Criminal Defense for Foreigners in Egypt — What to Do If You Are Arrested or Charged
From tourist disputes and traffic incidents to serious criminal charges, foreigners in Egypt face a legal system that operates entirely in Arabic and moves fast. This guide explains your rights on arrest, the role of the Public Prosecution, bail (كفالة), the trial and appeal stages, and how a criminal defense lawyer in Hurghada protects foreign clients from day one.
Egyptian criminal procedure gives the Public Prosecution (النيابة العامة) wide powers of investigation, detention and referral to court. For a foreigner unfamiliar with Arabic and local practice, the first 24–48 hours after an incident are decisive: statements made at the police station without a lawyer are frequently the single most damaging piece of evidence at trial.
Your core rights on arrest include: the right to remain silent, the right to be informed of the charge in a language you understand, the right to contact your embassy, and the right to be represented by a lawyer at every questioning session before the Prosecution. Insist on all four — politely, in writing, and before signing anything.
Bail (الإفراج بكفالة) is available for most misdemeanors and many felonies. Our office prepares the bail application with supporting guarantees — passport surrender, local address, financial guarantor — and argues it before the investigating prosecutor or the misdemeanor court, often securing release within 24–72 hours.
Common cases we handle for foreign clients in Hurghada include: bar and hotel altercations, traffic accidents involving injury, alleged drug possession, alleged bounced cheques (شيكات بدون رصيد), online defamation and social-media complaints, customs and currency violations at the airport, and workplace disputes escalated to criminal complaints.
Trial stages run from Misdemeanor Court to Misdemeanor Appeal, and — for felonies — Criminal Court with a final cassation appeal (نقض). A strong defense combines procedural challenges (illegal search, coerced confession, chain-of-custody breaks) with substantive defenses and — where appropriate — reconciliation (الصلح) with the complainant to close the file.
If you or a family member is detained in Egypt, act within hours, not days. Our criminal defense team is reachable 24/7 in English, coordinates with your embassy, attends every investigation session, and manages the case through to acquittal, dismissal or the lowest lawful sentence.