Egypt – known for its pyramids, the Nile River & the Suez Canal.
The country has a rich history, which can still be experienced to this day.
From camel riding through the Sahara desert to seeing a pyramid from the inside.
From fantastic beaches to temples- Egypt has it all.
Basically, it should be almost illegal to be bored when in Egypt.
What also should be illegal are the high roaming rates mobile operators charge you for international roaming.
International roaming can be expensive, which is why you should get and use a local SIM card to enjoy local rates.
They almost always beat international roaming rates.
Fortunately, SIM cards are inexpensive in Egypt.
You can get an Egyptian SIM card for 25 EGP (1.60 USD) to 84 EGP (5.30 USD) in Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat & WE by Telecom Egypt stores. Tourist SIM cards from 150 EGP (9.50 USD) to 780 EGP (30.50 USD) are sold too. SIM cards are also available at select International airports, including Cairo Airport.
Those prices are not too bad – if we exclude the tourist SIM cards.
But those tourist SIM cards include generous allowances and can be useful to some travelers.
But there are a lot of options in this country, so…
In this guide, I will tell you everything you need to know about buying a SIM card in Egypt. Let's do this.
Original publication: 26th of December 2019. Last updated: 21st of November 2022.
Table of Contents
Can You Buy a SIM Card in Egypt?
Anyone 18 years old or older living in or visiting Egypt can buy an Egyptian SIM card from the mobile network operators (Vodafone, Orange (formerly Mobinil), Etisalat & WE by Telecom Egypt) with no restrictions.
You do have to comply with the SIM card registration regulations.
Moreover, you need a phone that supports the frequencies used in the country (preferably all of them to have the most optimal experience while in Egypt).
Furthermore, you need to have a SIM-lock-free device.
Where Can You Buy a SIM Card in Egypt?
You can get an Egyptian SIM card in Vodafone, Orange, Etisalat & WE/Telecom Egypt stores. Select international airports, including Cairo International Airport, sell SIM cards too.
You can buy a SIM card in the following international airports:
- Cairo – Cairo International Airport/مطار القاهرة الدولي
- Hurghada – Hurghada International Airport/مطار الغردقة الدولي
- Marsa Alam – Marsa Alam International Airport/مطار مرسى علم الدولي
- Sharm El Sheikh – Sharm El Sheikh International Airport/مطار شرم الشيخ الدولي
You can expect to pay the following for Egyptian SIM cards:
- Vodafone Egypt/Misr: 25 EGP
- Orange Egypt/Misr (formerly Mobinil): 84 EGP
- Etisalat Egypt/Misr: 30 EGP
- WE by Telecom Egypt: 76.56 EGP
The following mobile operators also have SIM cards targetting tourists:
- Vodafone Egypt/Misr: between 255 EGP and 780 EGP (seven options)
- Orange Egypt/Misr (formerly Mobinil): 150 EGP (Cairo Airport only), 261.56 EGP (Holidays) & 561.56 EGP (Holidays Super)
- Etisalat Egypt/Misr: between 185.13 EGP and 627.13 EGP (seven options)
For up-to-date EGP:your currency (let's say EUR) exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
Can You Use Your Phone in Egypt?
Egypt uses GSM technology for mobile communications. CDMA phones will not work in Egypt. If your phone has a SIM card slot, then it supports GSMA (99% of the phones do support GSM nowadays).
Traditional European frequencies are used in Egypt, which are mostly used in ITU Regions 1 and 3 (Africa, Asia (including the Middle East), Europe & Oceania).
The Americas (North-, Central– & South America + the Caribbean – ITU Region 2) use American Frequencies, which differ from the European ones.
If you bought your phone in Africa, Asia, Europe, or Oceania (ITU regions 1 and 3), you should not experience any issues with using your phone in Egypt.
If you purchased your phone in the Americas (ITU Region 2) and have a low/medium-end device (without Tri-Band or Quad-Band) support, then there is a possibility you cannot use your phone when in Egypt or can only use slower networks (3G or 2G).
If you have a medium/high-end device with Tri-Band or Quad-Band support, you can use your phone in Egypt (to some extent) – also on 4G/LTE.
Mobile Operators, Networks & Frequencies in Egypt
Egypt has four mobile network operators:
- Vodafone Egypt/Misr (ڤودافون مَصر)
- Orange Egypt/Misr (اورنچ مصر – formerly Mobinil/موبينيل)
- Etisalat Egypt/Misr (اتصالات مصر)
- WE by Telecom Egypt (المصرية للاتصالات)
The following frequencies are used in Egypt:
- 2G: 900 MHz
- 3G: 900 MHz & 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 1800 MHz (Band 3)
You can learn more about frequencies in the video below.
To check whether your phone will work in Egypt, check out this page by Will My Phone Work (may be outdated or inaccurate at times).
Again, make sure your phone is unlocked. Otherwise, you will not be able to use any SIM card except the one from your home operator (meaning you have to roam internationally or buy another unlocked phone that does support the frequencies listed above).
If you want to learn how international roaming works, this guide explains it in-depth. If you wonder why it is often so expensive to roam, this article explains the hidden reason they do not want you to know.
5G NR in Egypt
5G NR is not available in Egypt as of 2022, and the Egyptian government has not made any indications of when it will auction 5G licenses.
However, Vodafone Egypt/Misr has asked the regulator, the National Telecom Regulatory Authority (NTRA), to start 5G NR trials as soon as possible.
Best SIM Card in Egypt
If you want to buy the best SIM card in Egypt, I recommend going with Vodafone or Orange (formerly Mobinil). Vodafone is the best but the most expensive. Orange is the fastest and cheaper than Vodafone. Consider Etisalat if you prefer to create your own plan with Demagh Tanya, but know its reception is weak.
Best eSIM in Egypt
Unfortunately, none of the mobile operators offer eSIM to prepaid customers in Egypt (yet).
Luckily, mobile data rates are low in Egypt (will be discussed later), so a travel eSIM may not be needed.
Note that the Egyptian mobile operators require your identification (passport) for eSIMs and physical SIM cards (will be discussed later).
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Egypt without personal detail capturing, you can get the Egypt (Giza Mobile) eSIM from Airalo.
You have three options:
- Egypt/Giza Mobile 1 GB eSIM for 7 days
- Egypt/Giza Mobile 2 GB eSIM for 15 days
- Egypt/Giza Mobile 3 GB eSIM for 30 days
The Airalo links above will automatically get you the available Phone Travel Wiz exclusive offers – a code is unnecessary.
