Short answer: do not bring a drone to Egypt unless you already hold written permission. The UK Foreign Office is explicit: "Do not import, use or produce drones in Egypt unless the Egyptian Ministry of Defence gives you permission beforehand. Anyone who uses or imports drones without permission could get a prison sentence of up to 7 years or a fine of 5,000 to 50,000 Egyptian pounds." France Diplomatie adds that drones brought in without authorisation are "systematically confiscated and never returned". We read both pages on 26 October 2026.
The rules, from both governments
| Rule | Source |
|---|---|
| Importing, using or producing a drone needs prior permission from the Ministry of Defence | UK Foreign Office |
| Without permission: up to 7 years in prison or a fine of EGP 5,000 to 50,000 | UK Foreign Office |
| It is illegal to use drones or radio-controlled helicopters to take photos near sensitive sites | UK Foreign Office |
| Drone use is formally forbidden without special authorisation; users without it face prosecution, a fine and a sentence | France Diplomatie |
| Imported drones are systematically confiscated and never returned | France Diplomatie |
| Satellite phones are forbidden without special authorisation; radio equipment is likely to be confiscated without prior clearance | France Diplomatie, UK Foreign Office |
| Binoculars, even small ones, are forbidden without prior authorisation from National Security | France Diplomatie |
There is no tourist exemption, no size or weight threshold below which a drone is allowed, and no permit you can request at the airport on arrival. The permission comes before the trip, or not at all.
What happens at the airport
Egyptian customs screen luggage on arrival. The Foreign Office asks travellers to declare high-value electronic devices and recording equipment, and France Diplomatie says drones brought in without authorisation are confiscated and not returned. In practice, a drone in your suitcase without the paperwork means losing it at best, and a criminal case at worst. Small "selfie" drones and toy drones are drones too: neither government makes an exception for them.
Can you get permission?
For professional work, film crews and organised projects, yes, through the Egyptian authorities and well in advance. The Foreign Office names the Ministry of Defence; France Diplomatie speaks of a "special authorisation". Neither publishes an online form for tourists. If you have a real professional need, start with the Egyptian embassy or consulate in your country, months before the trip, and travel only once you hold the permission in writing.
Some websites describe an online drone registration portal run by Egypt's civil aviation authority, with permits delivered in a week. We found no official source for that procedure, and both governments' advice contradicts it. Our own French blog repeated it until today; we have corrected it.
Cameras, photos and filming
The drone rule sits inside a broader set of photography rules, also from the Foreign Office:
- A permit is needed to enter Egypt with professional photography or film equipment, including photography umbrellas and outdoor lighting.
- Photos of or near military property are illegal, and this includes the Suez Canal.
- There are sensitivities about photographing embassies, government buildings, infrastructure and religious buildings.
- Ministry of Tourism rules say you must get an Egyptian citizen's written permission before taking their photo, and taking pictures of children is prohibited.
- It is illegal to take or share photos that could be considered damaging to the country's image.
Phone photography at museums and archaeological sites is a different matter: the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities' own pages for the Egyptian Museum and the Coptic Museum state that photography with a mobile phone is free of charge.
What else to declare at customs
The Foreign Office's entry page lists the other customs rules that catch travellers out:
- Anything that may be prohibited or taxed must be declared. The Egyptian Consulate General is the contact for detailed customs questions.
- High-value electronic devices and recording equipment should be declared on arrival: a professional camera body, a laptop for work, a gimbal rig.
- Satellite phones and radio communications equipment are likely to be confiscated unless you have prior clearance from the Ministry of Telecommunications.
- Cash: you can bring up to 5,000 Egyptian pounds into or out of Egypt, and you must declare foreign currency worth more than 10,000 US dollars on arrival.
A phone, a tablet and an ordinary camera are what most tourists carry, and they raise no question. The rules above concern equipment beyond that.
Better ways to get the aerial shot
- A hot-air balloon at Luxor gives you the Valley of the Kings and the Nile from above. The Foreign Office asks you to speak to your tour company before booking, as some UK operators stopped selling balloon flights over safety standards.
- Rooftop terraces in Cairo and Giza look over the pyramids; many hotels and cafés have one.
- A panoramic or 0.5x lens on your phone at Giza, Karnak or Abu Simbel covers most of what a drone would show from the ground.
Social media and what you post
Drone footage usually ends up online, and Egypt's rules reach that far. The Foreign Office says foreign nationals involved in activities critical of the government "may be at risk of detention", and that this includes posting negative comments on social media. France Diplomatie adds that publications on social networks against Egypt, its people or its institutions can be punished with fines or prison, including for foreigners passing through. Post holiday photos, not commentary.
What to leave at home
- The drone, unless you hold written permission.
- Satellite phones and radio equipment.
- Binoculars, according to France Diplomatie, unless authorised.
- Professional lighting and film equipment, unless you have a permit.
For the rest of your bag, see what to pack for Egypt, and for local laws in general, safety in Egypt.
Share your photos from day one
Your phone is the camera that is welcome everywhere in Egypt. With our Egypt eSIM you can upload and share from the first day: about 1 GB a day at full 4G speed, then 512 Kbps until the next day, from €6.50 for a day to €46.00 for 15 days, on Vodafone Egypt, Orange Egypt or e& Egypt. Check that your phone is eSIM compatible before you buy.