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SIM cards and mobile internet in Egypt

Egypt has four mobile networks: Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat (e&) and WE, and Vodafone is the safe choice. A tourist plan with 10–15 GB for 28 days costs about USD 10–15. Buy it at an airport kiosk or a carrier shop and bring your passport. If your phone takes an eSIM, buy one before you fly and skip the queue.

Mobile data in Egypt is cheap, and quick in the cities. You can choose between four networks: Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat (e&) and WE.

Which network should you pick?

  • Vodafone Egypt: widest coverage and the tourists' favourite
  • Orange: a strong rival at similar prices
  • Etisalat / e&: good in the major cities and along the Red Sea
  • WE: state-owned, dependable in Upper Egypt and rural areas

Cairo, the Pyramids, Luxor, Aswan and the Red Sea resorts are well covered by all four. If in doubt, go with Vodafone.

A plan that works: buy a cheap eSIM before you leave home, turn it on as soon as you land, and spend your first day noting the signal where you actually are, at the hotel and at the sites you will visit. Once you know which carrier performs best there, decide whether to add a local SIM for the rest of the trip. More in our guide to the best eSIM for Egypt.

Where to buy a SIM

  • Cairo Airport: kiosks in arrivals, open 24/7 (a little dearer, but convenient)
  • Carrier shops in town: cheaper, but take your passport
  • Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh airports: kiosks here too

You need your passport to register the SIM (an anti-terrorism requirement).

Tourist plans (guide prices)

Plan Data Valid for Price
Tourist Starter 10–15 GB 28 days about USD 10–15
Tourist Plus 30–40 GB 28 days about USD 15–25
Tourist Pro (with calls) 50 GB + minutes 28 days about USD 25–35

Prices change. At the kiosk, ask for the "tourist line".

eSIMs: skip the airport queue

If your phone supports eSIM, buy one before you fly:

  • Airalo: Egypt plans from USD 5
  • Holafly: unlimited data plans
  • Nomad: competitive prices
  • Saily: a newer option

An eSIM goes live as soon as you land. The trade-off is that you get no Egyptian phone number, which some apps (Uber, bank verification codes) ask for. Need to call a local number you have found? The Egyptian phone number formatter checks it and gets it ready for a call or WhatsApp.

Speed and coverage

  • Cairo, Alexandria, Hurghada, Sharm El-Sheikh: 4G/5G, fast
  • Luxor, Aswan: 4G, fine
  • Western Desert and inland Sinai: patchy
  • Nile cruises: usually 3G/4G for most of the route

Wi-Fi

  • Hotels and cafés have reasonable Wi-Fi
  • Many tourist sites have none, so keep mobile data switched on
  • VPNs work, but some services (such as WhatsApp video calls) can be throttled, and a VPN often helps
Worth knowing: WhatsApp voice and video calls are often blocked or throttled. See what works and how to call home.
eSIM

Buy a tourist eSIM before you fly and be online as soon as you land, without the queue at the airport phone shop. We recommend Airalo and JETPAC.

Airalo JETPAC

Frequently asked questions

Which mobile network is best for tourists in Egypt?

Vodafone Egypt has the widest coverage and is the safe default. Orange is close behind at similar prices. Etisalat (e&) is strong in the big cities and on the Red Sea coast, and WE is dependable in Upper Egypt and the countryside. On the usual route of Cairo, the Pyramids, Luxor, Aswan and the Red Sea, any of the four will do.

Where can I buy a SIM card in Egypt?

At kiosks in the arrivals halls of Cairo, Hurghada and Sharm El-Sheikh airports (open around the clock, slightly dearer) or for less at carrier shops in town. You need your passport, because SIM registration is required under anti-terrorism law.

How much is a tourist SIM in Egypt?

A starter plan with 10–15 GB for 28 days is about USD 10–15. A mid-size plan with 30–40 GB costs USD 15–25, and the top plan with 50 GB plus call minutes USD 25–35. Prices move around, so ask the kiosk for the tourist line.

eSIM or physical SIM for Egypt?

Buy a cheap eSIM (Airalo, Holafly, Nomad or Saily) before you fly and switch it on when you land: no queue and no passport registration. Use the first day to check the signal at your hotel and the places you plan to visit, then decide whether a local SIM is worth adding. The catch with an eSIM is that you get no Egyptian number, which some apps need for verification codes.

Does WhatsApp work in Egypt?

WhatsApp messages work normally. Voice and video calls on WhatsApp, FaceTime and Skype are throttled or blocked on Egyptian networks. Most travellers get round this with a paid VPN, and VPNs are legal for tourists.

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