Egypt SIM card in 2026: price, best options, where to buy and alternatives

Once there, you have two options to stay connected: a physical SIM card bought in Egypt from a local operator, or an eSIM purchased online before departure. Both use the local 4G and 5G networks; what changes is when you are connected, the procedures involved, and the cost per GB.

To help you decide between the two technologies for any destination, we have also written a complete comparison eSIM vs SIM card.

A prepaid SIM card in Egypt works without a subscription: you buy a line with a tourist plan, you pay once, and you top up if needed. Local operators reserve their tourist plans for foreign visitors upon presentation of a passport, and activation is instantaneous once the chip is registered.

Where to buy a SIM card in Egypt?

To buy a SIM card, you have two points of sale: official operator shops in town, and counters located in certain airports. Telecom Egypt indicates that its lines are sold in its shops distributed throughout the country, and Vodafone specifies that its Tourist Line can be purchased at its airport shop or in any Vodafone shop.

At Cairo International Airport, operator shops are reported by travelers in the arrival area of terminals 2 and 3. At Hurghada airport, travelers describe Vodafone, Orange, and e& stands after baggage claim, before exiting. For Sharm El Sheikh and Luxor, no operator publishes a list of their airport counters or their opening hours. Keep in mind that a counter may be closed upon the arrival of a night flight: in this case, you will have to wait for a shop in town to open.

A few things to keep in mind before paying at the counter:

• Keep your passport close at hand: it is used for the chip registration.
• Ask for the exact data volume: travelers report airport plans where a portion of the GBs is only valid for social media.
• Compare the announced amount to the official price lists below before paying.
• Check that your device is unlocked, otherwise the new card will not work.

What are the mobile operators in Egypt?

Egypt has four mobile operators: Vodafone Egypt, Orange Egypt, e& Egypt (formerly Etisalat Misr), and WE, the mobile brand of Telecom Egypt. The country had 128.26 million mobile subscriptions in August 2026, representing a penetration rate of 114%, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT).

Regarding the network, the February 2026 Opensignal report (measurements from November 1st, 2025 to January 29th, 2026) provides these average download speeds:

5G was launched on June 4, 2025, at the foot of the Giza pyramids by the four operators. By December 2025, Vodafone covered more than 3,000 urban areas in 5G, from Alexandria to Aswan. In the desert and rural areas, your SIM will often switch back to 4G. For a stable connection during an excursion or a Nile cruise, download your offline Google Maps before leaving.

What is the price of a SIM card in Egypt?

The price of a SIM card in Egypt depends mainly on the chosen tourist package: between 100 and 600 Egyptian pounds (EGP) depending on the operator and data volume. Here are the offers noted on November 12, 2026, on the operators' websites, converted at the Banque Misr exchange rate of the same day (1 € = approximately 59.2 EGP):

WE Mobile Egypt plans last for one month and renew; once the GBs are consumed, internet continues for free at a reduced speed. A new WE SIM costs 81.23 EGP all taxes included (approximately €1.37). e& Travel plans renew with the code *620#, and unused MBs are carried over to the renewal.

Vodafone sells a Tourist Line for visitors (data, local minutes, and international minutes), but its website does not publish a searchable price list: ask for the current rate in-store and compare it to the offers above. Orange does not display a tourist offer on its website; with a classic prepaid line, you can add a GO data option, for example 10 GB for 180 EGP or 45 GB for 600 EGP, valid for four weeks (code #222#).

On paper, a local SIM card remains the cheapest option per GB. However, factor in the time spent finding an open shop and paying in Egyptian pounds: plan to have some cash upon arrival or ask if credit cards are accepted.

What documents are required for a SIM card in Egypt?

To get a SIM card in Egypt, the only document to present is your valid passport: each chip is registered in the name of its buyer, and Telecom Egypt requires a valid passport to sell one to a foreigner.

Your smartphone requires no action. Since January 21, 2026, the country has taxed imported devices, but the State Information Service (the Egyptian government's information service) specifies that the exemption continues for 90 days for tourists, and that mobile registration at customs has been abolished. In practical terms, with a local tourist SIM, your device is exempt for 90 days during each stay; with your foreign SIM card or a travel eSIM, no fees apply.

How to activate a SIM card in Egypt?

To activate your SIM card, the seller first registers the chip with your passport. Then, a few steps are all it takes:

1. Turn off your smartphone, remove your usual SIM card and put it away safely: you will need it when you get back.
2. Insert the new card, turn the device back on and enter the provided PIN code.
3. Check that your tourist plan is active: *444# with WE, *620# to renew a Travel plan with e&, *6060# for the Vodafone Tourist Line.
4. If the internet does not start, enable mobile data, turn off roaming, switch to airplane mode for a few seconds, then restart.
5. Note down your new SIM card details and the operator's customer service contact (544 with WE).

In case of a configuration problem (APN), an advisor can resolve the activation in a few minutes in-store. For out-of-bundle usage, with both WE and Vodafone, local minutes and SMS cost 0.19 EGP.

Advantages of the physical SIM card in Egypt

Yes: an eSIM replaces the SIM card for everything that goes through the internet (Google Maps, WhatsApp, ride-hailing, social media, video calls). An eSIM is a digital SIM card integrated into your device: you install it by scanning a QR code or via an app, without inserting anything, and it connects to the local network as soon as you land. The only difference: a travel eSIM is a data eSIM, without a +20 country code.

How to buy an eSIM for Egypt?

