Question 1

What is the "Beachside Drug Offer and Setup" scam in Dahab?

Accepted Answer

Individuals posing as friendly locals or fellow travellers approach tourists relaxing along the lagoon beach or at open-air shisha cafés on the Mashraba strip, casually offering cannabis or other substances. Once a tourist shows interest or accepts, a companion posing as a plainclothes police officer appears demanding a bribe to avoid arrest. The amount demanded typically ranges from $100 to $500. Decline all unsolicited offers of drugs firmly and immediately. Egypt carries severe criminal penalties for drug possession and the entrapment scheme is well-established in Dahab. Leave the area if someone persists after a refusal.

Question 2

What is the "Fake Antiques and Pharaonic Goods" scam in Dahab?

Accepted Answer

Markets in Dahab and at tourist sites sell items described as genuine ancient Egyptian artefacts including scarabs, coins, and small statues at prices that imply authentic archaeological value. These items are mass-produced tourist replicas, and the sale of genuine Egyptian antiquities is illegal. All authentic Egyptian antiquities are protected by Egyptian law and cannot legally be sold to tourists. Any scarab or ancient coin being sold to you in Dahab is a reproduction. There is nothing wrong with buying a reproduction if you understand what it is — do not pay prices that imply authenticity.

Street Scams in Dahab

Beachside Drug Offer and Setup

Fake Antiques and Pharaonic Goods

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