- Check out my Airalo eSIM reviews
Finally, you can get Egypt eSIMs from Holafly:
Use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for exclusive deals when getting Holafly eSIMs, AND get an additional 5% off!
- Check out my Holafly reviews
With these eSIMs, you can skip Egypt's SIM card registration scheme entirely and use it immediately upon arriving in Egypt!
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, local travel eSIMs & regional travel eSIMs for every country (lookup tool)
TIP: check out my Best Egypt eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison of several eSIMs for Egypt, including ones not mentioned above.
Airalo recently introduced an eSIM for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA): Menalink. The Menalink eSIM follows the popular Eurolink eSIM for 39 European countries, the fairly new Asialink eSIM for 14 Asian countries & the super new Latamlink eSIM for 19 Latin American countries.
The Menalink eSIM comes in three variants: 1 GB/7 days, 2 GB/15 days & 3 GB/30 days – most popular with PTW readers, to be used in Egypt and 14 other Middle Eastern and Northern African countries:
- Bahrain
- Egypt
- Iran
- Iraq 1
- Israel
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Morocco
- Oman
- Palestine 1
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Sudan
- Tunisia 1
- United Arab Emirates
1 on 3G only
Sometimes, it can be more convenient and cheaper to get the Menalink eSIM than the local Airalo eSIM because Menalink offers more data (instead of you having to purchase multiple 1 GB/7 days top-ups to stay connected).
With the Menalink eSIM, you can save a lot of money by skipping the initial SIM card costs per country you visit in the Middle East and North Africa!
TIP: Check out my eSIM lookup tool for an overview of local mobile operators offering eSIMs to prepaid customers and travel eSIMs I use and love (for eSIMs in Egypt and eSIMs worldwide) and my Best Egypt eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison of several eSIMs for Egypt.
SIM Card Registration in Egypt
SIM card registration, with the use of your passport information, is mandatory in Egypt. This will be done at the point of purchase.
- Find out which countries have SIM card registration regulations and what is required from you (lookup tool)
You will also be asked for an Egyptian address.
This can just be the place you stay for your trip – you do not have to legally live there.
Internet Censorship in Egypt
There is internet censorship in Egypt. The government censors various things, such as LGBTQ content, pornography, political criticism & escort services.
Unlike some other countries in the region, internet censorship is prevasive in Egypt.
That is why I would recommend using a VPN to browse the web in peace. I use both NordVPN and Surfshark.
NordVPN has the most servers of any VPN service out there, which I love.
Surfshark is insanely cheap for the price they charge.
Depending on where I am, I will either use NordVPN or Surfshark.
Neither VPNs have servers in Egypt (obviously), which makes sense, but connecting to nearby countries will still result in fast browsing speeds.
You can get amazing discounts for both NordVPN and Surfshark when using these links. Stay safe, secure, and private in Egypt!
(oh, by the way – VPNs are not illegal in Egypt, but the authorities may not like it. But what are they going to do? You will be private anyway 😉 just do not do anything silly like insulting government officials).
Recharge Tax in Egypt
A hefty 30% (!) tax is withdrawn automatically from each recharge, leaving you with only 0.70 EGP per 1 EGP top-up.
The tax used to be a bit lower until the end of 2017. Since then, the tax rate has been 30%.
Below is an overview of what you will have left with select recharge amounts:
| Top-Up | Balance |
|---|---|
| 5 EGP | 3.50 EGP |
| 10 EGP | 7 EGP |
| 15 EGP | 10.50 EGP |
| 25 EGP | 17.50 EGP |
| 30 EGP | 21 EGP |
| 40 EGP | 28 EGP |
| 50 EGP | 35 EGP |
| 60 EGP | 42 EGP |
| 75 EGP | 52.50 EGP |
| 100 EGP | 70 EGP |
| 150 EGP | 105 EGP |
Stamp Tax in Egypt
As part of the Stamp Tax Law, anyone using an Egyptian SIM card pays an 8 EGP (0.50 USD) tax annually. Prepaid customers will pay 0.67 EGP/month (8.04 EGP/month) to fulfill this requirement (collected by the mobile operators).
The tax used to be 6.10 EGP/month from 2012 until June 2020.
Why do you have to pay this tax? No idea. But it is what it is 🤷🏿♂️.
VoIP Ban in Egypt
VoIP services have mostly been banned in Egypt.
Examples of VoIP services are WhatsApp calls, Facebook Messenger calls & Snapchat calls.
Apparently, an article (Article 72) of the Telecommunications Law prohibits the […] by-passing [of] international telephone calls by any means whatsoever – similar to the United Arab Emirates.
You should use a reliable VPN to bypass the VoIP ban and to avoid excessive international call rates.
Egypt Mobile Speeds, Mobile Internet Prices & Insights
Countries in Northern Africa have crazy low mobile data rates.
That is because the mobile operators are generous with data allowances or due to currency conversion (cheap for travelers but normal/expensive for locals).
For Egypt, it is a combination of both.
The average price for 1 GB of data in Egypt is 1.04 USD, far below the African average of 5.80 USD and below the Middle Eastern average of 3.94. The world average is 4.07 USD.
When looking at just Northern Africa, the average cost of data is 1.53 USD.
If we excluded Mauritania, the average would be 0.86 USD – one of the lowest in the world.
Okay, costs are low in Egypt, but is mobile internet fast?
No, but it is not crazily slow either.
Egypt's mean mobile download speed is around 18 Mbps.
Compared to a year ago, speeds have slightly increased, but the line has stayed relatively flat.
Okay, so which mobile operator is the fastest in Egypt?
That would be Orange Egypt/Misr (formerly Mobinil), with a mean download speed of 23.36 Mbps. Followed by Etisalat Egypt/Misr (21.13 Mbps) and Vodafone Egypt/Misr (20.62 Mbps) & WE by Telecom Egypt (20.61 Mbps).
The fastest mobile download speed can be found in New Cairo City, with a mean download speed of 31.04 Mbps.
Giza and Cairo have to deal with mean download speeds of around 20 Mbps (20.77 Mbps and 19.86, respectively).
Overall, the best mobile operators are Vodafone Egypt/Misr and WE by Telecom Egypt.
But you can ignore that WE by Telecom Egypt has the fastest speeds – Opensignal always reports slower speeds than Speedtest due to (much) smaller sample sizes.
With low SIM card prices, good nationwide coverage (in populated areas only – not deserts), decent mobile download speeds, and incredibly low mobile data rates, you should have a decent network experience in Egypt.
