Yes, Cairo International Airport (CAI) has designated indoor smoking rooms for passengers. Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 have signposted smoking rooms after passport control near the gate areas, several airport lounges include smoking sections, and Terminal 1 offers outdoor smoking before security.
Cairo International Airport is the busiest airport in Egypt and one of the busiest in Africa and the Middle East, handling well over 25 million passengers a year. It is EgyptAir’s primary hub and a major Star Alliance gateway connecting Europe, the Gulf, Africa and Asia. Because Egypt permits indoor smoking facilities in its newer terminals, Cairo is one of the more comfortable major airports in the region for smokers, especially on long layovers.
Airport Layout
Cairo Airport operates three main passenger terminals. Terminal 1 is the oldest and handles domestic and some regional and international flights across its older halls. Terminal 2, rebuilt and reopened in 2016, serves EgyptAir and a mix of international carriers. Terminal 3 (with the connected TB2 building) is the newest and largest, the main EgyptAir and Star Alliance facility, and the busiest part of the airport. A free shuttle bus connects the terminals, but they are not airside-connected, so plan smoking stops within whichever terminal you are flying from.
Smoking Areas
Terminal 1
Terminal 1 is the legacy terminal and has limited indoor smoking provision. The reliable option is the designated outdoor smoking area on the departures forecourt before security, near the terminal entrance. If you are connecting through Terminal 1, smoke before you clear passport control, as airside access is inconsistent.
Terminal 2
Terminal 2 has indoor smoking rooms in the departures area past passport control, positioned near the gate piers. The Plaza Premium-operated CAC Lounge in T2A includes a smoking area: it sits one level up, on the 1st Floor of the departure hall, and the route is to turn right after passport control towards the second security check, with the lounge on your right. The Ahlein Premium Lounge has a dedicated cigar and smoking section. The smoking rooms are signposted and equipped with benches and ashtrays.
Terminal 3 & TB2
Terminal 3 is the best-equipped terminal for smokers. Signposted indoor smoking rooms are distributed through the departure concourses past passport control, so there is rarely a long walk from any gate. The EgyptAir Kochab Lounge has a smoking lounge, and the CAC Lounge on the third floor of the T3E departure hall has a smoking area of its own. These rooms are ventilated, fitted with benches and ashtrays, and kept clearly marked.
Outside Terminals
Every terminal has designated outdoor smoking areas on the departures and arrivals levels near the entrances, taxi ranks and bus stops. Cairo’s warm, dry desert climate makes outdoor smoking comfortable for most of the year, though summer afternoons from June to September can be very hot.
Summary
| Area | Smoking Allowed | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal 1 (forecourt) | Yes | Outdoor | Before security; reliable T1 option |
| Terminal 2 (past passport control) | Yes | Indoor rooms | Near gate piers; lounge smoking areas |
| Terminal 3 / TB2 (past passport control) | Yes | Indoor rooms | Multiple signposted rooms, lounges |
| Terminal entrances / arrivals | Yes | Outdoor | All terminals, near taxi and bus areas |
| General terminal areas | No | — | Fines for violations |
For Egypt airport smoking rules, vaping rules, and other general info, see our Egypt smoking guide.