To the Westerner accustomed to the potential dangers of
urban life, especially violent crime, perhaps the most surpris-
ing feature of the Egyptian city is the overwhelming sense of
security. Violence is almost unknown, and even petty theft
is rare. Sometimes a pickpocket will lift a wallet on an over-
crowded bus, but that is about the extent of the city’s crime. A
foreigner can walk day or night in any part of Cairo, even its
poorest quarters, and not fear for his or her safety. More likely
than not, the visitor will be greeted repeatedly by the locals:
“Hello, where are you from? Come, come, have tea, meet
my family.” Hospitality and generosity are important traits in
Arab culture, and perhaps no Arabs are friendlier than the
Egyptians. That tradition of kindness, as well as their deep
religious beliefs, probably has a lot to do with Egypt’s low
crime rate.