Can I bring a Drone to Egypt?

The short answer is no. It’s illegal to fly a drone in Egypt unless you have permission from the Egyptian government. Therefore, there’s a good chance that if you bring a drone, it will be confiscated by customs at the airport.

WHY IS IT ILLEGAL?

I’m not exactly sure – it’s probably a matter of security, as there are sensitive military locations in Egypt, and a drone can obviously capture photos and videos of anything, including private or politically and militarily important sites. Exceptions are made for media companies in Egypt that have all the correct paperwork to operate in the country. I’m quite sure they also have specific restrictions on where they can and cannot fly their equipment. It’s not possible for tourist to be approved to bring in and fly a drone in Egypt. Period.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I BRING A DRONE ANYWAY IN THE COUNTRY?

Again, don’t do it. What can happen is that airport officials will confiscate your drone. The good news is that they’ll return it at the end of your trip. They understand that tourists bring drones to Egypt purely for fun, so they’ll simply give it back to you upon departure. Just bring some Egyptian pounds, as there’s a small daily storage fee to pay at the airport.

WHAT ELSE IS ILLEGAL TO BRING INTO EGYPT?

Another surprising item you cannot bring into Egypt is a walkie-talkie, even for recreational use. Foreign alcoholic beverages are also restricted – only one bottle per person is allowed. There are no serious consequences in these cases as well; at worst, your items will be taken by airport authorities. You’ll get your walkie-talkie back at the end of your trip (not sure about the alcohol).