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Egypt grounds unlicensed drones

Security concerns have led Egypt to regulate the use of drones, even as the country strives to become a leading manufacturer of the unmanned aerial vehicles.
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CAIRO — Egypt recently passed a law prohibiting the operation of a drone without a permit. Penalties range from one year in prison plus fines to capital punishment for using drones for acts of terrorism that result in death. Despite concerns over the expanded use of drones in Egypt and the strict controls imposed, Cairo is taking major steps in the development and manufacturing of such aircraft, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Retired Gen. Nabil Abu al-Naja told Al-Monitor, “I expect Egypt to become one of the leading countries in the manufacture of such aircraft, and this will help the country fight terrorism at a low cost without importing such devices from abroad.” He added, “The manufacture of UAVs will help support all fields requiring such vehicles. When terrorist attacks against Egypt decline, the country is set to witness a boom in [regulated] UAV manufacturing, circulation and use."

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