eSIM For U

eSIM Egypt

5G · Orange

Good to know

Starts when you first connect

Top-up available

7 days

15 days

30 days

Good to know

Starts when you first connect

Top-up available

Before you go

Egypt eSIM: what to expect.

Plans for Egypt range from 1 to 20 GB and 7 to 30 days, plus day plans with a fixed daily allowance. You pay once. No contract, no roaming bill.

Networks and speed

  • NetworksOrange
  • SpeedUp to 5G on this network. Where there is no 5G, you connect over 4G/LTE.
  • Internet runs viaEuropean UnionDepending on the plan. Banking or streaming apps may treat you as being there.

Which plan for your trip

Our pick · 1 week5 GB · 30 days$16.99About 0.7 GB a day: enough for maps, messages, social media and some video.Choose this planOur pick · 2 weeks10 GB · 30 days$26.29About 0.7 GB a day: enough for maps, messages, social media and some video.Choose this plan

Prefer a daily allowance? 1 GB per day · 7 days for $18.99: full speed up to 1 GB a day, then 512 Kbps until the next day.

Picked like in our shop: the cheapest plan with about 0.7 GB a day. Live prices for Egypt.

Tips for Egypt

  • Coverage is good in Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor, Aswan and the Red Sea resorts, but it can disappear on long desert roads and in the Western Desert.
  • On Nile cruises between Luxor and Aswan, coverage comes and goes, and ship Wi‑Fi is often slow.
  • Uber and Careem both work in Cairo and Alexandria.
Travel guideEgypt eSIM guideTravel guideCairo airport SIM card or eSIMTravel guideCairo Metro: lines, tickets and card payments

Questions

Which networks does the Egypt eSIM use?

Orange (5G). Coverage and speed depend on where you are.

Does the Egypt eSIM work on 5G?

Yes, 5G on Orange. Your phone needs to support 5G; where there is no 5G signal, it uses 4G/LTE.

Will my phone work with the Egypt eSIM?

Yes, if your phone supports eSIM and is not locked to one carrier. Most iPhones from the XS and XR onwards do, as do recent Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel models. Check yours in our list of eSIM phones.

Does the Egypt eSIM come with a phone number?

No. It is data only: no phone number, no calls or SMS. Your own SIM stays in your phone, so WhatsApp and iMessage keep working with your usual number.

How much data do I need for a week in Egypt?

About 0.7 GB a day covers maps, messages, social media and some video, so around 5 GB for a week. Our pick for one week: 5 GB · 30 days for $16.99.

What is the cheapest Egypt eSIM?

1 GB · 7 days for $5.19 is the lowest-priced plan. The lowest price per GB is 20 GB · 30 days at $1.79 per GB. A single day with 0.49 GB costs $2.79.

How long is the Egypt eSIM valid?

Plans run for 7, 15 or 30 days. Day plans can be booked for 1 to 30 days.

When does my plan start?

When your phone first connects to a network in Egypt, not when you buy or install the eSIM. So you can install it at home before you travel.

Is there an unlimited Egypt eSIM?

Not at full speed. Day plans come closest: up to 10 GB a day at full speed, then 512 Kbps until the next day.

Can I use the Egypt eSIM as a hotspot?

Yes, your phone can share the connection with a laptop or a second phone. Everything you share counts against your plan. Whether a network limits sharing depends on the plan, so ask us before you buy if it matters. More in our hotspot guide.

Can I top up my Egypt eSIM?

Yes, on plans marked “Top-up possible”: add data under My eSIMs while the plan is still valid. No new eSIM needed.

What happens when I use up my daily data?

On day plans you get full speed up to the daily allowance. After that, the speed drops to between 512 Kbps and 1 Mbps, depending on the plan, until the next day.

Why do some apps think I am in European Union?

Depending on the plan, your connection runs via European Union. Websites and apps, such as banking or streaming services, may then treat you as being there.

