Egypt

Under Law 216 of 2017, Egypt requires a Defense Ministry permit to own or operate a drone, effectively banning recreational use without authorization. Importing or bringing a drone into Egypt without prior approval is illegal, and customs routinely confiscate unapproved drones on entry. Only the smallest “toy” drones are exempt from permits, defined as ≤150 grams, no GPS, range ≤100 meters, altitude ≤5 meters, and no camera. Commercial drone use is theoretically allowed with a permit from the Ministry of Defense coordinated with the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority, but approvals are rare and project-specific. Permit applications must come from an