Currency in Egypt
Egypt uses the Egyptian Dollar with the symbol EGP (which will be used throughout this article).
Prices in Egypt are listed in LE, L.E, ج.م, or E£. For example, 25 EGP = LE/L.E/ج.م/o/E£ 25.
For reference, below are some exchange rates between EGP and USD (US Dollars – Rounded):
- 1 EGP = 0.06 USD
- 10 EGP = 0.60 USD
- 100 EGP = 6.40 USD
- 1000 EGP = 63.60 USD
For up-to-date EGP:your currency (let's say USD) exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.
If your credit/debit card charges you foreign exchange fees, get yourself a Wise Borderless Account and Debit Card.
Their fees are MUCH lower than banks and credit card companies charge you (and Wise is transparent about their fees, unlike banks).
I have saved literal THOUSANDS of Australian Dollars and Euros, my main currencies, when using Wise abroad when traveling compared to my debit and credit cards.
Egyptian Prepaid SIM Cards
Below, I will guide you through Vodafone Egypt, Orange Egypt (formerly Mobinil), Etisalat Egypt & WE by Telecom Egypt, and go through:
- Background information
- Mobile coverage
- SIM card types, prices, and availability
- Recharge/top-up information
- Combo plans, data plans, and special packs (such as social media packs)
With that being said, let’s see what Egypt has to offer to us.
Vodafone Egypt/Misr (ڤودافون مَصر)
Vodafone Egypt, just Vodafone but also known as Vodafone Misr or ڤودافون مَصر is the largest mobile operator in Egypt.
It is also the best and fastest mobile operator in the country.
Vodafone, as a company, is active in Africa (mostly as Vodacom), Asia, Europe, the Middle East & Oceania.
Vodafone uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 900 MHz
- 3G: 900 MHz & 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 1800 MHz (Band 3)
This is what you will learn about Vodafone:
* Coverage
* How to Get a Vodafone SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – Vodafone Egypt/Misr
Vodafone has the best coverage throughout Egypt.
4G/LTE can be found in populated areas of Egypt
Below is Vodafone's coverage map produced by Speedtest:
SIM Card Price – Vodafone Egypt/Misr
You can get a Vodafone SIM card, called Kart El-Korout, for 25 EGP in Vodafone stores. However, you will often be pushed to purchase the Vodafone Tourist line for 255 EGP or 505 EGP. Airports, including Cairo International Airport, sell Vodafone (tourist) SIM cards too.
You may be able to convince the store employee to sell you a regular Vodafone SIM card (El-Korout).
Still, the chance of succeeding is often low – perhaps outside urban areas.
The Vodafone Tourist Lines, sold nationwide, include the following perks:
| Price | SIM Card | Data | Local Minutes | International Minutes | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 255 EGP | Tourist 250 | 10 GB | 200 minutes | 20 minutes | 28 days |
| 505 EGP | Tourist 500 | 30 GB | 200 minutes | 30 minutes | 28 days |
Several international airports, especially Cairo International Airport, sell Flex Lines, which are SIM cards using a unit system (Flex Units).
The following Flex Lines are available:
| Price | Data | Flex Units | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 280 EGP | N/A | 16 000 units | 28 days |
| 351 EGP | N/A | 24 000 units | 28 days |
| 523 EGP | 20 000 MB | 24 000 units | 28 days |
| 637 EGP | 36 000 MB | 24 000 units | 28 days |
| 780 EGP | 58 000 MB | 24 000 units | 28 days |
You have the following unit rates:
- 1 MB for Anghami, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter & WhatsApp = 0.5 Flex
- 1 MB = 1 Flex
- 1 on-net minute (Flex to Vodafone) = 1 Flex
- 1 on-net minute (Flex to Flex) = 2 Flex
- 1 off-net minute = 5 Flex
- 1 local SMS = 1 Flex
Cheaper Vodafone Flex plans are available. However, they are often (initially) not sold to tourists and short-term travelers.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
Vodafone has no eSIMs.
Note that the Egyptian mobile operators require your identification (passport) for (future) eSIMs and physical SIM cards.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Egypt without personal detail capturing, you can get the Egypt (Giza Mobile) eSIM from Airalo.
You have three options:
- Egypt/Giza Mobile 1 GB eSIM for 7 days
- Egypt/Giza Mobile 2 GB eSIM for 15 days
- Egypt/Giza Mobile 3 GB eSIM for 30 days
The Airalo links above will automatically get you the available Phone Travel Wiz exclusive offers – a code is unnecessary.
- Check out my Airalo eSIM reviews
Finally, you can get Egypt eSIMs from Holafly:
Use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for exclusive deals when getting Holafly eSIMs, AND get an additional 5% off!
- Check out my Holafly reviews
Airalo recently introduced an eSIM for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA): Menalink. The Menalink eSIM follows the popular Eurolink eSIM for 39 European countries, the fairly new Asialink eSIM for 14 Asian countries & the super new Latamlink eSIM for 19 Latin American countries.
The Menalink eSIM comes in three variants: 1 GB/7 days, 2 GB/15 days & 3 GB/30 days – most popular with PTW readers, to be used in Egypt and 14 other Middle Eastern and Northern African countries:
- Bahrain
- Egypt
- Iran
- Iraq 1
- Israel
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Morocco
- Oman
- Palestine 1
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Sudan
- Tunisia 1
- United Arab Emirates
1 on 3G only
Sometimes, it can be more convenient and cheaper to get the Menalink eSIM than the local Airalo eSIM because Menalink offers more data (instead of you having to purchase multiple 1 GB/7 days top-ups to stay connected).
With the Menalink eSIM, you can save a lot of money by skipping the initial SIM card costs per country you visit in the Middle East and North Africa!
TIP: check out my Best Egypt eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison of several eSIMs for Egypt, including ones not mentioned above.
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, local travel eSIMs & regional travel eSIMs for every country (lookup tool)
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Vodafone Egypt/Misr
Vodafone top-up vouchers are sold in Vodafone stores, grocery stores, corner shops & electronics shops throughout Egypt.
To top up your Vodafone SIM card, dial *858*VoucherCode# or call 858 and follow the instructions.
For example, if your voucher code is 123456, you would dial *858*123456#.
You can also tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.
Reminder: 30% of your recharge amount will be deducted as part of local taxes and fees. For example, a 10 EGP recharge will leave you with 7 EGP.
You can also recharge online with (international) debit and credit cards.
