Sarah Khalifa
Egyptian entrepreneur and criminal (born 1994)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sarah Khalifa (Arabic: سارة خليفة, romanized: Sāra Ḫalīfa; born 29 March 1994) is an Egyptian former television presenter and entrepreneur.
Sarah Khalifa | |
|---|---|
سارة خليفة | |
| Born | 29 March 1994 Cairo, Egypt |
| Occupations | Entrepreneur, businesswoman |
Criminal status | Incarcerated |
| Spouse | |
| Conviction | Guilty on all counts |
Criminal charge | |
Penalty |
|
On 5 September 2026, she was sentenced to death by a court in Cairo on charges related to drug trafficking and the sexual assault of a young man.
Career
Khalifa was born in Cairo on 29 March 1994 and began her career in entertainment journalism working for the Arab Radio and Television Network (ART) for several years.[1][2] She also hosted a crime-related show titled Mission Impossible and took part in programming aired on Al Sharqiya, an Iraqi television station.[1] In 2024, Khalifa co-hosted a streaming programme on YouTube along with singer Hamo Beka, featuring interviews with celebrities from Egyptian media and society.[1]
By 2025, Khalifa relied heavily on her business career and other media-related activities.[1] She also owns a cosmetic surgery clinic in Cairo and an event planning company.[3] Khalifa has more than 2.5 million followers on Instagram, making her a renowned personality within Egyptian media.[1][4]
Drug trafficking case
Khalifa was arrested in Cairo in April 2025, accused of being part of a drug trafficking network that imported raw materials to produce synthetic drugs in the country.[5][6] She was also charged with a count related to the sexual assault of a young man. In the same operative, the Egyptian National Police arrested dozens of other individuals who were accused of taking part in these activities.[1][7] The prosecution presented evidence in the trial that included more than 750 kilograms of narcotics that were seized by police during the investigation.[6][8] Khalifa wept while giving testimony before the judges, asking for "mercy and humanity."[4]
During her trial in mid-2026, Khalifa denied the charges and said that she had never seen any drugs until she was photographed by their side after her arrest in April 2025.[9] In August 2026, the court found her and twenty others guilty of drug trafficking, referring a request of opinion to the country's Grand Mufti on whether a death sentence should be handed down.[2][5]
On 5 September 2026, upon receiving the Grand Mufti's advice, the court sentenced Khalifa and eleven other defendants to death by hanging, while nine others were sentenced to life in prison.[10][11] Khalifa was additionally sentenced to five years in prison for the kidnapping and sexual assault of a young man.[3][12] The verdict is subject to appeal.[13][14]