If you are wondering what is illegal in Egypt, the short list for visitors is drugs, public drunkenness, kissing or other intimate behavior in public, same-sex conduct, insulting Islam or other recognized religions, photographing military or government sites, flying a drone, removing anything from an archaeological or protected natural area, and criticizing the government online. Egyptian law draws on both civil statutes and Islamic jurisprudence, penalties run harsher than most Western travelers expect, and not knowing the rule is not a defense.
Drugs and Prescription Medications
Egypt treats narcotics offenses with exceptional severity. Under Law No. 182 of 1960 as amended by Law No. 122 of 1989, importing, exporting, or manufacturing narcotics for trade carries the death penalty plus a fine of 100,000 to 500,000 Egyptian pounds. Possession or sale for trade carries the death penalty or life imprisonment with hard labor and the same fine range.1United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Egypt Code – Law No. 122 of 1989 Amending Decree-Law No. 182 of 1960 Even personal-use possession draws hard labor and a 10,000 to 50,000 pound fine.2United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Law No. 122 of 1989 Amending Decree-Law No. 182 of 1960 Whether a given quantity counts as personal use or trafficking is left to prosecutors and judges, and joining a trafficking group triggers the death penalty whether or not a sale actually occurred.
Travelers get caught by prescription medications more often than by anything illicit. Codeine, tramadol, and other opioid-based drugs are controlled substances in Egypt. You need a prescription from a licensed doctor and a letter explaining the medical need, dosage, and treatment duration. Keep every medication in its original pharmacy container. Showing up at customs with a controlled drug and no documentation can expose you to the same charges as illegal possession.
Alcohol and Public Conduct
Alcohol is legal only at licensed hotels, restaurants, and bars. Drinking in a public space, or appearing visibly drunk in one, is a criminal offense under Law No. 63 of 1976 and carries two weeks to six months of imprisonment or a fine.3Eastlaws. Court of Cassation Criminal Ruling Appeal No. 1361 Year 57 During Ramadan and other Muslim holidays, a ministerial decree bans alcohol sales across the country. Some venues in resort areas have historically kept serving, but enforcement has tightened, and even Sharm El-Sheikh and Hurghada see restrictions.
No statute dictates dress, but modesty is expected in practice. Cover your shoulders and knees at mosques, churches, and in conservative neighborhoods. Public displays of affection carry real legal risk: the Penal Code criminalizes “scandalous acts” in public, and Egyptian courts have read the phrase broadly enough to cover kissing or other intimate behavior in view of others. A conviction under Article 278 can mean up to one year in prison.
Same-Sex Conduct and Morality Charges
No Egyptian law explicitly mentions homosexuality, and that silence is not protection. Authorities prosecute LGBTQ+ individuals under several Penal Code provisions and Law 10/1961 on prostitution. Article 269 bis punishes “incitement to indecency” with up to one month in prison for a first offense and up to six months for repeat offenses. Article 278 criminalizes “scandalous acts against shame” in public and carries up to one year. The provision used most heavily against gay men is Article 9 of Law 10/1961, which punishes “habitual debauchery” with three months to three years in prison.
Police use dating apps, social media, and entrapment operations to identify and arrest LGBTQ+ individuals, and sharing supportive content online has led to prosecutions. There is no safe harbor in Egyptian law for same-sex conduct.
Insulting Religion
Insulting Islam, Christianity, or Judaism is a criminal offense. Article 98(f) of the Penal Code punishes anyone who uses religion to promote “extreme ideas,” incite discord, ridicule a recognized faith, or damage national unity. Penalties run from six months to five years in prison, with fines of 500 to 1,000 Egyptian pounds. Egyptian law recognizes only the three “heavenly religions,” and the provision has reached atheists, converts, and members of unrecognized faiths. Separate articles cover desecrating religious buildings or cemeteries (Article 160), printing distorted religious texts or mocking religious ceremonies (Article 161), and inciting hatred of a religious community (Article 176).