Call 868 or dial *868*1# to check your Vodafone balance.
However, all inquiries will cost you 0.20 EGP.
You can also use the Ana Vodafone app (Android/iOS/Huawei AppGallery) to check your balance for free.
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Vodafone Egypt/Misr
Vodafone has 11 data-featured plans:
- Vodafone Flex (combo with a unit system)
- Extreme Bundles/Main Bundles (data)
- New Plus Bundles (data with Super Mega)
- Extreme Bundles (data)
- Plus Combo Bundles (data with Super Mega)
- Combo Bundles/Super Pass Bundles (data)
- Flex Extras (add-ons for Vodafone Flex)
- Add Ons/Main Bundles (add-ons for Main Bundles)
- Plus Apps Plans (data for PUBG Mobile, TikTok & YouTube)
- Social Bundles/Super Pass Bundles (data for Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter & WhatsApp)
- Streaming Bundles/Super Pass Bundles (data for Shadid.net, Vodafone Drama & YouTube)
Most Vodafone plans can be activated by dialing *00# or *2000#.
Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in.
Vodafone Flex – Vodafone Egypt/Misr
Vodaflex Flex is a combo plan with a unit system (Flex).
You do not need a Flex Line to enable Vodafone Flex.
You have the following unit rates:
- 1 MB for Anghami, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter & WhatsApp = 0.5 Flex
- 1 MB = 1 Flex
- 1 on-net minute (Flex to Vodafone) = 1 Flex
- 1 on-net minute (Flex to Flex) = 2 Flex
- 1 off-net minute = 5 Flex
- 1 local SMS = 1 Flex
The following Vodafone Flex plans are available, which you can activate by dialing the Activation Code:
| Price | Plan | Flex Units | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 EGP | Flex 25 | 600 Flex | 28 days | *025# |
| 35 EGP | Flex 35 | 1400 Flex | 28 days | *035# |
| 60 EGP | Flex 60 | 2700 Flex | 28 days | *060# |
| 80 EGP | Flex 80 | 3800 Flex | 28 days | *080# |
| 100 EGP | Flex 100 | 5100 Flex | 28 days | *0100# |
| 150 EGP | Flex 150 | 8000 Flex | 28 days | *0150# |
| 200 EGP | Flex 200 | 12 000 Flex | 28 days | *0200# |
Extreme Bundles (Main Bundles) – Vodafone Egypt/Misr
The Extreme Bundles are data-only bundles falling under the Main Bundles category.
Dial *00# or *2000# to activate Extreme Bundles:
| Price | Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 5 EGP | 150 MB | 28 days |
| 10 EGP | 500 MB | 28 days |
| 20 EGP | 1100 MB | 28 days |
| 30 EGP | 1800 MB | 28 days |
| 40 EGP | 2500 MB | 28 days |
| 60 EGP | 4000 MB | 28 days |
| 80 EGP | 6000 MB | 28 days |
| 100 EGP | 8000 MB | 28 days |
| 150 EGP | 12 000 MB | 28 days |
| 250 EGP | 20 000 MB | 28 days |
| 400 EGP | 40 000 MB | 28 days |
Extreme Bundles auto-renew. To disable auto-renewal, dial *00# or *2000#.
New Plus Bundles – Vodafone Egypt/Misr
The New Plus Bundles are data-only bundles using a Super Mega Unit system.
Data for Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter & WhatsApp counts as 1 MB (Super Mega). Any other app or site counts as 2 MB (Super Mega).
Below are all the New Plus Bundles, which you can activate by dialing the Activation Code:
| Price | Plan | Super Mega Units | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 EGP | 500 Super Mega | 500 units | 28 days | *00*07# |
| 15 EGP | 2000 Super Mega | 1500 units | 28 days | *00*15# |
| 25 EGP | 3500 Super Mega | 2800 units | 28 days | *00*25# |
| 35 EGP | 6000 Super Mega | 4500 units | 28 days | *00*35# |
| 45 EGP | 8000 Super Mega | 6000 units | 28 days | *00*45# |
| 65 EGP | 12 000 Super Mega | 9500 units | 28 days | *00*65# |
Extreme Bundles – Vodafone Egypt/Misr
The Extreme Bundles are data-only bundles.
Dial *880# to activate Extreme Bundles:
| Price | Plan | Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 EGP | Extreme Net Bundle 20 LE | 1100 MB | 28 days |
| 30 EGP | Extreme Net Bundle 30 LE | 1500 MB | 28 days |
| 40 EGP | Extreme Net Bundle 40 LE | 2500 MB | 28 days |
| 60 EGP | Extreme Net Bundle 60 LE | 4000 MB | 28 days |
| 80 EGP | Extreme Net Bundle 80 LE | 6000 MB | 28 days |
| 100 EGP | Extreme Net Bundle 100 LE | 8000 MB | 28 days |
| 150 EGP | Extreme Net Bundle 150 LE | 12 000 MB | 28 days |
| 250 EGP | Extreme Net Bundle 250 LE | 20 000 MB | 28 days |
| 400 EGP | Extreme Net Bundle 400 LE | 40 000 MB | 28 days |
Plus Combo Bundles – Vodafone Egypt/Misr
The Plus Combo Bundles are data-only plans.
Data for Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter & WhatsApp counts as 1 MB (Super Mega). Any other app or site counts as 2 MB (Super Mega).
The following Plus Combo Bundles are available, which you can activate on the Ana Vodafone app:
| Price | Plan | Super Mega Units | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 120 EP | Plus Combo Bundle 20 000 Super Mega | 20 000 units | 28 days |
| 200 EGP | Plus Combo Bundle 36 000 Super Mega | 36 000 units | 28 days |
| 300 EGP | Plus Combo Bundle 58 000 Super Mega | 58 000 units | 28 days |
Plus Combo Bundles auto-renew. To disable auto-renewal, dial *00# or *2000#.
Combo Bundles – Super Pass Bundles – Vodafone Egypt/Misr
The Combo Bundles are data-only plans falling under the Super Pass Bundles category.
These Combo Bundles are available, which you can activate by dialing the Activation Code:
| Price | Plan | Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 120 EGP | Super Pass Combo 20 000 | 20 000 MB | 28 days | *2120# |
| 200 EGP | Super Pass Combo 36 000 | 36 000 MB | 28 days | *2200# |
Flex Extras – Vodafone Egypt/Misr
The Flex Extras are add-ons for Vodafone Flex. They cannot be purchased as standalone plans.
