Is kissing on the cheek when greeting polite in Egypt?

Common among same gender. In Egypt, cheek kissing is a standard greeting among friends and family of the same gender, typically starting with the left cheek. However, between opposite genders in public, it is less common and may be considered inappropriate unless the individuals are closely related or in very liberal circles.

When greeting an Egyptian of the same gender at a social gathering, offer a light kiss on each cheek (starting left) if you know them well, but wait for them to initiate first.

In more conservative or rural areas, same-gender cheek kissing is still common, but opposite-gender kissing in public is rare and may be frowned upon; among younger, urban, and more secular Egyptians, opposite-gender cheek kissing is increasingly accepted.