Speech, Protests, and Online Activity
Public gatherings are tightly controlled under Law No. 107 of 2013. Participating in an unauthorized protest, or violating the law’s broad prohibitions on disrupting public order, blocking roads, or “impeding citizens’ interests,” carries two to five years in prison and fines of 50,000 to 100,000 Egyptian pounds. Protests at or near places of worship are flatly prohibited, and wearing a mask or face covering with intent to conceal identity during a gathering is separately banned.
Online speech is governed primarily by the Cybercrime Law (Law No. 175 of 2018), which criminalizes spreading “false news,” defaming individuals or state institutions, insulting religious figures, and unauthorized access to websites or information systems. Posts criticizing the government, military, or judiciary have led to arrests under both this law and older Penal Code provisions, and insulting the president has drawn lengthy sentences under counterterrorism legislation. VPN use is not explicitly banned, but using one to reach blocked content or get around government restrictions could be charged under the cybercrime statute. Hacking a website carries at least one year in prison; if data is destroyed or redistributed, the minimum rises to two years, with fines of 50,000 to 100,000 Egyptian pounds.
Photography and Drones
Photographing military installations, government buildings, bridges, and canals is prohibited without explicit prior permission. Enforcement is immediate: soldiers or police will confront you on the spot, confiscate your device, and may detain you. The restriction extends to uniformed personnel and certain public figures. When something looks official or military, ask before raising your camera. Tourist sites like the pyramids and museums are generally fine, though many museums ban flash or tripods.
Drones are banned without a license from the Ministry of Defense. The prohibition covers importing, assembling, possessing, and flying them. Violations carry one to seven years in prison, fines of 5,000 to 50,000 Egyptian pounds, and confiscation of the drone. If a drone is used in connection with terrorism, the penalty rises to life imprisonment or death. Certain satellite communication devices also require government clearance before you bring them into the country.
Antiquities and Wildlife
Egypt guards its antiquities aggressively. The Antiquities Protection Law (Law No. 117 of 1983, substantially amended in 2010) bans damaging, altering, or removing any antiquity. Smuggling one out of Egypt brings intensive imprisonment and a fine of 100,000 to 1,000,000 Egyptian pounds, with the antiquity and any equipment, vehicles, and tools used in the offense confiscated. Stealing an antiquity for smuggling carries imprisonment plus a fine of 50,000 to 500,000 pounds, and hiding one for smuggling carries at least seven years. Stealing a state-owned antiquity without smuggling intent carries up to seven years and a fine of 50,000 to 250,000 pounds.4UNESCO Digital Library. Law No. 117 of 1983 as Amended by Law No. 3 of 2010
These penalties reach seemingly trivial acts. Picking up a loose stone at a dig site, scratching a name into a monument, or buying an “artifact” from an unlicensed street vendor can all draw charges. If you want a souvenir, buy only from licensed shops that provide documentation showing the item is a modern reproduction.
Natural sites are protected too. Law No. 102 of 1983 on Nature Protectorates bans removing any living organism or natural feature from a protected area, including shells, coral, rocks, and soil, and bans disturbing wildlife inside those zones. A first offense carries a fine of 500 to 5,000 Egyptian pounds, up to one year in prison, or both. Repeat offenders face 3,000 to 10,000 pounds in fines and at least one year in prison, plus the cost of repairing the damage.5FAOLEX. Law No. 102 of 1983 for Nature Protectorates Broader rules under Law No. 4 of 1994 (amended in 2009) make it a crime to export, import, or trade wild birds, animals, or aquatic life whether alive or dead, or to possess or transport protected plants without a license from the Environmental Affairs Agency. The most serious wildlife offenses carry up to five years in prison and fines reaching three million Egyptian pounds. In the Red Sea, the practical rule is to look but not touch or take.
Money at the Border
You can bring unlimited foreign currency into Egypt, but any amount over $10,000 (or the equivalent in other currencies) must be declared at customs on arrival. The same threshold applies on departure, and non-Egyptians can carry out foreign currency only up to the amount they declared coming in. For Egyptian pounds, the maximum you can bring in or take out is 5,000 EGP.6Cairo International Airport. Customs Regulations Failing to declare amounts over the threshold can lead to fines, prosecution, and confiscation.