Photo Etiquette In Egypt: Asking Permission Before Photographing People

In Egypt, always ask before you photograph a person, and avoid photographing children. The UK Foreign Office also warns that military sites and the Suez Canal must not be photographed, and that flying a drone needs permission from Egypt's Ministry of Defence. At Ministry-run monuments, photography with a mobile phone is free; commercial filming needs prior permission.

Key Takeaways

• Ask permission before photographing people, and avoid photographing children, as the UK Foreign Office advises.
• Military sites and the Suez Canal are prohibited subjects; drones need Ministry of Defence permission.
• Photography with a mobile phone is free at Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities sites; commercial, TV or cinema filming needs prior permission.
• The Grand Egyptian Museum sets its own photography rules, separate from other Ministry sites.
• Agree any fee before you photograph someone posing in costume or with a camel, to avoid a dispute afterwards.

Photographing people: ask first

Many people will happily say yes, but a person's face is theirs, not a backdrop. A smile, a gesture towards your camera and a simple "mumkin?" (Arabic for "may I?") is usually enough. If someone says no or waves you away, put the camera down without arguing.

Be especially careful with women and with children. The UK Foreign Office advises avoiding photographs of children altogether, even when they approach you. In conservative areas, photographing women without asking can cause real offence.

What you can and cannot photograph

Subject	Rule	Source
Monuments, with a mobile phone	Free at Ministry sites	Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
Commercial, TV or cinema filming	Needs prior permission	Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
Grand Egyptian Museum	The museum's own rules apply; check at entry	Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities
Drones	Need Ministry of Defence permission	UK Foreign Office
Military sites and the Suez Canal	Prohibited	UK Foreign Office
Images considered damaging to Egypt's image	Illegal to take or share	UK Foreign Office
People	Ask permission first	UK Foreign Office
Children	Avoid photographing	UK Foreign Office

Monuments and museums

At Ministry-run temples and tombs, a mobile phone is all you need, and phone photography is free. Bigger cameras, tripods and filming for commercial use are treated differently and may need a permit, so ask at the ticket office before you set up. Museums can also have their own rules: the Grand Egyptian Museum publishes its own photography policy, so check it on arrival.

Never use a flash on painted tomb walls, even if no one is watching: light damages ancient pigments.

Markets, villages and street scenes

Markets such as Khan el-Khalili are full of photo opportunities, but traders and shoppers are working, not posing. Photograph the stalls and lanes rather than individual faces unless you ask. Some people dressed in costume or offering a camel for a photo will ask for money afterwards; read how to avoid tourist scams in Khan al-Khalili and agree any fee before you raise the camera.

In a Nubian village near Aswan, houses are painted in bright colours and are often the main reason visitors come. Photographing the houses and streets is generally welcome; families inside their homes and yards are a different matter, so ask your guide or host first.

Want great photos without the awkward moments?

If photos matter to you, a professional photographer handles timing, angles and permissions. A pyramids photo session with a professional photographer is planned around the best light on the Giza Plateau, and the Egypt photo session tours build photography into a full itinerary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it free to take photos at Egyptian monuments?

Photography with a mobile phone is free at Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities sites. Commercial, TV or cinema filming needs prior permission.

Can I fly a drone in Egypt?

Only with permission from Egypt's Ministry of Defence, according to the UK Foreign Office. Do not bring a drone expecting to fly it at monuments without that permission.

Is it rude to photograph people in Egypt?

It is rude without asking. Ask first, respect a no, and avoid photographing children.

What should I never photograph in Egypt?

Military sites and the Suez Canal, and any image that could be considered damaging to the country's image, according to the UK Foreign Office.