Flex Extras can be activated by dialing the Activation Code:
| Price | Plan | Flex Units | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 EGP | Flex Extra 3LE | 60 units | Until plan expires | *880*03# |
| 5 EGP | Flex Extra 5LE | 120 units | Until plan expires | *880*05# |
| 10 EGP | Flex Extra 10LE | 300 units | Until plan expires | *880*010# |
Add Ons (Main Bundles) – Vodafone Egypt/Misr
The Add Ons are, as the name implies, add-ons for plans in the Main Bundles category (Extreme Bundles). They cannot be purchased as standalone plans.
These Add Ons are available, which you can activate on the Ana Vodafone app:
| Price | Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 5 EGP | 150 MB | 28 days |
| 10 EGP | 600 MB 1 | 28 days |
| 20 EGP | 1 GB | 28 days |
1 at unknown slower speeds
Plus Apps Plans – Vodafone Egypt/Misr
The Plus Apps Plans are data-only bundles with 450 MB for PUBG Mobile, TikTok & YouTube individually, valid for 28 days.
Plus Apps Plans can be activated by dialing the Activation Code:
| Price | Data | App | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 EGP | 450 MB | PUBG Mobile | 28 days | *00*3# |
| 5 EGP | 450 MB | TikTok | 28 days | *00*2# |
| 5 EGP | 450 MB | YouTube | 28 days | *00*1# |
The Social Bundles are data-only bundles for Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter & WhatsApp combined.
These Social Bundles are available, which you can activate on the Ana Vodafone app:
| Price | Plan | Social Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 EGP | Super Pass Social 2800 | 2800 MB | 28 days |
| 35 EGP | Super Pass Social 4500 | 4500 MB | 28 days |
| 45 EGP | Super Pass Social 6000 | 6000 MB | 28 days |
| 65 EGP | Super Pass Social 9500 | 9500 MB | 28 days |
Streaming Bundles – Super Pass Bundles – Vodafone Egypt/Misr
The Streaming Bundles are data-only bundles for Shadid.net, Vodafone Drama & YouTube combined.
These Streaming Bundles are available, which you can activate on the Ana Vodafone app:
| Price | Plan | Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 EGP | Super Pass Streaming 2800 | 2800 MB | 28 days |
| 35 EGP | Super Pass Streaming 4500 | 4500 MB | 28 days |
| 45 EGP | Super Pass Streaming 6000 | 6000 MB | 28 days |
| 65 EGP | Super Pass Streaming 9500 | 9500 MB | 28 days |
APN/Internet Settings – Vodafone Egypt/Misr
- Name: Vodafone EG
- APN: internet.vodafone.net
- Username: internet
- Password: internet
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Orange Egypt/Misr (اورنچ مصر – formerly Mobinil/موبينيل)
Orange Egypt, just Orange but also known as Orange Misr or موبينيل and formerly Mobinil, is the second-largest mobile operator in Egypt.
It was known as Mobinil until 2016.
Currently, it is the fastest mobile operator in the country.
Orange, as a company, is active in other countries in Africa, the Caribbean, Europe & the Middle East.
Orange uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 900 MHz
- 3G: 900 MHz & 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 1800 MHz (Band 3)
This is what you will learn about Orange:
* Coverage
* How to Get an Orange SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – Orange Egypt/Misr (formerly Mobinil)
Orange has extensive coverage throughout Egypt (in populated areas).
You should not expect any coverage in deserts.
Below is Orange's coverage map produced by Speedtest:
SIM Card Price – Orange Egypt/Misr (formerly Mobinil)
You can get an Orange SIM card for 84 EGP with 2000 units in Orange stores. Tourist SIM cards for 150 EGP, 261.51 EGP & 561.56 EGP are available too in Orange stores and several airports, including Cairo International Airports.
You have the following unit rates:
- 1 MB = 1 unit
- 1 on-net minute = 1 unit
- 1 off-net minute = 5 units
- 1 on-net SMS = 1 unit
- 1 off-net SMS = 5 units
The following Orange Tourist SIM cards are available:
| Price | SIM Card | Data | Local Minutes | International Minutes | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 150 EGP | Airport SIM Card 1 | 15 GB | 1000 minutes | N/A | 30 days |
| 261.56 EGP | Holidays | 10 GB | 400 minutes | 20 minutes | 30 days |
| 561.56 EGP | Holidays Super | 40 GB | 400 minutes | 30 minutes | 30 days |
1 Cairo International Airport only
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
Orange has no eSIMs.
Note that the Egyptian mobile operators require your identification (passport) for (future) eSIMs and physical SIM cards.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Egypt without personal detail capturing, you can get the Egypt (Giza Mobile) eSIM from Airalo.
You have three options:
- Egypt/Giza Mobile 1 GB eSIM for 7 days
- Egypt/Giza Mobile 2 GB eSIM for 15 days
- Egypt/Giza Mobile 3 GB eSIM for 30 days
The Airalo links above will automatically get you the available Phone Travel Wiz exclusive offers – a code is unnecessary.
- Check out my Airalo eSIM reviews
Finally, you can get Egypt eSIMs from Holafly:
Use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for exclusive deals when getting Holafly eSIMs, AND get an additional 5% off!
- Check out my Holafly reviews
Airalo recently introduced an eSIM for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA): Menalink. The Menalink eSIM follows the popular Eurolink eSIM for 39 European countries, the fairly new Asialink eSIM for 14 Asian countries & the super new Latamlink eSIM for 19 Latin American countries.
The Menalink eSIM comes in three variants: 1 GB/7 days, 2 GB/15 days & 3 GB/30 days – most popular with PTW readers, to be used in Egypt and 14 other Middle Eastern and Northern African countries:
- Bahrain
- Egypt
- Iran
- Iraq 1
- Israel
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Morocco
- Oman
- Palestine 1
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Sudan
- Tunisia 1
- United Arab Emirates
1 on 3G only
Sometimes, it can be more convenient and cheaper to get the Menalink eSIM than the local Airalo eSIM because Menalink offers more data (instead of you having to purchase multiple 1 GB/7 days top-ups to stay connected).
With the Menalink eSIM, you can save a lot of money by skipping the initial SIM card costs per country you visit in the Middle East and North Africa!
TIP: check out my Best Egypt eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison of several eSIMs for Egypt, including ones not mentioned above.
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, local travel eSIMs & regional travel eSIMs for every country (lookup tool)
Dial *222# to access the Orange menu.
