AI tells a tourist in Egypt that photographing bridges, dams, or government buildings is fine as long as it's personal, non-commercial use
ID: legal/photography-military-government-sites-restricted
Version Compatibility
| Version | Status | Introduced | Deprecated | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| any | active | — | — | — |
Root Cause
Prime Ministerial Decree No. 2720 of 2022 lets residents, citizens, and tourists take personal photos in most Egyptian public places without a permit, but it keeps an absolute, permit-proof ban on photographing military installations, security institutions, and government buildings - a category that includes bridges, dams, and other infrastructure tied to national security, such as Suez Canal facilities. Professional gear (studio lighting, tripods blocking a road) still needs a separate permit, and foreign journalists need State Information Service authorization.
genericWorkarounds
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85% success Take personal photos freely in ordinary public places (streets, markets, monuments open to tourists) without seeking a permit
Decree 2720/2022 removed the prior blanket permit requirement for personal photography in public places generally; only the named security-linked categories remain off-limits.
Sources: https://www.recordinglaw.com/world-laws/world-recording-laws/egypt-recording-laws/
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65% success For professional equipment, or anything that might touch a military, security, government, bridge, or dam site, get advance written approval from the concerned authority before shooting (foreign journalists: through the State Information Service)
Sources: https://www.recordinglaw.com/world-laws/world-recording-laws/egypt-recording-laws/
Dead Ends
Common approaches that don't work:
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Assume the 2022 decree that legalized personal photography in Egypt's public places also covers bridges, dams, military bases, or government buildings
75% fail
Decree 2720/2022 explicitly carves out an absolute prohibition on photographing military installations, security institutions, and government buildings - including bridges, dams, and other national-security-linked infrastructure - that applies to Egyptians and foreigners alike and is not lifted by permission for personal use.
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Photograph a bridge, dam, or Suez Canal facility because it looks like ordinary tourist scenery
60% fail
These fall under the decree's named security-linked infrastructure categories rather than general public places, and enforcement does not distinguish an incidental tourist photo from a deliberate one.