Last updated: 13 October 2026
Staying online in Egypt with a travel eSIM costs little, and roaming there on a UK plan costs a lot. We compared what five providers charge for a week and for two weeks, and what their unlimited plans actually give you at full speed.
The short answer
- A week of sightseeing in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan: a daily plan of 1.5 GB a day covers maps, Uber, messaging and photos. It gives 10.5 GB over the week.
- Two weeks, or a Nile cruise plus the Red Sea: the same daily plan for 15 days gives 22.5 GB.
- Remote work from Hurghada or Dahab, streaming, or sharing a laptop connection: an unlimited plan, and check how much it gives at full speed each day.
- Only a layover in Cairo: a one-day plan.
On every one of those trips, our Egypt plans cost less than Airalo, Holafly, Nomad and Saily when we checked.
Prices compared
What each provider charged for Egypt on 13 October 2026, in US dollars:
| Provider | About 10 GB for a week | About 20 GB for two weeks | Unlimited, 7 days | Unlimited, 15 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| eSIM Lounge | 10.5 GB (1.5 GB a day): $8.99 | 22.5 GB (1.5 GB a day): $13.99 | $15.99 | $24.99 |
| Airalo | 10 GB: $31.00 | 20 GB: $41.00 | $32.00 | $49.00 |
| Holafly | Not sold | Not sold | $36.50 | $50.50 |
| Nomad | 10 GB for 30 days: $28.00 | 20 GB for 30 days: $37.00 | $27.00 | Not sold (10 days: $35.00) |
| Saily | 10 GB for 30 days: $38.99 | No Egypt plan | No Egypt plan | No Egypt plan |
Prices from each provider's site, or from esimDB where the site would not load or show US dollars. They change often: the plan cards on our Egypt eSIM page always show our current prices.
What "unlimited" really gives you
Every unlimited plan slows down after a certain amount of data each day. That threshold matters more than the headline price if you work online or stream:
- eSIM Lounge: full speed for the first 5 GB each day.
- Airalo: full speed for 3 GB a day, then 1 Mbps.
- Nomad: full speed for 2 GB a day, then 1 Mbps.
- Holafly: no daily threshold published, and hotspot sharing is capped at 1 GB a day.
1 Mbps is enough for messaging and maps, not for video calls. If you will share your connection with a laptop, Holafly's hotspot cap rules it out. See fixed, daily or unlimited for how each plan type behaves.
eSIM or roaming from home
Egypt is outside the roaming deals that cover Europe. When we checked, Vodafone UK charged £8 a day there, and Three £8 a day for customers who joined from 18 December 2025 (£7 for those who joined earlier). A week of roaming on either is £56. US and Australian carriers also charge a daily pass outside their included countries: check your own plan's rate for Egypt and compare it with the table above. More in travel eSIM vs international roaming.
Coverage: cities, the Nile, the Red Sea and the desert
Egypt has four mobile operators: Vodafone, Orange, e& (formerly Etisalat) and WE. A travel eSIM roams on one of them.
- Cairo, Giza and Alexandria: strong coverage.
- Luxor and Aswan: strong in town. On a Nile cruise the signal comes and goes between towns.
- Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh and Dahab: good in the resorts and towns, gone offshore on boat and diving trips.
- The Western Desert and the road to Abu Simbel: expect long stretches with no signal. Download offline maps and save tickets to your phone before you set off.
Going for the total solar eclipse on 2 August 2027? Luxor gets about 6 minutes 21 seconds of totality: see solar eclipse 2027.
Two things to know before you fly
The phone customs rule. Since 21 January 2026, Egypt charges customs duty on phones brought in from abroad. Visitors are exempt for 90 days from arrival, and phones roaming on a foreign SIM are reported to be exempt as well. A travel eSIM roams in the same way, so a normal holiday is not affected. For a longer stay, check the current rules before you go.
App calls. WhatsApp messaging works. Voice and video calls in WhatsApp and some other apps have been blocked on and off on Egyptian networks for years, and some were still restricted in 2025. Do not count on app calls for anything important: your usual SIM can still make normal calls at your carrier's rate.
Setting it up
- Check your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked: the 30-second check.
- Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi on the day you leave, before you go to the airport: iPhone or Android. On most plans the days start when the eSIM first connects in Egypt, and each plan states its rule.
- When you land in Cairo, Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh or Luxor, turn on data roaming for the eSIM line only and keep it off on your usual SIM. You can book an Uber or message your driver before you reach the exit.
FAQ
What is the best eSIM for Egypt?
For most trips, a daily plan of 1.5 GB a day: it covers maps, ride-hailing, messaging and photos, and when we checked it cost less for a week and for two weeks than Airalo, Holafly, Nomad and Saily. For remote work or streaming, pick an unlimited plan with a high full-speed allowance each day.
How much data do I need for a week in Egypt?
About 1 GB a day for maps, Uber, messaging and photos, so 7 to 10 GB for a week. Video calls, streaming and sharing your connection with a laptop use much more.
Is an eSIM better than a SIM card at Cairo airport?
For data, yes: you set it up at home, skip the kiosks in arrivals and keep your usual SIM in the phone. A local SIM gives you an Egyptian phone number, which a travel eSIM does not.
Will I keep my phone number?
Yes. Your usual SIM stays in the phone for calls and texts, and the eSIM carries your mobile data. Keep data roaming off on your usual SIM to avoid roaming fees.
Facts checked on 13 October 2026: competitor prices on each provider's site or esimDB, UK roaming charges on Vodafone UK's and Three's own pages, the phone customs rule in reports by Egyptian Streets and Ecofin (January 2026), app call restrictions in Freedom House's Freedom on the Net 2025.