Two American tourists kidnapped in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula by Bedouin tribesman were released on Thursday after less than 24 hours in captivity, security and government officials told AFP.

The kidnappers have been handed over to police, the officials said.

The two women were kidnapped by unknown assailants on the Dahab-Nuweiba Road while touring South Sinai earlier on Thursday morning.

The kidnappers reportedly aimed to exchange their captives for a drug dealer currently in police custody. 

This is the latest in a series of kidnappings involving tourists in Sinai in recent months. In March, two Brazilian tourists were kidnapped along with their tour guide by armed Bedouin. They were released after eight hours.