Staying connected in Egypt: SIM cards, eSIMs, Wi-Fi and power plugs

What do you need to stay connected in Egypt?

You need three things: a phone that works on a local or roaming network, a way to charge it, and a clear idea of what the rules allow. For most visitors that means a phone from home, a European-style plug adapter and either roaming or a tourist SIM.

This page covers each in turn. It also covers the phone rule that changed in January 2026, because several older guides still describe the earlier system. Every fact was read on 29 October 2026 from the page named next to it.

Which mobile networks does Egypt have?

Four companies run mobile service: Orange, Vodafone, Etisalat and We. Experience Egypt, the national tourism site, names the same four and says each offers temporary holiday lines for tourists, which you ask for in any of their shops with a copy of your passport. Wikipedia’s page on Egyptian telecommunications says We belongs to Telecom Egypt and reports 106.2 million mobile subscriptions at the end of 2023. The same page says about 82 million people used the internet in January 2024, a penetration of 72.2 percent, although it is flagged as needing an update.

Which network is better depends on where you go. We found no independent test of the four networks, so check each carrier’s own coverage map for the places on your route, and ask your driver or guide which signal works best in the area you are visiting.

Can tourists buy a local SIM card?

Yes. Ecofin Agency and Ahram Online both report that visitors can buy a tourist SIM from any local carrier by presenting a passport. Ecofin quotes the rule as a 90-day exemption per stay, and Ahram says foreign visitors receive a new SIM valid for 90 days on each visit.

The practical points come from experience with our guests. Registration needs your physical passport, the phone must be unlocked, and you should ask staff to confirm that the internet works before you leave the counter. Counters at the airport are quicker, while carrier stores in town let you compare bundles without a queue behind you.

1. Check that your phone is unlocked. Insert a SIM from another provider if you are unsure.
2. Carry your physical passport, not a photo of it.
3. Choose a counter at the airport or an official carrier store in town.
4. Ask the clerk to register and activate the SIM and to test mobile data.
5. Keep the receipt and note the carrier’s customer-service number.

Bundles and prices change often, so we give no figures here. Ask the clerk what the bundle includes in data, local minutes and days of validity, and compare two or three counters before paying.

What changed for phones in January 2026?

The customs exemption that let a traveller bring in one imported phone ended at noon on 21 January 2026, according to Khaleej Times and Ahram Online. Customs and the telecom regulator announced the change on 20 January. Any phone brought in by a traveller can now face a one-time charge, which The National puts at 38.5 percent of the device’s cost.

Tourists are treated differently. Khaleej Times says visitors can keep using their phones with a foreign SIM at no cost, and that using an Egyptian SIM gives a 90-day exemption per visit. The National says tourists and Egyptians living abroad are exempt for up to 90 days per visit, after which the charge applies.

Payment and registration are digital, through the Telephony app, banks or e-wallets, per Khaleej Times and Ecofin. Airport customs offices no longer register phones by hand. For a normal holiday of one or two weeks, the practical effect is small. A visitor staying longer than 90 days should read the current rule before travel, because these reports are from January 2026 and the details may have moved.

Should you use an eSIM, a local SIM or roaming?

The choice depends on trip length, phone and budget. The table sets out the three options using only what the sources state.

The Orange Egypt website lists an eSIM service in its menu, but its page does not say whether visitors can use it, so ask the carrier directly. We found no carrier page that confirms a tourist eSIM offer, so do not assume you can buy one at the airport.

A local SIM suits a stay of a week or more and any traveller who makes local calls, such as to a driver or a guide. An eSIM suits someone who wants data on landing without a queue. Roaming suits a short trip where you only need maps and messages.

Will you have mobile signal and Wi-Fi everywhere?

Not everywhere. Remote desert areas can have little or no signal, and we found no coverage map from a carrier that promises otherwise. The Government of Canada travel advice describes a 300 km road to Siwa Oasis with limited services and advises carrying enough water and cash, so plan for gaps on desert days.