Can I get a refund?

eSIM purchases are final. If something isn’t right, write to us in Help and we’ll take care of it.

Egypt in detail: networks, speed and phone rules

Networks and 5G

1 network · 5G

Your eSIM uses Orange.

  • 5G since 4 June 2025Launched by the regulator NTRA with the operators.
  • 5G where the network offers itOtherwise 4G/LTE on the same plan.
  • Older phonesConnect over 4G/LTE, nothing to change.

Sources: Egyptian Streets: Egypt to officially roll out 5G (4 June 2025)

Speed in Alexandria and Cairo

54 Mbps

In Egypt the big cities measure about the same as the whole country, and all three figures are below the world median of 110 Mbps.

DownloadGlobal rank
Egypt54 Mbps77 of 100
Alexandria54 Mbps124 of 151
Cairo53 Mbps125 of 151

Sources: Ookla Speedtest Global Index (September 2026)

Phones from abroad: the customs rule

90 days exempt

Since 21 January 2026 Egypt charges customs on phones from abroad, but tourists and phones roaming on a foreign SIM are exempt.

  • TouristsExempt for 90 days from arrival.
  • Travel eSIMRoams like a foreign SIM, so exempt.
  • Longer with an Egyptian SIMPay through the Telephony app, banks or e-wallets.

Sources: Egyptian Streets: customs exemption on imported phones ends (20 January 2026)

Local SIM card or travel eSIM

Online on landing

An Egyptian SIM suits a long stay, while for a holiday or a Nile cruise the eSIM saves the shop visit after a long flight.

Local SIMTravel eSIM
WhereShop or counterOnline, at home
OnlineAfter setupOn landing
CustomsExempt 90 daysRoaming, exempt
Home SIMUsually comes outStays in
NumberLocal numberData only

Sources: Egyptian Streets: customs exemption on imported phones ends (20 January 2026)

Desert roads and Nile cruises

Gaps on the road

Coverage is good in the cities and resorts, but it can disappear between towns.

  • Desert routes: download maps before you set off to the oases of the Western Desert.
  • Nile cruises: between Luxor and Aswan signal comes and goes, and ship Wi‑Fi is often slow.
  • Rides: Uber and Careem work in Cairo and Alexandria.

Updated 24 Oct 2026 · checked against our live catalogue

How much data for Egypt

0.7 GB a day

Our shop suggests about 0.7 GB a day, enough for maps, messages, social media and some video, and our data guide shows what each app uses.

1 week2 weeks
Maps, messagesabout 2 GBabout 4 GB
Plus social mediaabout 5 GBabout 10 GB
Plus videoabout 10 GBabout 20 GB
Plan for
Cairo, 4 daysabout 3 GB
Red Sea weekabout 5 GB
Nile, 2 weeksabout 10 GB

Updated 24 Oct 2026 · checked against our live catalogue

Set up before you fly

4 steps

Four steps at home make sure you are online when you land.

  1. Check that your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked: list of eSIM phones.
  2. Install the eSIM at home over Wi‑Fi, on iPhone or Android.
  3. On arrival, use the eSIM for mobile data and turn on its data roaming.
  4. Keep data roaming off for your home line, so your operator does not charge you.

Updated 24 Oct 2026 · checked against our live catalogue

Plan types and more countries

Data only

The eSIM is data only, so WhatsApp and FaceTime keep your usual number, as our WhatsApp guide explains.

  • Data plans: a total amount for a set number of days, unused data carries over to the next day.
  • Day plans: a fixed amount per day at full speed, after that as each plan states.
  • Top up: on plans marked “Top-up possible”, add data under My eSIMs without a new eSIM.
  • More countries: a regional plan covers several countries with one eSIM, see below.
RG-ME-12 eSIM200+ destinations, ready in minutesCharged only when your eSIM is ready
Get your RG-ME-12 eSIM

Updated 24 Oct 2026 · checked against our live catalogue

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