CAIRO – 21 July 2022: Egypt’s Cabinet approved, during its meeting on Wednesday, some new rules regulating personal photography in public places for Egyptians, foreigners, foreign residents and tourists.

It has been agreed that personal photography with all types of traditional or digital cameras and video cameras will be free of charge and without any prior permits.

The decision emphasized that personal photography should happen in public places without the use of equipment that requires obtaining a prior permit, namely professional photography umbrellas and external artificial lighting, or any equipment that might occupy the public road.

The decision also highlights the photographers’ full commitment not to photograph or publish any pictures or scenes that may harm the country, and not to photograph children, or citizens without their written consent.

It is noteworthy that according to the decision of the Board of Directors of the Supreme Council of Antiquities in August 2019, personal (memorial) photography of Egyptians and tourists inside the archaeological sites and museums affiliated with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities is allowed with mobile phones, traditional and digital photography cameras, and video cameras (without using the flash).

In August 2021, the Supreme Council of Antiquities also approved new incentive controls for commercial, promotional and cinematic photography in Egyptian museums and archaeological sites. Filming packages (daily, weekly, and monthly) were applied to motivate producers, as well as local and international production companies, to film in the various Egyptian museums and archaeological sites.

These decisions came within the framework of the ministry’s efforts to promote cultural tourism and encourage the inbound tourist movement to Egypt.

The service of obtaining commercial and cinematographic photography permits at archaeological sites and museums will be completed through the official website of the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, which is to be launched soon. It will also include the regulations of photography in public places in various languages.

Source: Egypt Today Magazine