On a Nile cruise or a desert safari, expect patchy data. Download offline maps, boarding passes and your booking confirmations before you leave a city. No source we opened gives Wi-Fi speeds on ships, so ask your planner what each hotel or boat offers before you rely on video calls.

What do the two plug types look like?

Type C is the Europlug with two round pins. Wikipedia’s page on AC power plugs lists it at 2.5 A, and the Type F Schuko plug at 16 A. A Europlug fits Schuko sockets, so one slim European adapter covers both types.

The same page says adapters do not change voltage or frequency, and that many modern AC adapters accept 100 to 240 V at 50 or 60 Hz. Read the small print on the charger. If it says 100-240 V, a plug adapter is enough. If it says 120 V only, as on some hair dryers and travel kettles, leave it at home, because Egypt supplies 220 V.

Which SIM mistakes should you avoid?

Most problems come from a few avoidable slips. The sources point to these:

• Arriving with a locked phone. A locked phone will reject a local SIM, so test it with another SIM before you fly.
• Leaving the passport in the hotel safe. Ecofin Agency reports that tourist SIMs are sold against a passport, so carry it to the counter.
• Leaving the counter before data works. Ask the clerk to confirm that the internet is running.
• Planning to pay by card. Small vendors prefer cash, and the Government of Canada advises carrying local currency.
• Staying past the exemption without checking. The 90-day period is per visit according to The National, so long stays need a current check.

Our guide to money, ATMs and cards in Egypt explains how to get small notes before you reach the counter.

Which plugs and voltage does Egypt use?

Egypt uses plug types C and F at a nominal 220 V and 50 Hz, according to Wikipedia’s table of mains electricity by country. Its page lists the nominal supply as 220/380 V, the second figure being the three-phase value, and adds that real voltages can vary a little from the nominal figure.

Type C is the flat two-pin Europlug, with pins 4 mm thick, and it is rated at 2.5 A. Type F is the round Schuko plug rated at 16 A. Wikipedia’s page on plugs says the Europlug fits all three CEE 7 sockets, including the German Schuko socket, which is the same family as the Egyptian outlet. A type C adapter therefore works in both socket styles.

The table follows from the plug types listed by Wikipedia; it does not come from a retailer’s compatibility chart, so check your own adapter’s label.

Do your chargers work at 220 V?

Most modern chargers do. Wikipedia notes that many AC adapters accept 100 to 240 V at 50 or 60 Hz, so phone, laptop and camera chargers marked with that range only need a plug adapter. The same page warns that cords for dual-voltage equipment may be rated for just 125 V, so check the cord as well as the brick.

Single-voltage devices are the risk. A hair dryer, straightener or kettle made for 120 V can be damaged on 220 V, and a small plug adapter will not change the voltage. Read the label, and leave a 120 V-only appliance at home if it does not show a range.

What should you pack for devices and power?

Pack one adapter per person, a charging cable that fits your phone and a power bank. IATA says spare lithium batteries are not allowed in checked baggage, so keep power banks and spare camera batteries in your carry-on.

Our Egypt packing list covers the rest of the kit by season. Leave cables, a spare earphone set and any prescription information in your hand luggage.

Which devices can cause trouble at the airport?

Drones, satellite phones and radio equipment. The Government of Canada says drones are strictly prohibited, that unauthorised import or use can bring lengthy jail terms and deportation, and that officials are likely to confiscate devices brought in without prior approval. The UK government says satellite phones and radio equipment will probably be confiscated without prior clearance from the Ministry of Telecommunications.

Both governments ask you to declare high-value electronics. The Canadian page says personal equipment such as video cameras and laptops should be listed by model and serial number and checked on arrival and departure. The Canadian page also says photography of bridges, canals, government and police buildings and military sites is prohibited, so switch the camera off near them.

How do you use data on a private trip?

Most visitors use their phone for maps, ride apps, translation and photos, and these need little data. Keep a copy of every voucher offline, share your plan with a family contact and carry a power bank on long sightseeing days. Fix a place and time to meet your guide in case phones die.

If you are comparing packages, look at the daily plan rather than the connectivity. See the options on our Egypt tour packages page, or tell us your dates through the trip planning form.