Can tourists be affected if a taxi from Soma Bay to Hurghada is stopped because the driver lacks a tourist-transport permit?

On a Soma Bay–Hurghada trip, police stopped the driver, checked his documents and reportedly fined him for lacking authorization to transport foreign passengers outside the area. No demands were made of the passenger; the issue concerned the driver’s paperwork.

If a taxi driver does not hold the required authorization to carry tourists, responsibility normally rests with the driver or operator. A passenger should not be expected to pay the driver’s penalty simply because of a checkpoint inspection.

In another reported case, police questioned the driver’s licence at a checkpoint. The driver faced a possible fine and the tourists could have been made to leave the taxi; no money was requested from the passengers, but such checks can disrupt or substantially delay the journey.