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Traveling to Egypt soon and looking for the best way to stay connected? Using an Egypt travel SIM card is still one of the most popular ways for doing so, and there are multiple options for you to choose from.

Follow along as we take a look at some of the best Egypt SIM card options, including their pricing, plans, and how to get them. We’ll also introduce Holafly eSIMs, an even more convenient, hassle-free way to stay connected in Egypt.

sim card egypt

How to get an Egypt SIM card as a tourist

There are two easy ways to grab a physical SIM card, so you can stay connected and use your cell phone in Egypt while avoiding excessive Egyptian roaming costs

  • Buy a SIM card before you arrive: You can buy an Egypt SIM card online and have it delivered to your home, your hotel in Egypt, or even the airport.
  • Buy a SIM card upon arrival: You can buy a SIM card as soon as you arrive in Egypt. You’ll find SIM cards in dedicated stands at the airport as well as shops throughout the country.
  • Buy an eSIM instead: eSIMs have grown to be one of the most popular ways for staying connected abroad, thanks to the convenience and ease of use they offer. Simply buy and activate your eSIM online for instant data access.
💡Tip: Ensure your phone is unlocked.  Otherwise, you can’t use a local SIM and may get stuck with high roaming fees.

Buying an Egypt SIM card before you arrive 

If you like being prepared before you even step foot in a new country, buying an Egypt SIM card ahead of time is the way to go. You can buy an Egypt data SIM card online from Amazon, SimOptions, and other travel retailers.

Doing so allows you to compare various data and call packages ahead of time and pick the one that suits your travel needs. These SIM cards are then delivered to your home, your hotel in Egypt, or to the airport. Just make sure to order at least a week in advance, as the cards take some time to arrive.

Buying an Egypt SIM card upon arrival

Buying a SIM card in Egypt is often more affordable than purchasing one online before your trip.

Once you arrive, you’ll be able to find SIM card stands in all international airports, as well as shops and operator customer centers spread out throughout Egypt.

Since Egypt is a popular tourist destination, many operators offer special SIM cards for tourists. However, to buy an Egyptian SIM card, you’ll need to provide your passport and the address where you’re staying (your hotel address is sufficient).

Buy an eSIM online

There are plenty of travel-oriented eSIM options available online. Look for one that suits your needs, buy your eSIM online, activate it, and enjoy staying connected without having to fiddle around with plastic SIM cards.

Holafly: The best eSIM for Egypt

While tourist SIM cards are still popular in Egypt, eSIMs have become the go-to way for staying connected for millions of travelers. Holafly is one of the most popular eSIM options for those traveling in Egypt. 

All Holafly eSIM plans for Egypt include unlimited data, so you won’t have to worry about running out and losing coverage. On top of that, Holafly offers 24/7 customer support, ensuring that help is available, no matter when you need it.

Since eSIMs are completely digital, it only takes a couple of minutes to buy and activate your eSIM for instant connectivity. Choose any number of days ranging from 1 to 90, with prices ranging from £2.54 to £7/day depending on the duration of the plan.

Holafly also offers monthly data plans with Holafly Plans, a monthly eSIM subscription that provides coverage in 170+ destinations worldwide with a single digital SIM card. Simply choose the plan that suits you best and enjoy steady internet coverage no matter where you go.

What is the best SIM card for Egypt?

There are four major mobile operators: Vodafone, Etisalat, Orange, and WE, all offering mobile internet in Egypt with their SIM cards for tourists. In this section, we take a closer look at data usage, cost, and coverage to help you decide which is the best fit for your trip.

1. Vodafone Egypt SIM card for tourists

Vodafone Egypt is one of the country’s largest and most established mobile network operators. It has been operating in Egypt since 1998 and is part of the global Vodafone Group. Vodafone Egypt offers reliable coverage in both urban centers and remote areas, including popular tourist destinations like the Pyramids and the Sinai desert.

Here’s a quick look at their data-only packages: 

  • 500 MB for EGP 10 (~£0.15)
  • 1.1 GB for EGP 20 (~£0.30)
  • 1.8 GB for EGP 30 (~£0.45)
  • 2.5 GB for EGP 40 (~£0.60)
  • 4 GB for EGP 60 (~£0.90)
  • 6 GB for EGP 80 (~£1.20)
  • 8 GB for EGP 100 (~£1.50)
  • 12 GB for EGP 150 (~£2.20)
  • 20 GB for EGP 250 (~£3.70)
  • 40 GB for EGP 400 (~£6.00)

Since these are data-only packages, they do not include voice call minutes or SMS. However, the Vodafone Tourist Line, available at Vodafone retail stores across the country, gives you a SIM package with data, local minutes, and international minutes for 28 days:

30 GB data for EGP 505 (~£7.40) with 200 local minutes and 30 international minutes

10 GB data for EGP 255 (~£3.75) with 200 local minutes and 20 international minutes

A screenshot of Vodafone's homepage
Vodafone’s online SIM store. Source: Vodafone

2. Orange SIM card for Egypt 

Orange is one of the leading telecom providers in Egypt. It is well-known for its broad network coverage and strong customer support, which makes it a solid choice for staying connected in cities and tourist hotspots.