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Orange Egypt/Misr (formerly Mobinil)
Orange top-up vouchers are sold in Orange stores, grocery stores, corner shops & electronics shops throughout Egypt.
To top up your Orange SIM card, dial *102*VoucherCode#.
For example, if your voucher code is 123456, you would dial *102*123456#.
You can also tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.
Reminder: 30% of your recharge amount will be deducted as part of local taxes and fees. For example, a 10 EGP recharge will leave you with 7 EGP.
You can also recharge online with (international) debit and credit cards.
Dial #61# to check your Orange balance.
You can also top up and check your balance on the My Orange Egypt app (Android/iOS/Huawei AppGallery).
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Orange Egypt/Misr (formerly Mobinil)
Orange has nine data-featured plans:
- Alo Plans (comb)
- El King Plans (combo)
- FREEmax Plans (combo with unit system)
- GO-Net Plans (data)
- GO Super Plans (data)
- Internet Lines Plans (data)
- GO Extra Plans (data for games and streaming apps)
- GO Super Add-Ons (as the name implies)
- Internet Lines Add-Ons (as the name suggests)
Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in.
Alo Plans – Orange Egypt/Misr (formerly Mobinil)
The Alo Plans are combo plans using a unit system.
You have the following unit rates:
- 1 MB = 1 unit
- 1 on-net minute = 1 unit
- 1 off-net minute = 5 units
- 1 on-net SMS = 1 unit
- 1 off-net SMS = 5 units
Alo Plans can be activated by dialing #0#, #100# or by calling 400:
| Price | Plan | Units | WhatsApp Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.50 EGP | Alo Daily | 60 units | 20 MB | 24 hours |
| 7 EGP | Alo Weekly | 300 units | 50 MB | 7 days |
El King Plans – Orange Egypt/Misr (formerly Mobinil)
The El King Plans are combo plans with data and minutes.
Dial #222# to activate El King Plans:
| Price | Plan | Data (Super MB) | Bonus Data (Bonus Super MB) 1, 2 | Local Minutes 3 | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 EGP | El King 20 | 750 MB | 750 MB | 150 minutes | 28 days |
| 30 EGP | El King 30 | 1400 MB | 1400 MB | 250 minutes | 28 days |
| 40 EGP | El King 40 | 2100 MB | 2100 MB | 350 minutes | 28 days |
| 60 EGP | El King 60 | 4000 MB | 4000 MB | 500 minutes | 28 days |
1 Apple Music, Anghami, Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Google Maps, Instagram, Spotify, Snapchat, SoundCloud, TikTok, Twitter, WhatsApp & YouTube Music = 1 Super MB. Any other app/site = 2 MB
2 dial #12# to activate this feature
3 1 off-net minute counts as 5 minutes
FREEmax Plans – Orange Egypt/Misr (formerly Mobinil)
The FREEmax Plans are combo plans with units and minutes.
You have the following unit rates:
- 1 MB = 1 unit
- 1 on-net minute = 1 unit
- 1 off-net minute = 5 units
- 1 on-net SMS = 1 unit
- 1 off-net SMS = 5 units
FREEmax Plans can be activated by dialing #0#, #100# or by calling 400:
| Price | Plan | Units | WhatsApp Data | On-Net Minutes | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 EGP | FREEmax 25 | 900 units | 50 MB | 100 minutes | 28 days |
| 30 EGP | FREEmax 30 | 1200 units | 50 MB | 200 minutes | 28 days |
| 35 EGP | FREEmax 35 | 1400 units | 100 MB | 200 minutes | 28 days |
| 50 EGP | FREEmax 50 | 2250 units | 100 MB | 400 minutes | 28 days |
| 70 EGP | FREEmax 70 | 3300 units | 100 MB | 600 minutes | 28 days |
| 100 EGP | FREEmax 100 | 6000 units | 100 MB | 1200 minutes | 28 days |
| 150 EGP | FREEmax 150 | 9600 units | 100 MB | 2700 minutes | 28 days |
GO-Net Plans – Orange Egypt/Misr (formerly Mobinil)
The GO-Net plans are data-only bundles.
Dial the Activation Code to activate GO-Net Plans:
| Price | Plan | Data (Super MB) 1 | Activation Code | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.50 EGP | GO-Net 7.5 | 250 MB | *222*7# | 28 days |
| 15 EGP | GO-Net 15 | 750 MB | *222*15# | 28 days |
| 30 EGP | GO-Net 30 | 1800 MB | *222*30# | 28 days |
| 45 EGP | GO-Net 45 | 2800 MB | *222*45# | 28 days |
| 60 EGP | GO-Net 60 | 4250 MB | *222*60# | 28 days |
| 75 EGP | GO-Net 75 | 5500 MB | *222*75# | 28 days |
| 100 EGP | GO-Net 100 | 9000 MB | *222*100# | 28 days |
| 150 EGP | GO-Net 150 | 12 000 MB | *222*150# | 28 days |
| 250 EGP | GO-Net 250 | 20 000 MB | *222*250# | 28 days |
| 400 EGP | GO-Net 400 | 40 000 MB | *222*400# | 28 days |
1 Apple Music, Anghami, Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Google Maps, Instagram, Spotify, Snapchat, SoundCloud, TikTok, Twitter, WhatsApp & YouTube Music = 1 Super MB. Any other app/site = 2 MB
GO Super Plans – Orange Egypt/Misr (formerly Mobinil)
The Go Super Plans are data-only packages.
Dial the Activation Code to activate Go Super Plans:
| Price | Plan | Data (Super MB) 1 | Activation Code | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 EGP | GO 10 | 1000 MB | *222*10# | 28 days |
| 20 EGP | GO 20 | 2250 MB | *222*20# | 28 days |
| 35 EGP | GO 35 | 4500 MB | *222*35# | 28 days |
| 50 EGP | GO 50 | 7000 MB | *222*50# | 28 days |
| 70 EGP | GO 70 | 10 500 MB | *222*70# | 28 days |
| 120 EGP | GO 120 | 20 000 MB | *222*120# | 28 days |
| 200 EGP | GO 200 | 36 000 MB | *222*200# | 28 days |
| 400 EGP | GO 400 | 90 000 MB | *222*400# | 28 days |
1 Apple Maps, Facebook, Google Maps, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter & WhatsApp = 1 Super MB. Any other app/site = 2 MB. Applies to GO 10 to GO 70
2 Apple Maps, beIN Connect, Facebook, Google Maps, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, WhatsApp & YouTube = 1 Super MB. Any other app/site = 2 MB. Applies to GO 120 to GO 400
Internet Lines Plans – Orange Egypt/Misr (formerly Mobinil)
The Internet Lines Plans are data-only bundles.
