There wasn't a real smoking policy in Egypt just a few years back. Smoking was allowed everywhere at any time.

But gradually the airports began having strict smoking policies and today smoking is not permitted in any airport in Egypt except in designated areas. Some travellers, tourists and Egyptians alike, ignore the rules though, and in an airport such as the one in Sharm el-Sheikh, there are still people smoking where they are not supposed to.

Most hotels now offer non-smoking rooms as well as a lot of restaurants have smoking and non-smoking areas, there are even some restaurants with a complete non-smoking policy, but don't expect it. On nile-cruisers, smoking is not allowed in the diningroom at all, but generally allowed everywhere else.

Smoking is allowed in most pubs, bars, lounges and cafes, and the non-smoker will not experience any real consideration if pointing out that the place is smoky. Some of the popular bars and pubs can be extremely smoky indeed.