The first thing most visitors need in Egypt is a car. Uber and Careem work well in Cairo, with the fare agreed before you get in, but only if your phone is online when you walk out of arrivals. That is also the moment the queues form at the airport SIM counters.
Egypt is not part of the EU's Roam Like at Home area, and few home tariffs include it, so using your usual line can get expensive within days. Here is how to arrive connected and stay that way, from the pyramids of Giza to a dive boat in Hurghada.
Key facts for Egypt
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: police 122 (or 112 from a mobile), ambulance 123, fire 180, tourist police 126
- Embassies: mostly in Cairo; several consulates in Alexandria
Should I buy a SIM at Cairo airport?
You can. Operator counters in the arrivals halls of the main airports sell tourist SIM cards, and the staff will set them up for you. Two things to know: every SIM has to be registered with your passport, and after a busy wave of arrivals the wait can be long. You also have to take out your home SIM, unless your phone holds two.
The alternative is to arrive already connected. A travel eSIM is installed at home with a QR code and only starts counting when it first connects in Egypt, so you can book your ride before you reach the baggage belt. It is data only, without an Egyptian number; your own number stays on the phone for texts and calls, and WhatsApp calls go over data.
Where the signal is strong, and where it fades
Coverage is good in Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor and Aswan and along the Nile valley, which is where most itineraries run. It weakens in the Western Desert and in the interior of Sinai, so download offline maps before a desert trip. At sea there is no network once you are well away from the coast, and the Wi-Fi on Nile cruise boats is often slow or limited, so do not count on it for anything urgent.
Apps worth having data for
- Uber and Careem for city transport, with the price set in the app.
- Maps for temples, souks and hotels, especially in Cairo's traffic.
- Translation with the camera for menus and signs in Arabic.
- WhatsApp, which many guides, drivers and dive centres use to confirm plans.
Roaming from your home plan
Turning on roaming is easy, and that is the risk. Outside the EU roaming area, operators usually charge a daily pass or by the megabyte, and a one- or two-week trip adds up. If your tariff does include Egypt, check the daily allowance before you rely on it.
Consular protection: help worth saving before you fly
- 122 is the police (or 112 from a mobile), 123 an ambulance and 180 the fire service.
- 126 is the tourist police, the first call for problems such as scams or lost documents in tourist areas.
- Most embassies are in Cairo, and several countries also have a consulate in Alexandria. The Telcomia app shows yours, with address and phone.
- If you are an EU citizen and your country has no embassy or consulate in Egypt, the embassy of any other EU country must help you on the same terms as its own nationals (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
- Emergency phrases in Arabic, with pronunciation in Latin letters, are ready to show on screen in the app.
Questions travellers ask about Egypt
Does the eSIM work in Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh?
Yes. The Red Sea resorts have good coverage. Out at sea, far from the coast, there is no signal.
Which networks does a Telcomia eSIM use in Egypt?
Vodafone, Orange and Etisalat (e&), depending on the plan, with 4G and 5G where available.
Can I share the connection with my laptop?
Yes, hotspot is allowed, which helps on a long Nile cruise or a work trip.
Do I need an Egyptian number?
Only if you need to receive local calls. For ride-hailing, maps and WhatsApp, data is enough.
The short version
Install a travel eSIM before you fly, switch it on when you land, skip the counter queue and keep roaming off on your home line.
Related reads:
Ready to stay connected without surprises?
Activate your eSIM in seconds and travel connected in 200+ countries and territories.
See plans