eSIM for Egypt
Egypt trips tend to follow the same shape: a few days in Cairo and Giza, a flight or train to Luxor or Aswan, perhaps a Nile cruise, and a week on the Red Sea at Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh. Each part of that trip has a different connectivity story.
Roaming on a UK, US or EU plan is billed at an international rate in Egypt. A data eSIM gives you the same local networks without the per day or per megabyte charge.
Plans are not on sale yet
Cairo and Giza first
Cairo is where you will lean on data the most. Ride hailing apps are the easiest way around the city, translation helps at every ticket window, and the traffic makes a live map useful even in a taxi. Coverage across Cairo and Giza is dense on every network.
On a Nile cruise
Between Luxor and Aswan the boats pass long stretches of farmland and desert where signal comes and goes. Cruise ship wifi is usually slow and shared by everyone on board in the evening.
Expect connectivity at the docks in Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan, and expect gaps in between. Upload your photos at the moorings, not mid river.
Networks and the Red Sea
Vodafone Egypt, Orange Egypt, Etisalat Misr and WE share the market. Hurghada, El Gouna, Marsa Alam and Sharm el-Sheikh are well covered on land. On dive boats and snorkelling trips offshore, signal fades with distance from the coast.
Desert excursions to the White Desert, Siwa or the monasteries of Sinai are mostly offline once you leave the road. Share your itinerary before you go.
View plans
Plans are not on sale yet
We are testing which destinations people actually need before we connect a supplier. Tell us where you are going and you will be first to know when plans for that destination go live.
Plan slot
Plan slot
Plan slot
Local SIM or eSIM
Local SIM cards are sold at Cairo airport and in the resort towns and they are good value per gigabyte. You will need your passport and some patience at the counter. For a stay under two weeks, skipping that step is the main argument for an eSIM.
What a data eSIM leaves out
An Egyptian +20 number. You will not be able to receive local SMS codes, and some hotels and drivers prefer to call a local number. WhatsApp calls and messages work over the eSIM like anywhere else.
See connectivity options
Compare optionsCommon questions
Is hotel wifi in Hurghada enough?
For messages in the evening, often yes. For maps, ride hailing and excursions, no. Resort wifi rarely reaches the beach or the boat.
Will I have data on a Nile cruise?
At the moorings and near the towns, yes. On the long stretches between them, expect it to drop out. That applies to every network, not only to an eSIM.
Can I use Uber or Careem in Cairo with a data eSIM?
Yes. Ride hailing apps need data and a working app account, not a local phone number, although drivers may try to call you. Keep your home line on for calls.