Cairo, Egypt
Smoking policy at Cairo, Cairo International Airport (CAI)
Warnings & Caveats
Smoking is strictly limited to designated areas only. Egyptian law prohibits smoking in enclosed public spaces outside designated zones, with fines possible for violations. Some smoking lounges (particularly near the F gates in Terminal 3) were reported as closed and locked as of 2020. Conditions can change, so check signage on arrival. Before security, smoking is only permitted outdoors outside the terminal buildings.
Cairo International Airport is one of the more smoker-friendly airports in Africa and the Middle East, with designated smoking rooms confirmed in all three terminals airside. The best-documented options are in Terminal 3, where multiple traveler reports from 2020 through 2026 confirm working smoking rooms near the G gates. Before security, smoking is restricted to outdoor designated areas outside the terminal buildings.
Before Security
Landside, you can only smoke in designated outdoor areas outside the terminal entrances. There are no indoor smoking facilities in the public (pre-security) zones. If you need a cigarette before checking in, step outside the terminal doors to the designated spots.
After Security
All three terminals have airside smoking facilities, though the details and current status vary:
Terminal 1: A smoking room was confirmed in Departure Hall 2 as of November 2023, located right next to the only cafe in that hall. Traveler reports describe it as well-finished with stone flooring, a flight information display, and sauna-style bench seating. A second smoking facility is also noted in Terminal 1 but without precise location details.
Terminal 2: A smoking room is located on the 2nd floor near the food corner area, confirmed by a traveler in February 2022. No further layout details are available.
Terminal 3: The most consistently reported terminal for smoking. A large smoking room next to Gate G28 was praised in September 2022 as very spacious, clean, and well-ventilated. A smoking area near Gate G23 was confirmed open in May 2026. A lounge at Gate G5 was noted in July 2024. Earlier reports (February 2020) also mention a smoking room near Gate F2, accessible by elevator to the 2nd floor. Smoking is also described as permitted on the 3rd floor of Terminal 3 in several areas.
Bell's Restaurant and Cafe (Terminal 3)
As of June 2020, Bell's Restaurant and Cafe, located just before the F gates in Terminal 3, permitted smoking inside if you purchased something (a large latte was 75 EGP at the time). Free-standing smoking lounges in that area were reported as closed and locked at that time, so the cafe was the practical alternative. This may have changed since.
Vaping Rules
No specific vaping policy is mentioned in any available source for Cairo Airport. Egypt has general tobacco regulations but enforcement of vaping rules at the airport is not documented. Treat vaping the same as smoking and use designated areas to be safe.
Transit and Layovers
If you are transiting through Terminal 3, the G-gate smoking rooms are your most reliable option based on recent 2026 reports. Terminal 3 handles most international and EgyptAir traffic, so transit passengers are well-placed.
Bottom Line
Cairo Airport is genuinely accommodating for smokers airside, with confirmed smoking rooms in all three terminals. Head to the G-gate area in Terminal 3 for the most up-to-date and spacious options.
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