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Layover guideCairo · CAI

Local laws that catch crew out in Cairo

Cameras and drones are what put visitors in a police station, and your passport belongs in your pocket, not the hotel safe.

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All of Cairo

The UK Foreign Office states that it is illegal to take photos of, or near, military property, and that this includes the Suez Canal. The Government of Canada extends the prohibited list to bridges, canals, government, police and embassy buildings and vehicles, and military personnel and establishments.

You must get a permit to enter Egypt with professional photography or film equipment, and the UK Foreign Office says that covers photography umbrellas and artificial outdoor lighting gear, not only the camera body.

Drones: the Government of Canada states drones are strictly prohibited in Egypt and that anyone convicted of unauthorised import or use could face lengthy jail terms and deportation. The UK Foreign Office says using a drone without permission from Egypt's Ministry of Defence carries up to seven years in prison or a fine of 5,000 to 50,000 Egyptian pounds.

Police check ID regularly and will ask to see your passport, and the UK Foreign Office warns that failing to produce your passport and visa may lead to detention.

Drinking alcohol anywhere other than licensed restaurants, bars, private homes or certain tourist resorts is illegal and can lead to arrest. Drug penalties are severe: the UK Foreign Office says possession, even of small amounts, can lead to life imprisonment or the death penalty.

  1. UK Foreign Office: Egypt travel advice, safety and security · checked 2026-09-03
  2. Government of Canada: Egypt travel advice and advisories · checked 2026-09-03

The rest of Cairo

The whole guide
Getting out of the airportThe meter is not the default in a Cairo taxi, so fix how you are paying before the doors close.Ride-hailingUber and Careem both run in Egypt, and the app price is the whole point: it is settled before you get in.Staying connectedRoam on your own SIM and the customs question does not arise. Buy an Egyptian SIM and your handset enters a scheme with a clock on it.WeatherSummer days sit near 35C, and June, July and August are rainless.Eating near the crew hotelsCash first, alcohol only where it is licensed, and in Ramadan the daylight hours change how everything runs.What to buyThe allowances are published and modest, and the currency limit is the one that catches people on the way out.