Egypt - Restrictions

Restrictions for Yachts in Egypt

Anchorages

If you need to anchor in Egyptian waters prior to officially checking in, this Arabic/English letter of introduction extracted from the Red Sea Pilot Book may be useful.

See also this report from SV Tuvalu who sailed north up the Red Sea in the spring of 2023 and stayed at a number of "stop-over" locations prior to officially clearing into Egypt at Hurghada.

Anchorages are permitted around Abu Tig, but the general restrictions are not to land on the islands and to keep a distance of one nautical mile away from them and not to anchor beside corals or military areas, as per the chart.

Outside of the official ports of entry, in other ports and anchorages, one may not go ashore except with special permission from the local authorities. Most anchorages have an army post or military station, who usually ask for the yacht's papers.

Non-Prohibited Shelter Spots on the way to Suez

The following stopovers are as of August 2025:

SOMA BAY [26° 50' 29.99" N / 33° 59' 15.59" E]
EL TUR [28° 14' 27.64" N / 33° 37' 22.73" E]
RAS ABU SINEMA [26° 30' 25.68" N / 27° 39' 41.29" E]
RAS MATARMA [29° 25' 60" N / 32° 46' 0" E]
RAS SUDR [29° 35' 36" N / 32° 43' 06" E]
MARSA ZARABA [27° 49. 9 N  33° 59. 6 E]
WADI GIMAL [23°7'0" N 34°51'0" E]
RAS GIHAN
SUEZ C1 ANCHORAGE (29 55.5  32 32.6)

This list is continually updated - ask your agent for the latest info. or consult the Red Sea Passage Facebook group.

Other Restrictions

• Spearfishing, the taking of reef fish, collecting of coral, shells and marine animals, are all forbidden in the Red Sea.
• Drones are banned in Egypt. If you are found with a drone on board by the Egyptian Intelligence Service, it will probably be taken away and it's unlikely you will see it again.
• All military zones are prohibited areas.

Suez Canal regulations

• Yachts must be capable of a consistent speed of 5 knots, which will be checked during the technical inspection. The speed limit in the canal is 9 knots. Yachts normally transit just after the morning convoy.
• It is not permitted to sail in either in the canal or the Bitter Lakes.
• If a yacht breaks down, you can only be towed by a Canal Authority boat (at a high fee!). However, it's wise to contact your agent first who may be able to sort out a cheaper solution.
• The Canal transit takes 2 days with a stop-over at Ismalia.

For much more detail on rules and regulations for the Suez Canal, the transit process and fees, see Noonsite's document: Transit Information for the Suez Canal, available exclusively to Noonsite members via the green special offers bar at the top of the Egypt Noonsite pages.

Canal Warning:

There have been reports of several yachts being run aground, and one severely damaged, due to the incompetence of the Egyptian pilot. It is therefore strongly recommended that at no time should the pilot be allowed to steer the boat, that the latest charts of the Canal are constantly referred to and that if it appears that the pilot is giving wrong instructions, such as advising the person at the helm to leave the main channel to cut a corner, the captain should use his or her common sense before accepting such advice.