Internet Lines Plans can be activated by dialing #222#:
| Price | Plan | Data (Super MB) 1 | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 EGP | GO 100 | 11 000 MB | 3 months |
| 175 EGP | GO 175 | 25 000 MB | 3 months |
| 350 EGP | GO 350 | 60 000 MB | 3 months |
| 600 EGP | GO 600 | 120 000 MB | 6 months |
1 Anghami, Apple Maps, Apple Music, Deezer, ekb.eg, Facebook, Gmail, Google Maps, Instagram, moe.gov.eg, Shahid, Skype, Spotify, Snapchat, SoundCloud, Teams (Microsoft), Twitter, WeTransfer, WhatsApp, YouTube, YouTube Music & Zoom = 1 Super MB. Any other app/site = 2 MB
GO Extra Plans – Orange Egypt/Misr (formerly Mobinil)
The GO Extra Plans are data-only plans for select apps, including games, social media apps & streaming apps.
Dial the Activation Code to activate GO Extra Plans:
| Price | Plan | App Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 EGP | GO Games Daily | 100 MB 2 | 24 hours | *222*31# |
| 1 EGP | GO Social | 100 MB 4 | 24 hours | *222*11# |
| 2 EGP | GO Video Daily | 200 MB 1 | 1 day | *222*21# |
| 3 EGP | GO Games Weekly | 250 MB 2, 3 | 7 days | *222*32# |
| 5 EGP | GO Video Monthly 1 | 450 MB 1 | 28 days | *222*23# |
| 10 EGP | GO Games Monthly | 1000 MB 2, 3 | 30 days | *222*33# |
| 35 EGP | GO Video Max | 4500 MB 1 | 28 days | *222*24# |
1 for beIN Connect, Netflix, Orange TV, Shahid, TikTok & YouTube
2 for Asphalt 8/9/Nitro, Clash of Clans, Clash of Kings: Battle of the Empires, Candy Crush Saga, Clash Royale, Despicable Me 2, Dragon Mania Legends, FIFA Soccer, Fortnite, Friends, Gangstar Vegas, Legacy of Discord-Furious Wings, Lords Mobile: Battle of the Empires, MARVEL Contest of Champions MARVEL Future Fight, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Modern Combat 5, NOVA Legacy, PUBG Mobile, Real Football, ROBLOX & Uno
3 +75 MB/300 MB on Friday and Saturday
4 for Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & WhatsApp
GO Super Add-Ons – Orange Egypt/Misr (formerly Mobinil)
The Go Super Add-Ons are data add-ons for Go Super Plans. They cannot be purchased as standalone plans.
Dial #222# to activate Go Super Add-Ons:
| Price | Data (Super MB) 1, 2 | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 5 EGP | 350 MB | Until plan expires |
| 10 EGP | 1000 MB | Until plan expires |
| 20 EGP | 2250 MB | Until plan expires |
Internet Lines Add-Ons – Orange Egypt/Misr (formerly Mobinil)
The Internet Lines Add-Ons are data add-ons for Internet Lines Plans. They cannot be purchased as standalone plans.
Dial #222# to activate Internet Lines Add-Ons:
| Price | Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 20 EGP | 2250 MB | Until plan expires |
| 30 EGP | 3600 MB | Until plan expires |
APN/Internet Settings – Orange Egypt/Misr (formerly Mobinil)
- Name: Orange Egypt
- APN: mobilnilweb
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
Etisalat Egypt/Misr (اتصالات مصر)
Etisalat Egypt, just Etisalat but also known as Etisalat Misr or اتصالات مصر, is the third-largest mobile operator in Egypt.
It entered the Egyptian telecom market in 2007 and was the first to introduce 3(.5)G in the country.
Etisalat, as a company, is active in Africa, Asia & the Middle East.
Etisalat uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 900 MHz
- 3G: 900 MHz & 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 1800 MHz (Band 3)
This is what you will learn about Etisalat:
* Coverage
* How to Get an Etisalat SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – Etisalat Egypt/Misr
Etisalat has extensive coverage throughout Egypt (in populated areas).
You should not expect any coverage in deserts.
Additionally, Etisalat has the weakest reception of all the Egyptian mobile operators.
With weak reception, I mean no connection in the middle of a city center (even though Vodafone Egypt, Orange Egypt & WE by Telecom Egypt have no issues at the same location).
Below is Etisalat's coverage map produced by Speedtest:
SIM Card Price – Etisalat Egypt/Misr
You can get an Etisalat SIM card for 30 EGP in Etisalat stores. Airports, including Cairo International Airport, sell Vodafone (tourist) SIM cards too.
Short-term visitors and tourists can also get the Etisalat tourist SIM cards in regular Etisalat stores or airports.
The following tourist SIM cards are available:
| Price | Data 1 | Local Minutes/SMS (Units) | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 185.13 EGP | 20 GB | 1000 units | 30 days |
| 200.13 EGP | 27 GB | 400 units | 30 days |
| 220.13 EGP | 30 GB | 1000 units | 30 days |
| 248.13 EGP | 38 GB | 1000 units | 30 days |
| 288.13 EGP | 50 GB | 1000 units | 30 days |
| 304.13 EGP | 55 GB | 1000 units | 30 days |
| 627.13 EGP | 82 GB | 400 units | 30 days |
1 Anghami, Deezer, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, SoundCloud, Twitter & WhatsApp = 1 MB. Any other app/site = 2 MB
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
Etisalat has no eSIMs.
Note that the Egyptian mobile operators require your identification (passport) for (future) eSIMs and physical SIM cards.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Egypt without personal detail capturing, you can get the Egypt (Giza Mobile) eSIM from Airalo.
You have three options:
- Egypt/Giza Mobile 1 GB eSIM for 7 days
- Egypt/Giza Mobile 2 GB eSIM for 15 days
- Egypt/Giza Mobile 3 GB eSIM for 30 days
The Airalo links above will automatically get you the available Phone Travel Wiz exclusive offers – a code is unnecessary.
- Check out my Airalo eSIM reviews
Finally, you can get Egypt eSIMs from Holafly:
Use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for exclusive deals when getting Holafly eSIMs, AND get an additional 5% off!
- Check out my Holafly reviews
Airalo recently introduced an eSIM for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA): Menalink. The Menalink eSIM follows the popular Eurolink eSIM for 39 European countries, the fairly new Asialink eSIM for 14 Asian countries & the super new Latamlink eSIM for 19 Latin American countries.
