eSIM and SIM cards in Egypt

Buy local

• Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat and WE are the four networks. Vodafone has the widest coverage and is the usual choice.
• A tourist SIM with a generous data bundle costs the equivalent of a few US dollars and is far cheaper than any travel eSIM.
• You must register with your passport. Buy from an official branded shop rather than a kiosk, so it is registered properly.
• Airport counters work and cost more. A shop in town is cheaper if you can wait.
• eSIM is supported by the main networks and by Saily, and is the easy option for a short trip.

Restrictions and reality

• WhatsApp, FaceTime and Skype voice calls are frequently blocked or degraded. Text and media messaging work.
• A VPN installed before you arrive is worth having. Some are themselves blocked, so install two.
• Speeds are good in Cairo, Alexandria and the Red Sea resorts and drop sharply in Upper Egypt and the desert.
• Cruise boats on the Nile have patchy coverage between Luxor and Aswan, which is part of the appeal.
• Power cuts affect mobile networks. Egypt has had rolling load shedding in recent summers.

Practical

• Keep the phone charged and carry a power bank. You will use the phone constantly for maps, translation and photographs.
• Google Translate with Arabic downloaded offline is genuinely useful, especially the camera mode for menus and signs.
• Save your hotel's name and address in Arabic script to show a taxi driver.