The purchase takes a few minutes, from home:

1. Check that your phone is eSIM compatible and unlocked: most iPhones since the XS, recent Samsung Galaxy models, and Google Pixel phones are. Our article explains how to know if your phone is eSIM compatible.
2. Choose your plan according to the duration of your stay and your usage.
3. Install the eSIM before you leave, while connected to Wi-Fi, using the QR code or directly from the app.
4. Upon landing, activate the eSIM for mobile data and enable data roaming on it: you are connected.

Who are the eSIM providers in Egypt?

The main providers of eSIM for Egypt are voilà eSIM, Saily, Airalo, Ubigi and Holafly. They do not all use the same network on-site:

• voilà eSIM relies on two national networks, Vodafone and Orange, in 4G. Vodafone holds the best 5G coverage in the country according to Opensignal and ranks second in average throughput; Orange completes the coverage, and your smartphone switches to the most reliable network wherever you are.
• Airalo sells plans on the Vodafone network.
• Ubigi goes through Orange and e&.
• Holafly uses Orange, with unlimited plans billed per day.

That is the whole point of the Egypt eSIM from voilà eSIM: two major local networks available on a single eSIM, from Cairo to Hurghada, Luxor or Aswan, with easy activation from the app.

What is the price of an eSIM for Egypt?

The price of an eSIM for Egypt starts at $1.90 with voilà eSIM, for 1 GB over one week. On November 12, 2026, we reviewed the euro price lists of five providers (voilà eSIM prices also indicated in dollars). For equivalent data volumes, voilà eSIM is the cheapest of the compared plans:

On the 20 GB plan, the cost per GB is €1.40 ($1.61) with voilà eSIM, compared to €1.54 with Saily (promotional price), €1.56 with Ubigi (on 25 GB), and €1.95 with Airalo. Holafly's unlimited plans target a different use case, with a much higher total cost for long stays.

At voilà eSIM, here is the complete pricing grid found on our Egypt eSIM page:

The amount shown is final, with no subscription or automatic renewal, and hotspot sharing is included. voilà eSIM offers excellent value for money, an easy-to-install eSIM with an easy-to-use app, and 24/7 human customer support if you get stuck during activation. You have 180 days to start using your plan: buy it at your leisure before you leave, then follow our tutorial to install your eSIM in two minutes. Need extra data on-site? You can add GBs directly from the app, without leaving your destination.

Advantages of eSIM compared to SIM card in Egypt

How to choose the best prepaid SIM card for Egypt?

To choose the best prepaid SIM card for Egypt, or the best eSIM, look at four criteria:

1. The duration of your stay: e& and WE tourist plans last one month, while eSIM plans last from one week to one month.
2. Your need for local calls: if you call locally often, a local SIM card is essential; otherwise, WhatsApp is enough.
3. Data volume: 3 to 5 GB for one week with Google Maps and WhatsApp, 10 to 20 GB if you post videos or share your connection. Our calculator how many GB for my trip helps you estimate your needs.
4. The network: coverage varies depending on the operator, especially outside of cities and tourist areas.

Local SIM cards and eSIMs are not the only ways to have internet on-site. Three other options exist: your usual mobile plan, a pocket Wi-Fi, or public Wi-Fi. Each has its limits.

Does your mobile plan work in Egypt?

Egypt is only included in certain operators' plans: in most cases, using your mobile plan on-site triggers roaming, charged per MB or via a travel pass. Before leaving, check three things in your operator's plan: if Egypt is among the included destinations, how many GB you can use there, and the price per MB outside of your plan.

If your plan already includes data on-site, you don't need anything else. Otherwise, compare the price of the pass with a local SIM card or a travel eSIM before activating it. A rule to remember: activate roaming only if you have an active pass, otherwise turn it off in your phone settings.

Pocket Wi-Fi in Egypt

A pocket Wi-Fi is a small portable router that captures the network and shares it via Wi-Fi with multiple devices. You can rent or buy it, and it works with a SIM card or a data plan. It is practical for a family that wants to share a single connection, but you have to charge it, keep it with you and, if rented, return it at the end of your stay. A smartphone with an eSIM does the same thing thanks to hotspotting. We compare both options in our article on pocket Wi-Fi in Morocco, whose advice is also applicable here.

Public Wi-Fi in Egypt

Hotels, cafes, restaurants and Nile cruise boats often offer Wi-Fi. It helps for sending a message or downloading a map, but the quality varies greatly, and you remain disconnected as soon as you step out: in a taxi, on a desert excursion or at an archaeological site. On a public network, avoid logging into your bank or entering passwords. Public Wi-Fi complements a SIM card or an eSIM, it does not replace them.

The right SIM card for Egypt depends on how you travel: a seaside stay, a cultural tour, or a long-term stay. Here is how to decide.

One week at a club in Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh or Marsa Alam

You spend a lot of time on hotel Wi-Fi and just want to be reachable on WhatsApp, book an excursion, or share your photos: a 3 to 5 GB eSIM installed before departure does the trick, without having to visit the airport counter in Hurghada upon arrival.

A tour in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan

You're moving from the Pyramids of Giza to the Valley of the Kings and a Nile cruise: an adventure where you need data everywhere and immediately upon arrival in Cairo. A 10 to 20 GB eSIM connects you as soon as you land, on the Vodafone and Orange networks. If you also want an Egyptian number to call your driver or your hotel, add a local SIM card.

A long stay or a family trip

You stay for a month or more and you call often while there: a local SIM card has the advantage, with an e& Travel 450 or Travel 600 plan, or a WE Mobile Egypt 300 plan and its local minutes. Keep your device unlocked and have your passport ready for the purchase.

You need a local number

To reach a rental agent, a doctor, or a merchant without using the internet, only a local SIM card gives you a +20 country code. The voilà eSIM is a data eSIM: your calls go through WhatsApp, Telegram, or FaceTime.