Egypt: travel laws for tourists, topic by topic

Extreme

Overall verdict for Egypt: Extreme. Below, the risk level of each of the 23 topics that get travellers fined or arrested. The exact rule, thresholds and penalties are in the LawsTravels app.

Egypt: read the 3 riskiest rules free →

🎁 Free, no account: Drugs, Medicines, Smoking

The 23 topics at a glance

Banned or serious riskAllowed, with limitsRelaxed

Get the exact rules for your trip

This page gives you the level. The app gives you the rule, the numbers and the penalties for Egypt, offline, in 23 languages.

Egypt: read the 3 riskiest rules free →

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How Egypt compares

With 9 of 23 topics flagged red, Egypt is more relaxed than 3 of the 6 other countries in North Africa (regional average: 11.4). Worldwide, Egypt ranks #24 of 148 for strictness (tied with 3 other countries).

What sets it apart

Medicines: flagged red here, while only 13 of 148 countries are this strict.
Smoking: flagged red here, while only 16 of 148 countries are this strict.

What to watch most in Egypt

💉 Medicines · Guides by topic

ADHD medicine is the number one problem: banned outright in some countries, prescription or not.
Codeine and tramadol are ordinary painkillers in Europe and controlled narcotics in the Gulf and Egypt.
CBD is legal in much of Europe and completely banned in the Gulf and parts of Asia — including cosmetics.

🚬 Smoking · Guides by topic

The vape is the real trap: several countries fine or arrest for simple possession, including devices with no nicotine.
Indoor smoking bans now cover terraces, beaches, parks and bus stops in a growing number of cities.
Throwing a butt on the ground is a separate, and often expensive, littering offence.

📷 Photo & video · Guides by topic

Military sites, police, airports, borders, ports and government buildings — this is the classic espionage accusation.
People without asking, especially children, and above all in indigenous or religious communities.
Protests and police operations: your phone can be seized and its contents searched.

Egypt at a glance

CapitalCairo

CurrencyEgyptian Pound (EGP)

LanguageArabic

Emergency number122

Driving sideRight

Mains voltage220 V

Calling code+20

Time zoneUTC+02:00 / UTC+03:00

Plug typesC · F

Land borders🇮🇱 Israel 🇱🇾 LibyaPalestinian Territories🇸🇩 Sudan

Frequently asked questions

Is Egypt strict with tourists?

Overall verdict: Extreme. 9 of 23 topics are flagged as banned or a serious risk (Drugs, Medicines, Smoking, Sex & dating, Driving, Photo & video, Weapons, Jail risk, Drones), 13 require caution.

What can get me fined or arrested in Egypt?

The strictest topics for travellers in Egypt are: Drugs, Medicines, Smoking, Sex & dating, Driving, Photo & video, Weapons, Jail risk, Drones. Each has specific thresholds and penalties, detailed in the app.

Where do I find the exact rules for Egypt?

In LawsTravels: open Egypt, each topic shows the level, the rule, the thresholds and what to do at customs, offline. 3 topics are free on every country; the other 20 unlock for the price of a coffee.

What is the emergency number in Egypt?

In Egypt, dial 122. Capital: Cairo. Currency: Egyptian Pound (EGP). Main language: Arabic.

Which side of the road do they drive on in Egypt?

In Egypt, traffic drives on the right. Mains voltage: 220 V. Calling code: +20. Time zone: UTC+02:00 / UTC+03:00. Plug types: C · F.

Countries with the closest profile

🇮🇩 Indonesia (Bali) 🇹🇳 Tunisia 🇩🇿 Algeria 🇨🇲 Cameroon 🇲🇱 Mali 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso

Levels summarise publicly available legal information for travellers and are not legal advice. Laws change and enforcement varies: confirm with the embassy or consulate of your destination.