Manama: Kuwait’s ambassador in Cairo has reiterated his warning to Kuwaiti citizens not to carry foreign currency worth more than the equivalent of $10,000 (Dh36,723) as they enter or leave Egypt.

The warning is to ensure full compliance with a decision announced in December by the Egyptian authorities not to allow any air, sea or land traveller to have more than $10,000 with them, Ambassador Rasheed Al Hamad said.

Currency that exceeds the amount will be confiscated and violators could face legal measures, he said in remarks carried by the official Kuwait News Agency (Kuna).

“I do urge all Kuwaiti citizens to comply with the Egyptian laws and decisions, especially those related to carrying money upon arriving or leaving the country regardless of the entry or exit points,” the diplomat said.

A large number of Kuwaiti citizens own property or have businesses in Egypt, in addition to the hundreds of students attending universities and colleges there.

The populous Arab country had been for years a favourite destination for thousands of Kuwaiti and Gulf families before it was hit by a wave of unrest.

In January, Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry urged its citizens to comply with the rules on the amount of cash they are allowed to take into other countries.

Every Saudi travelling to another country should be aware of the currency control rules applied there ahead of their travel to ensure full compliance with the law, the ministry said.

“Most countries demand that travellers taking in more than $10,000 declare them to the authorities at the entry points,” Osama Bin Ahmad Al Sanussi, the foreign ministry undersecretary for consular affairs, said, quoted by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

Travellers should be fully aware of the rules so they are not arrested or taken to court and their money is not confiscated, he said.

In December, a Saudi singer faced problems entering Egypt after he landed with more than $10,000 in his possession.

According to a security spokesperson, Rabeh Saqr had SR 120,000 Saudi riyals (Dh117,516) and $17,000 in cash when he arrived at Cairo airport.

He was told that he could not enter the country with the full amount and the singer decided to leave, boarding a flight to Dubai.