Street Photography Will No Longer Require Permits

Wandering the streets of any Egyptian city armed with a professional camera has long been an exercise in risk-taking furtiveness. The rules, regulations and laws around where, how and when you can capture anything from architecture to life on Egyptian streets have always been complicated with the consequences spanning from cursory to serious.

It seems however all that is about to change with a set of laws in the works that will permit photography in streets and public spaces. 

During an interview with MBC’s El-Hekaya, Egypt’s Minster of Tourism & Antiquities Dr. Khaled El Anani explained that Egyptians, photography enthusiasts, foreign residents in Egypt and tourists will all be able to take snaps on the streets and in public spaces without permits and that “no one will be allowed to ask you why you are filming in public."

Meanwhile foreign reporters and news channels will be required to obtain permits through the State Information Service.