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
Irish Rose (not verified)
moving on
Mon, 2013/07/29 - 17:13I knew a taxi man in Luxor for more than 4 years (aged 40+) and would chat to him sometimes when I would meet him on the street. Sometimes, when I had shopping to do I would call him and would use the services of his taxi. He was always very kind and respectful to me and we would chat about the life in general. He had told me he was divorced since 2007 and that he was living alone in a house on the outskirts of Luxor. One day in 2009 he asked me to have coffee with him which I accepted. He then said I could meet his family. I would have various friends in Luxor, male and female and would ofter go to visit their families bringing sweets or a cake for them. So I did go to meet his family, but when we got there he said his brother and sister were gone out and we went then to his house ( to see his family or so I thought) and there was no one there so I made some excuses and asked him to take me home to my own flat where I live alone. A bit strange I thought he was to do this. However, I met him again regularly for coffee and this time I did go to his house and stayed the night. He actually did live alone. I shared my time between his house and my flat as I was there for 7 months. I spent the most beautiful time with him during the 7 months. Whilst his villa was ok (a typical bachelor pad) it was not the same as mine so I asked him to decorate it and I would pay for it. Not a lot of money but certainly we make his villa lovely, had a lovely time choosing paint, tiles, some furnishing etc., In this time we travelled to Hurghada and Cairo with him driving as he had a brand new car. We cooked together, shopped together and there was no one in the world just the 2 of us. His children would drop in to his house to see him every couple of days and sometimes we would take them to town or to the Medina Club. I met all of his relatives (except his ex-wife) and I got swept along in he love with him. He was always declaring his love to me and would do anything for me. Then over time he started to change, he became very possessive, did not want me to go out without him, to meet my friends etc., to go to the swimming pool, and I felt that I had lost myself and had lost a lot of friends in Luxor (foreigners). I found his temper to be a little unpredictable and not safe! I left him and went back to my flat. The time spent together was beautiful, I still think of him every day. I do spend 4 months in Luxor each year in my flat. I saw him a couple of times since. He now refuses to speak to me when he sees me on the street and did tell 1 year ago that I had broken his heart. I never meant to hurt him and I certainly was not playing with him. Sometimes, it is not always the women that feels the hurt of a relationship in Luxor
KC. (not verified)
These men are all liars. They
Thu, 2013/11/07 - 21:34These men are all liars. They never change. They will say to you what they think you want to hear. Even when you give them a chance to say the truth they still lie.
The only good thing is, when you know they lie, then you can play them as they have played you.
It hurts but at least you know what you are dealing with.
They will even hurt what is most dear to them to get what they want.
Anonymous (not verified)
Lie
Wed, 2013/11/13 - 00:52I want just say this kind off mans u can found all over the world not only in Egypt we must try to stop to be with small mind open ur mind and u will found this kind even besid u
Isis (not verified)
Not a lie
Mon, 2013/11/18 - 00:42Young Egyptian men in the tourist areas and resorts DO prey on naive foreign women with the full indent of scamming them to extract money, designer items, mobile phones, sex etc. This is not a lie.
Anonymous (not verified)
I say Not only in egypt
Sun, 2013/12/29 - 15:06I Said Not only in egypt is give just good and bad people that's all go in Spain or Itali or in Germany every place in the world give shit people stop to talking about Egypt and speak just about the bad people that what I see that all off u blind from the true
Isis (not verified)
Read the title of the blog
Wed, 2014/01/01 - 19:14The title of this blog is "Warning to female tourists thinking of marrying Egyptians" It is not about Italy, Spain or Germany or the rest of the world. Your aggressive respponse is purely selfish as we are discussing on here foreign women being scammed by Egyptian men in the tourist areas. The devastation that these women experience during and after these types of scamming and dishonest relationships is documented quite substantially on here and other websites. Prevention is far better than the cure I'm afraid. Yes, there are good people in Egypt and I am married to one of them, but this site is not talking about them.
Anonymous (not verified)
after visiting Egypt many
Fri, 2014/05/16 - 13:34after visiting Egypt many times i very much agree to this article and women need to be aware.Never marry or start a relationship unless he will take you to meet the family and be fully aware of the marriage law ensure it is legal
Anonymous (not verified)
Many women do not know want
Sun, 2014/06/01 - 16:28Many women do not know want is going on in tourist area but is dangerrous to married a man like that you will Property lose all ,This is a shift game
Anonymous (not verified)
Who knows Hassan Abdelatty
Sat, 2014/08/23 - 11:28Does anyone knows Hassan Abdelatty Ahmed Seliman fron Al Daabya close to Luxor
He has a touristshop at the Pyramisa Isis hotel in Luxor city, Khalid Ibn Whalidstraat
He drives a bleu Deawoo car
Can anybody tel me about this man, did you meet him, did you give him money or otherwise?
Isis (not verified)
re Abdelatty
Thu, 2014/11/06 - 23:33Clearly if you feel the need to ask questions about this man then you have doubts. He will have an Egyptian wife and he will also have children. You will gain nothing by having a relationship with this man. My advice is to stay away from him and keep your money in your pocket and your dignity intact.
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