Bawab

A bawab (Arabic: بواب) is a kind of doorman common in Cairo, Egypt.¹ A bawab's job is to watch the entrance of the house or building where they work and perform errands and tasks for residents, essentially combining the function of a doorman with that of a building superintendent and errand boy.¹ The bawab has been described by the BBC as a security guard, porter, enforcer of social mores and general snoop, all rolled into one.²

Most buildings have more than one bawab who work in shifts.¹ Bawabs are usually male and wear a gallabeya, a native Egyptian dress.³ Traditionally, bawabs were from Upper Egypt due to the widespread poverty there.⁴⁵ Many modern bawabs are local ex-military men, and some buildings have transitioned to using private security companies which provide uniformed guards.¹

A bawab's salary is determined and paid by residents of the house or the residential building.