In Hurghada and other tourist towns, alcohol is relatively readily available. The average tourist on an all-inclusive vacation who doesn’t leave the resort area may not even notice that Egypt has strict laws about drinking spirits.
Restrictions on alcohol consumption are a characteristic feature of all Muslim countries. The basis for the ban on drinking alcoholic beverages is religion. Some Muslim countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Iran, have introduced strict laws prohibiting the sale of alcohol into state law. Other countries limit themselves to introducing measures to discourage its consumption, such as very high excise taxes and restrictions on sale. As a result, alcohol prices in most Muslim countries are higher than in Poland – slightly higher in Egypt, and about three times higher in Morocco. In Turkey and Albania, the approach to alcohol is definitely the most relaxed – it is almost as easily available as in Poland.
On religious holidays or during Ramadan, buying alcohol may not be possible, and drinking in public is unacceptable. During Ramadan, Muslims often avoid even touching bottles of alcohol. Therefore, it may happen that a tourist will have to take a bottle off a shelf in a store or pour a drink into a mug in a restaurant. For larger alcohol purchases, the seller will offer a special bag and ask you to cover its contents on the way from the store to the hotel.
When packing our holiday luggage, most of us also put a first aid kit with basic medications “just in case”. Meanwhile, the regulations regarding the transport of medications to Egypt are detailed and exceptionally strict. Bringing in some substances can lead to serious legal consequences. Tramadol, a popular painkiller in Europe, is considered a narcotic in Egypt, and possession, trade and use of drugs are prohibited there.
The list of banned drugs in Egypt is extensive and includes many popular substances that are available in Poland without a prescription. In Egypt, some painkillers, sedatives and antitussives that contain codeine or tramadol are considered illegal. It is also forbidden to bring in drugs containing amphetamines and popular flu remedies containing pseudoephedrine.
It is worth remembering that smuggling medicines into Egypt can result in high fines and even imprisonment. Therefore, if due to illness we are forced to travel with medicines that we take on a regular basis, documents confirming the need to take specific medicines will be useful, preferably in English or Arabic. Despite having a medical certificate, it may happen that Egyptian customs officers will confiscate medicines that they consider illegal.
As we read on the website of the Service of the Republic of Poland, the Polish Embassy in Cairo does not have a unified list of medicines that are not allowed to be brought into Egypt. Egyptian customs services decide each time whether a given medicine can be brought into the country. Medicines that raise doubts are taken from travelers and subjected to laboratory tests. The waiting time for their return is not specified in any regulations and can take up to several weeks.
Just two years ago, photography in Egypt was subject to very strict regulations, which, incidentally, group tour participants may not have felt at all. The authorities had long turned a blind eye to the “snapping” of smartphones belonging to groups getting off buses. The situation was different for individual photographers, such as Belal Darder, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2017 for taking photos in Egypt.
Since August 2022, Egyptian law allows its citizens, residents and tourists to take pictures in public places. The use of all types of cameras, both analog and digital, video cameras and tripods is allowed. However, drones are prohibited. According to the Service of the Republic of Poland, no type of drone, even the smallest, can be brought into Egypt without obtaining permission from the Egyptian Ministry of Defense. Violation of the law is punishable by a fine or imprisonment from one to seven years. The case is being heard by a military court.
The ban also covers all kinds of camera accessories that could be used for espionage and military purposes. This primarily applies to popular zooms, which can be confiscated by border services if they arouse suspicions of officers.
Despite the liberalization of regulations, taking photos in Egypt is still subject to certain restrictions, not only regarding equipment, but also the objects photographed. It is forbidden to take or publish photos that may harm the country’s image, offend its citizens or violate public morality. However, the Egyptian legislator does not specify what exactly is meant by these terms. One can only guess that from the authorities’ point of view, taking photos of poverty, of which there is still no shortage in Egypt, as well as neglected buildings or littered streets outside the tourist centers of cities, may be an “insult” to citizens. Another prohibition is, however, completely clear: it is forbidden to take photos of children. In turn, taking photos of Egyptian citizens requires their written consent.