The government has complete monopoly over data and information. There may be hope that this may change with the draft Freedom of Information law, but this is unlikely. National security concerns will always stand in the way of getting complete information.

You can buy from the Egyptian Survey Authority (ESA) maps of any area in Egypt in great detail, except areas deemed sensitive. For this, people are referred to the military survey authority, which can sell you the map or it can deny requests on a national security basis.

In the age of Google maps, buying printed maps is a hassle and there is a possibility that due to the land dispute between the people living on Qursaya and the Army, maps of the island may no longer be available. This is serious.

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