You’ll be able to find Orange SIM cards in all Orange retail locations within Egypt, including those in all major international airports, so buying one shouldn’t be an issue.

There are two local SIM card options for you to choose from:

  • Orange Holidays: 20 GB and 120 minutes of local calls for 200 EGP (~£3.00)

Orange Holidays Super: 47 GB and 120 minutes of local calls for 450 EGP (~£6.60)

A screenshot of Orange's homepage
Orange’s online SIM card store. Source: Orange

3. e& SIM card for Egypt

e&, formerly known as Etisala, is one of Egypt’s best-known telecom providers and a subsidiary of the Emirates Telecommunications Group (Etisalat).

Established in Egypt in 2006, Etisalat was the first to launch 3G services in the country, and it’s known for offering high-speed 4G and 5G connectivity and reliable coverage across Egypt.

The company offers a dedicated plan for tourists called Traveler Line. 

These packages include phone calls and mobile data:

  • Traveler 200: 200 EGP (~£3.00) for 7 GB of mobile data plus 100 local minutes and 5 international calls
  • Traveler 300: 300 EGP (~£4.50) for 12 GB of mobile data plus 250 local minutes and 10 international calls
  • Traveler 450: 450 EGP (~£6.60) for 25 GB of mobile data plus 250 local minutes and 20 international calls
  • Traveler 600: 600 EGP (~£9.00) for 40 GB of mobile data plus 400 local minutes and 30 international calls

You can also renew these plans up to three times, and if you still have minutes or mobile data, it will be added to your renewed plan.d to access international services or banking apps while in Egypt.

 Etisalat online storefront. Source: Etisalat
 Etisalat online storefront. Source: Etisalat

4. WE SIM card in Egypt

4. WE SIM card in Egypt

WE is the mobile operator brand of Telecom Egypt, the country’s largest telecom company. Established in 2017, WE is a relatively new player in Egypt’s mobile network market.

WE offers a variety of mobile, internet, and data packages. Their Nitro mobile internet bundles are popular, providing high-speed 4G services. 

Here’s a quick look at their plans — all with 30-day validity:

Nitro 450: 50,000 MB for EGP 450 (~£6.60) up to 100,000 MB on social apps — this plan comes with a validity of 90 days.vice. 

Nitro 10: 625 MB for EGP 10 (~£0.15) up to 1,250 MB on social apps

Nitro 20: 1,375 MB for EGP 20 (~£0.30) up to 2,750 MB on social apps

Nitro 40: 3,250 MB for EGP 40 (~£0.60) up to 6,500 MB on social apps

Nitro 70: 6,250 MB for EGP 70 (~£1.05) up to 12,500 MB on social apps

Nitro 100: 10,000 MB for EGP 100 (~£1.50) up to 20,000 MB on social apps

Nitro 200: 23,500 MB for EGP 200 (~£3.00) up to 47,000 MB on social apps

A screenshot of WE homepage
WE online mobile store. Source: WE 

How much is a SIM card in Egypt?

The price for a prepaid SIM card in Egypt depends on the provider and the amount of data you need. For smaller data allowances up to 5 GB, expect to pay around 40-60 EGP (~£0.60-0.90), while plans with a bigger allowance can cost up to 600 EGP (~£9.00).

Let’s take a look at some of the plans shared by each of the SIM providers above and how much they cost.

Provider3-5 GB5-10 GB10-20 GB20+ GB
Vodafone EgyptEGP 60 (~£0.90) for 4 GBEGP 80-100 (~£1.20-1.50) for 6-8 GBEGP 150-250 (~£2.20-3.70) for 12-20 GBEGP 250-400 (~£3.70-5.90)for 20-40 GB
OrangeEGP 200 (~£3.00) for 20 GB EGP 450 (~£6.60) for 47 GB
e&EGP 200 (~£3.00) for 7 GBEGP 300 (~£4.50) for 12 GBEGP 450-600 (~£6.60-9.00) for 25-40 GB
WEEGP 40 (~£0.60) for 3.25 GBEGP 70 (~£1.05) for 6.25 GBEGP 100 (~£1.50) for 10 GBEGP 200-450 (~£3.00-6.60)  for 23.5-50 GB

With that in mind, all that’s left for you to do is pick an eSIM or SIM that suits your needs and enjoy your time in Egypt.

Rokas Aniulis

Rokas Aniulis

Senior SEO copywriter

A senior SEO writer from Lithuania, combining my passion for writing and travel at Holafly. With years of experience in technical fields, I'm here to answer all of your questions about staying connected. I specialize in turning even the most complicated topics into something everyone can understand.

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