currency does not leave Morocco.If you want to send money it is not a problem but just call Western Union and ask what the exchange rate is, you will be very surprised how much our dollar gives them when they take it out. My friend in Morocco once offered to send me money, I did not accept the offer even though I could have used it, he knows I have just come through a 3 year divorce and have debt incurred from it. He also knows I have a small amount in savings, and about 3 months later, after apparently being out of work for about that same length of time, he asked me for $150. which I said no to. A small amount of time went by and he said, I was the only that could help him and could I send him $100. our realtionship was that of friends at this point as we can started to think realistically about all the mountains we had to move in order to meet, as neither of us have money to speak of. So as a friend I sent him the $100. with no desire for him to ever repay me. I looked at is as act of charity, but my $100. is where it stops. We still talk and he still wants me to marry him, he is 33 and I am 49. It honestly scares me to marry so fast into a culture and to a man I have only known for 6 months. I don't blame people for wanting a better life but not at the expense of others. How does one truly know if it is true love... My ex said he loved me more than life, but he continually put drinking before his family and when I decided it was over, he did everything to make my life a living hell, emotionally and financially. So do we ever really know what someone is capable of.
I have heard before that the Islam Holy Book is the only Holy Book that has never been altered in its printing, I have a copy coming free to me. No matter what happens with him and I, I will read the book and form my own opinion and perhaps be spiritually richer for having met my Arab friend. Best of luck to you all, and pray to God to help you see who you are talking to and willing to give you hand in marriage to. Prayer never hurts.
Anonymous (not verified)
I've wasted the whole winter being a victim for Ahmed Nagah's
Thu, 2010/04/22 - 12:50The shit really happens, if you're not aware of what they are after. I had a holiday in sharm el sheikh last January with my 3-year old son. All we were looking for was sun, beach, dolphin shows and ice cream. also I thought I would be very safe from all sorts of gigolos, since I had a small child with me all the time. I met Ahmed Nagah on our first day there, because we went out on the sea to snorkle on one of those diving boats and he was working there as a dive master. (he works for Bright Shark diving center at the beach of Royal Albatros Hotel in Nabq, Sharm el sheikh).
He was playing with my son there all day and offered to show us how to get to Naama Bay that night, because he was going there to do something else. When we were in Naama, he started to woo me very insistingly saying he fell in love with me as soon as he saw me. He seemed so very sincere and we had a lovely week together taking my son to different places. When i returned home, he called me everyday, repeating how much he loved me and needed me and how I have to come back to him, because he couldn’t live without me. I couldn’t resist that and went back to sharm to see him in February for two weeks. To be able to stay in the same flat, we had to get married on paper (orfi). After the first day he started to behave extremely distant and after that he was basically running away from me. He had lied to me on the phone that he would have a holiday for those two weeks, but was working every day for about 12 hours. That he blamed on his brother, who was his boss and according to him “had denied his holiday a day before I came, because he was jealous”. I ended up being alone the whole time and he has admitted now on the phone that it was a bet between him and his friend: whether he can make me come back or not. He’s also admitted he never loved me and was saying it just to make me return to him (to win his bet). Well, I think it’s a bit obvious that those two weeks with him there were very akward, but he doesn’t let go now. Still two months later now, he keeps calling, saying that even though he didn’t love me before (when I came back to get to know him better and form some kind of a relationship with him) now he does and wants me to come back AGAIN so that he could “fix” everything!! Obviously I’m not going anywhere and I have stated to him in SMS, email and on the phone several times that I don’t want to hear from him ever again and I have blocked his continuous facebook friend requests, but last weekend for example he called 9 times!! What on earth does he want from me and how can I make him stop. I hate his guts, but now he thinks that because he told me “the truth” everything is fine!!!????!!!!
Has he done this to anybody else? Please contact me, if you have any information about him!!
My email: fragilestar@rocketmail.com
Hannah (not verified)
What a shame
Thu, 2010/04/22 - 19:05That was a terrible thing to do to you, but we all learn by mistakes we make. |if anyont is asked to go back I always think the best thing is to book a hotel, at least you will still get a good holiday, as for Ahmed, let him phone, just put the phone down and let him talk and run up a bill, it is his problem and the only way you will get rid of him. ||remember, no-one can possibly love you when they don't really know you. I hope you find happiness soon.
from Hannan. Manchester UK|.
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