Plan
Drone rules: Egypt
Last checked: October 5, 2026
Permit required
You may only fly here with a permit issued by the authorities in advance.
Import and operation only with an Egyptian permit issued in advance; without it, customs will confiscate the drone.
No operator registration as in the EU, but an individual permit before entry.
Proof of insurance is reportedly part of the permit application; not conclusively confirmed by official sources.
For tourists
Don't pack a drone without an Egyptian permit issued in advance: customs will confiscate it, and arrest and prosecution are possible. A German registration and EU competency certificate do not replace the permit.
Further rules
- Important note: Importing a drone into Egypt without prior approval from the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority (ECAA) is prohibited. If an unapproved drone is discovered on arrival, customs will confiscate it; arrest and prosecution are possible. The Federal Foreign Office explicitly points this out.
- Operation also requires a permit: in addition to the flight permit from the aviation authority, the drone law requires approval from the Ministry of Defence. Both procedures must be completed before travelling; expect several weeks of lead time.
- Among other things, the ECAA approval procedure requires an application for a flight permit, documents on the aircraft and the operator, and a certificate of insurance. There is no simple online procedure for holidaymakers like the EU operator registration; the maximum flight altitude and the flight area are set case by case in the permit.
- EU credentials are not automatically valid: a German or other EU operator registration, an A1/A3 or A2 certificate and European drone insurance do not replace the Egyptian permits. Egypt is not covered by the EU drone regulation.
- There is no simple approval route for normal holidays. If you haven't received explicit Egyptian approval before your trip, leave your drone at home – this also applies to small camera drones such as the DJI Mini, Neo or comparable models.
Sources
This overview is not legal advice and not an official statement — laws change, and we cannot guarantee that every entry is fully up to date. Before your flight, please also check the official source or the local civil aviation authority.