Military area

Border forbidden and restricted areas (Decree 444/2014)

Military area · Egypt

Other zones: Egypt Check a route

In short

For visitors: permit required — or entry prohibited, depending on the area, purpose or group.

No boundary — routes will not see this zone
Checked against the act on 21 October 2026
Local name: المناطق المتاخمة لحدود جمهورية مصر العربية (المناطق المحظورة والمناطق المقيد فيها التواجد)

Who may enter, and with what

Rules by group of people, as the source states them, with dates. We give no assessments of our own.

Everyone — entry prohibited. According to press summaries (official text not obtained), in the 'forbidden' border areas under Decree 444/2014 only the armed forces may be present or move; civilians and vehicles are barred.Issued by: Egyptian Armed ForcesExceptions: Border crossings; the towns of Sallum, Sidi Barrani, Siwa, Halaib and Rafah (except a 5 km strip west of the border) are outside the rules (Art. 2, per summaries).; Roads listed in Art. 2 with a 50 m strip on each side (Marsa Matrouh–Sallum, to Siwa, Bahariya, Shalatin, Aswan; the coastal El-Arish–Rafah road) — per summaries.
Original wording
forbidden zones: only armed forces may move through them (Daily News Egypt summary of the decree)
Daily News Egypt (summary of the decree; official text not obtained) · as of 30 November 2014 · checked 21 October 2026
Everyone — permit required. According to press summaries (official text not obtained), in the 'restricted' border areas along the western, southern and eastern borders presence requires written permission from the armed forces (long-term residents excepted). No public application procedure is published.Issued by: Egyptian Armed Forces (written permission)Exceptions: Long-term residents: Matrouh governorate — since before 05.07.1967; Red Sea, Aswan, New Valley — since before 01.01.1987; in Sallum town (not on the heights) Matrouh residents need no permission (per summaries of Art. 3).
Original wording
restricted areas are accessible for (1) persons granted written military permit; (2) citizens, who have permanent residence permit
Juris Gentium Law Journal, UGM (summary of Art. 3 of the decree; official text not obtained) · checked 21 October 2026

Legal basis

Open the text

Questions

Permits and restricted zones — FAQ

Do you need a permit: Border forbidden and restricted areas (Decree 444/2014)?

For visitors: permit required — or entry prohibited, depending on the area, purpose or group. According to press summaries (official text not obtained), in the 'forbidden' border areas under Decree 444/2014 only the armed forces may be present or move; civilians and vehicles are barred.

Where do I get the permit?

Issued by: Egyptian Armed Forces. The link to the official application page is in the rule above.

Will the planner see this zone on my route?

No: we have no boundary for this zone, so the planner cannot see it. Check your route against the rule above.

Other zones: Egypt

Border area adjacent to Gaza (El-Arish, Rafah)Desert areas of Bahariya, Farafra, White Desert and Black Desert South-west Egypt near the Sudan and Libya borders (Gilf Kebir, Uweinat)

Visas by passportWhere you can go without a visa, and for how long.AI plannerA day-by-day route, with permits and zones along the way.Zones mapZones and military areas on the world map.