Prostitution laws in Egyptمصر
Egypt prohibits prostitution under Law No. 10 of 1961 on Combating Prostitution, enacted when Egypt and Syria formed the United Arab Republic. Habitually practising prostitution or debauchery is punishable by three months to three years in prison and/or a fine (Article 9(c)), and a person caught may be sent for a medical examination. Inciting, assisting or facilitating prostitution, opening or managing a place for it, exploiting another's prostitution and advertising an invitation to it are all offences, with closure of premises. The Act does not penalise the client. In 2025 prosecutors also used Article 25 of the 2018 Cybercrime Law and charges of "inciting debauchery" against social-media content creators.
Legal model
Selling and buying prohibited. Selling sex is an offence (criminal or administrative), whether or not buying is.
Law No. 10 of 1961 on Combating Prostitution makes the habitual practice of prostitution or "debauchery" (fujur) an offence, alongside procuring, brothel-keeping and advertising. The Act contains no offence for the client.[1][2]
At a glance
| Question | Status | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Selling sexual services | Illegal Criminal offence | Anyone who habitually practises debauchery or prostitution is punishable by three months to three years in prison and/or a fine of 25 to 300 Egyptian pounds (Article 9(c)). A person caught may be sent for a medical examination, and the court may order placement in a special reformatory after the sentence, for up to three years; this is mandatory for a repeat offence.[1][2][3] |
| Buying sexual services | Legal | Law No. 10 of 1961 contains no offence of paying for sex; its offences target the person who habitually practises prostitution and third parties.[1] |
| Brothels and managed venues | Illegal Criminal offence | Opening or managing a place for debauchery or prostitution, or helping to manage it, carries one to three years and a fine of 100 to 300 pounds, with closure and confiscation (Article 8). Renting out premises run for prostitution, or habitually facilitating it in furnished rooms or places open to the public, carries three months to three years (Article 9). A place habitually used for others' prostitution is a brothel even if one person works there (Article 10).[1] |
| Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping) | Illegal Criminal offence | Inciting, assisting or facilitating a person's prostitution, or employing, enticing or luring a person for it, is punishable by one to three years and a fine of 100 to 300 pounds (Article 1). Helping a woman to practise prostitution, even financially, or exploiting a person's prostitution by any means carries six months to three years (Article 6). Coercion, deceit and minors aggravate the penalties.[1] |
| Advertising sexual services | Illegal Criminal offence | Announcing by any means of advertisement an invitation that entices to debauchery or prostitution, or draws attention to it, is punishable by up to three years and/or a fine of up to 100 pounds (Article 14).[1][4] |
The law in detail
Selling sexual services
Anyone who habitually practises debauchery or prostitution is punishable by three months to three years in prison and/or a fine of 25 to 300 Egyptian pounds (Article 9(c)). A person caught may be sent for a medical examination, and the court may order placement in a special reformatory after the sentence, for up to three years; this is mandatory for a repeat offence.[1][2][3]
According to Court of Cassation case law, the offence requires engaging in sex with people without distinction, on a habitual basis, and covers male as well as female prostitution. Working or habitually residing in a place used for prostitution, knowing it, is a separate offence of up to one year (Article 13).
Note. Read from the 1961 Official Gazette text; later amendments to the fine amounts, if any, were not checked. Case law is taken from a digest of Court of Cassation principles, not from judgments opened individually.
Checked 30 October 2026
Buying sexual services
Law No. 10 of 1961 contains no offence of paying for sex; its offences target the person who habitually practises prostitution and third parties.[1]
Confidence: medium. Whether clients are prosecuted under other provisions (for example adultery of a married person on the spouse's complaint) was not checked.
Checked 30 October 2026
Brothels and managed venues
Opening or managing a place for debauchery or prostitution, or helping to manage it, carries one to three years and a fine of 100 to 300 pounds, with closure and confiscation (Article 8). Renting out premises run for prostitution, or habitually facilitating it in furnished rooms or places open to the public, carries three months to three years (Article 9). A place habitually used for others' prostitution is a brothel even if one person works there (Article 10).[1]
Checked 30 October 2026
Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping)
Inciting, assisting or facilitating a person's prostitution, or employing, enticing or luring a person for it, is punishable by one to three years and a fine of 100 to 300 pounds (Article 1). Helping a woman to practise prostitution, even financially, or exploiting a person's prostitution by any means carries six months to three years (Article 6). Coercion, deceit and minors aggravate the penalties.[1]
Checked 30 October 2026
Advertising sexual services
Announcing by any means of advertisement an invitation that entices to debauchery or prostitution, or draws attention to it, is punishable by up to three years and/or a fine of up to 100 pounds (Article 14).[1][4]
Online content is also prosecuted under Law No. 175 of 2018 on Combating Information Technology Crimes. In a 2025 campaign against TikTok creators, prosecutors used Article 25 ("violating family principles or values") and charges of "inciting debauchery"; Human Rights Watch counted at least 29 people arrested or prosecuted between late July and late August 2025.
Note. The text of Law No. 175 of 2018 itself was not opened; its use is reported by Human Rights Watch.
Checked 30 October 2026
Key legislation
| Law | What it does here | In force |
|---|---|---|
| قرار رئيس الجمهورية العربية المتحدة بالقانون رقم 10 لسنة 1961 في شأن مكافحة الدعارة في الجمهورية العربية المتحدة Law No. 10 of 1961 on Combating Prostitution in the United Arab Republic arts. 1–14 | The core statute: habitual prostitution, procuring, brothels, exploitation and advertising.[1] | 14 March 1961 |
Timeline
- 14 March 1961Law No. 10 of 1961 on Combating Prostitution is published in the Official Gazette (No. 62) and enters into force in the Egyptian region; it repeals Law No. 68 of 1951.[1]
- July 2025Authorities begin a campaign of arrests and prosecutions of social-media content creators on charges including violating family values and inciting debauchery.[4]
Sources
- قرار رئيس الجمهورية العربية المتحدة بالقانون رقم 10 لسنة 1961 في شأن مكافحة الدعارة في الجمهورية العربية المتحدة (Decree-Law No. 10 of 1961 on Combating Prostitution in the United Arab Republic (Official Gazette No. 62, 14 March 1961)). Manshurat Qanuniya (scan of the Official Gazette), 14 March 1961. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026
- Country matrix 2024: Egypt — Gender Justice and the Law. UN ESCWA, UNDP, UNFPA and UN Women. intergovernmental · accessed 30 October 2026
- محكمة النقض — مبادئ: دعارة (Court of Cassation — principles on prostitution (digest)). Bawabat Misr lil-Qanun wal-Qada (laweg.net). case law · accessed 30 October 2026
- Egypt: Mass Crackdown Targets Online Content Creators. Human Rights Watch, 10 September 2025. ngo · accessed 30 October 2026