Egypt to Treat Arab Visitors as Foreign Tourists at Archaeological Sites

Egypt has officially decided to treat visitors from Arab countries as foreign tourists in terms of entrance fees to archaeological sites and museums, according to an official decision by the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.

The new policy, which came into effect on January 1, abolishes the previous fee system that allowed Arab visitors to pay the same ticket prices as Egyptian citizens. Under the revised framework, admission tickets are now classified into only two categories: Egyptians and foreigners, with Arab nationals included in the latter.

The decision applies to all archaeological sites and museums supervised by the Supreme Council of Antiquities across the country.

Officials said the move aims to standardize ticketing policies and support financial resources needed for the maintenance, development, and preservation of Egypt’s archaeological and heritage sites, as well as improving services provided to visitors.

The previous system, introduced in 2007, granted Arab tourists preferential entry fees similar to those of Egyptians. Its cancellation marks a shift toward a unified pricing structure for all non-Egyptian visitors.

The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities emphasized that the new measures are part of broader efforts to enhance the sustainability of the tourism sector and strengthen revenues supporting cultural heritage conservation.