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Mosques & Muslim traveller notes

Halal food finder

Upper Egypt is overwhelmingly Muslim and conservative: food is halal, the adhan carries across the river five times a day and Friday prayer fills the mosques.

Mosques

Luxor East Bank

Mosque of Abu al-Haggag

A 13th-century mosque built into the courtyard of Ramses II at Luxor Temple, honouring a 12th–13th-century Sufi sheikh. Still in daily use.

Aswan

El-Tabia Mosque

Aswan’s landmark mosque, completed in 1974 on a hill in the city centre, with twin minarets, a central dome and gardens around it.

Prayer & practicalities

Prayer is easy

Mosques are in every neighbourhood and village; hotels and cruise boats can tell you the qibla and the nearest masjid.

On a cruise

Ask your boat for a quiet place to pray on board; sailing times are fixed, so plan Friday prayer around the day’s stop.

Friday timings

Jumu’ah is around midday. Shops in the souqs may open after the prayer.

Visiting a mosque

Cover shoulders and knees; women cover their hair. Shoes off at the door.

Ramadan is not this month

Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around 8 February (subject to moon sighting), so January has normal daytime hours.

Good to know

Halal by default

Local meat is halal. Hotels with international menus may also serve pork; it is labelled.

Alcohol

Served in hotels, cruise boats and some tourist restaurants. Local Egyptian and Nubian restaurants are alcohol-free.

Ask on board

Cruise kitchens may cook some dishes with wine; ask the chef if this matters to you.

03 Where to stay

05 Eat Luxor & Aswan

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