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
Therry (not verified)
Egyptian man
Sun, 2016/06/19 - 07:54Believe me!,you will never be happy with an Egyptian man money is their happiness...they are dying for money.
American Girl (not verified)
Egyptian Men Will Do Anything For Money
Tue, 2016/09/27 - 19:01The story began almost five years ago. An Egyptian male teacher began teaching me Arabic. He suddenly became an important person to me. Next thing you know he talks to me about being his second wife, wants to “fly to me,” loves me so much, etc. Meanwhile taking money from me, computer software, medical supplies, etc. At least $5,000.00 was given to this man. He received $3,000.00 in cash and another $2,000.00 given to him in gifts because “he needed them.” We met in Cairo. He reported he was the happiest, full of love, and that he will talk to his wife and let her know that he is in love with another woman. Off he went to spend Ramadan with his family. I am very brief here, but mainly I believed him, loved him, supported him and gave him whatever he wanted. He agreed to help me with some personal work, and when I held him for that work, he backed out by creating problems or creating arguments between the two of us. He even went so far as having me talk to his wife about how to be more a happy supporting wife. He would disappear for a few weeks at a time and then comes back. Usually when he came back he needed something from me – for example – more money or for me just to stroke his ego by telling him how great he is. Back to five years – today I am holding him accountable for the fact that he said he would complete some translation work. I do not love this man anymore. He is a liar, user, taker and always up to something all along pretending as if he is a great Muslim man. He is full of lies. He never intended on marrying me nor ever being honest with his wife. God only knows how many other girls he has done this too. He has stolen a-lot of money from me.
zoe (not verified)
Omg.. my boyfriend is
Sat, 2011/10/15 - 13:32Omg.. my boyfriend is egyptian too.. and he still in army service.iam waitin g for him to finish on march to visit. And meet him .. we hve a year already tht we r tlkin trhu webcam..he is so nice.I hope this relationship keep on so..
Karri (not verified)
DONT DO IT
Mon, 2015/04/13 - 16:25DONT do it i did this and i will live in regret the rest of my life. He took me for all my money and he refuses to come to me in Canada and he expect me to send him money to live and will not grant me a divorce. Im stuck in hell for the rest of my life while he marry another and lives a happy life and i struggle to be single in Canada
Anonymous (not verified)
sorry to hear that, but I
Thu, 2015/08/27 - 22:17sorry to hear that, but I think I can help you! if you would like you can send me mail @ (samir89hamza@gmail.com)
carlos (not verified)
Im sorry for you. I also
Thu, 2016/03/10 - 12:47Im sorry for you. I also seem to be stuck in this possible situation now. Ive lost my girlfriend to an online romance with an egyptian man. Christ they never met and he s talking marrige. She has believed every word he tells her, Mind you he hasnt asked for money but that may not be his intentions.
I just recently found out that she was actually talking about going all the way there just to meet him. She swears she loves him. Cmon true love is something built over time.
You need his permission to get divorce?
Khalid
Correction ...
Thu, 2016/03/10 - 12:49Correction: He has not asked for money YET!
moh (not verified)
response
Sat, 2018/10/13 - 00:23hello , i hope you understand my respone
i am egyptian young man
i read your words and i am in total pain of what ideas you are having on egyptian people , we love to depend on our selve , i am hard working egyptian man and i am holding 2 jobs and i never get to rest like many others , the true man never ask a woman for a money cause in our belive and habbit also religion . the man shall give the woman and never ask her to give him , that is part of manhood we belive in , some of us try to go out egypt to have better life , and i am one of those , but i never agreed to decieve any one under the name of love or trick her to get my way out and leave someone to suffer because of my selfish seek , you dealed with non good someone but not all like that , even if you helped a man to make his life better by marrying him , he should be thankful to you and grateful that you made him in better conditions and loved him , he should return your favour with love and care and draw happiness in your life with loyal heart ,
i am willing to move to canada soon , it will be visit visa and i will extend it , my uncle says that i have to marry canadian to solve my immigraions position or studing in university and this will be temporary solution , i will not lie about that , but i will never decive any one in the name of love , cause it is not in what i learned home , a man will be always honest and caring to those who made his life better , even egyptian wife we are thankful , they help us and take good care of us
, i am sorry to read what you have been throguh , i wish you find somone better who will make it up on you and give you what you always wished to have
i wish you the best
so wish me lock
Maggie (not verified)
Are you living in Egypt??
Wed, 2016/01/20 - 23:23How did your relationship turn out Zoe?? are you living your happily ever after life with your Egyptian army guy??
Anonymous (not verified)
reply about marraige
Sun, 2012/05/13 - 17:17youre right the egyptions are polite,but theyre very manipulative,and very dishonest i am married to one,one i thought was shy religious and honest,turns out he has had many internet affairs since i married him,and so much more,what u see isnt what you get with them.
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