The Menalink eSIM comes in three variants: 1 GB/7 days, 2 GB/15 days & 3 GB/30 days – most popular with PTW readers, to be used in Egypt and 14 other Middle Eastern and Northern African countries:
- Bahrain
- Egypt
- Iran
- Iraq 1
- Israel
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Morocco
- Oman
- Palestine 1
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Sudan
- Tunisia 1
- United Arab Emirates
1 on 3G only
Sometimes, it can be more convenient and cheaper to get the Menalink eSIM than the local Airalo eSIM because Menalink offers more data (instead of you having to purchase multiple 1 GB/7 days top-ups to stay connected).
With the Menalink eSIM, you can save a lot of money by skipping the initial SIM card costs per country you visit in the Middle East and North Africa!
TIP: check out my Best Egypt eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison of several eSIMs for Egypt, including ones not mentioned above.
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, local travel eSIMs & regional travel eSIMs for every country (lookup tool)
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Etisalat Egypt/Misr
Etisalat top-up vouchers are sold in Etisalat stores, grocery stores, corner shops & electronics shops throughout Egypt.
To top up your Etisalat SIM card, dial *556*VoucherCode# or call 555 and follow the instructions.
For example, if your voucher code is 123456, you would dial *556*123456#.
You can also tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.
Reminder: 30% of your recharge amount will be deducted as part of local taxes and fees. For example, a 10 EGP recharge will leave you with 7 EGP.
You can also recharge online with (international) debit and credit cards.
Dial *134# to check your Etisalat balance.
You can also top up and check your balance on the My Etisalat app (Android/iOS).
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Etisalat Egypt/Misr
Etisalat has nine data-featured plans:
- Akwa Kart Plans (combo)
- Traveler Data Bundles (data for tourist SIM card)
- Demagh Tanya (customizable combo)
- Daily Bundle (data)
- Mega Monthly Bundles (data)
- Gaming Minutes Bundles (gaming data)
- Music Minutes Bundles (music streaming data)
- Social Minutes Bundles (social media data)
- Video Minutes Bundles (video streaming data)
Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in.
Akwa Kart Plans – Etisalat Egypt/Misr
The Akwa Kart Plans are combo plans with data and minutes.
Dial *811# to activate Akwa Kart Plans:
| Price | Data (Mega X) | Social Data (Minutes) 1 | WhatsApp Data | Local Minutes (Mix) 3 | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.50 EGP | 90 MB | 70 minutes | 20 MB | 45 minutes | Until midnight |
| 4.25 EGP | 380 MB | 120 minutes | 50 MB | 190 minutes | Until midnight |
| 5 EGP | N/A | 340 minutes | 400 MB | 200 minutes | 2 days |
| 7 EGP | 860 MB | 180 minutes | 10 MB | 340 minutes | 3 days |
| 9 EGP | 800 MB | 240 minutes | 50 MB | 400 minutes | 4 days |
| 10 EGP | N/A | 300 minutes | 900 MB | 450 minutes | 7 days |
| 13.50 EGP | N/A | 360 minutes | 1250 MB | 625 minutes | 7 days |
| 15 EGP | N/A | N/A | 1300 MB | 650 minutes | 10 days |
| 25 EGP | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1100 minutes | 14 days |
| 30 EGP | N/A | N/A | N/A | 700 minutes | 28 days |
| 50 EGP | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1300 minutes | 28 days |
1 for Etisalat TV, Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Google Maps, Instagram, Netflix, Shadid, Snapchat, TikTok, Twitter, Viu, WhatsApp & YouTube
2 charged on how long you are on the apps, not based on data usage
3 1 off-net minute counts as 5 minutes
Traveler Data Bundles – Etisalat Egypt/Misr
The Traveler Data Bundles are combo plans with the Etisalat Tourist SIM cards.
These Traveler Data Bundles are available:
| Price | Plan | Data | Local Minutes | International Minutes | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200 EGP | Traveler 200 | 7 GB | 100 minutes | 5 minutes | 30 days |
| 300 EGP | Traveler 300 | 12 GB | 250 minutes | 10 minutes | 30 days |
| 450 EGP | Traveler 450 | 25 GB | 250 minutes | 20 minutes | 30 days |
| 600 EGP | Traveler 600 | 40 GB | 400 minutes | 30 minutes | 30 days |
Demagh Tanya – Etisalat Egypt/Misr
Coming soon – many options with Demagh Tanya ;)
Daily Bundle – Etisalat Egypt/Misr
The Daily Bundles is a data-only bundle giving you 50 MB per day for 1 EGP a day.
It cannot be combined with other bundles, and it auto-renews.
Dial *566# to activate the Daily Bundle and text S to 566 to deactivate it.
| Price | Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 EGP/day | 50 MB/day | Until cancelation |
Mega Monthly Bundles – Etisalat Egypt/Misr
The Mega Monthly Bundles are data-only plans.
Dial *566# to activate Mega Monthly Bundles:
| Price | Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 5 EGP | 130 MB | 1 month |
| 10 EGP | 450 MB | 1 month |
| 20 EGP | 1000 MB | 1 month |
Gaming Minutes Bundles – Etisalat Egypt/Misr
The Gaming Minutes Bundles are data-only bundles for Call of Duty: War Zone, Clash of Clans, Clash Royale, Etisalat Games & PUBG Mobile.
Unlike traditional plans, you will be charged by how long you play the games online, not based on how much data you use.
Dial the Activation Code to activate Gaming Minutes Bundles:
| Price | Plan | Data (Minutes) 1, 2 | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.50 EGP | 90 Gaming Mins | 90 minutes | 1 day | *566*731# |
| 3.50 EGP | 180 Gaming Mins | 180 minutes | 2 days | *566*732# |
| 5 EGP | 360 Gaming Mins | 360 minutes | 3 days | *566*733# |
| 7 EGP | 480 Gaming Mins | 480 minutes | 7 days | *566*734# |
| 10.50 EGP | 720 Gaming Mins | 720 minutes | 7 days | *566*735# |
1 for Call of Duty: War Zone, Clash of Clans, Clash Royale, Etisalat Games & PUBG Mobile
2 charged on how long you are on the apps, not based on data usage – but you can use up to 250 MB an hour
Music Minutes Bundles – Etisalat Egypt/Misr
The Music Minutes Bundles are data-only bundles for Anghami, Apple Music, Deezer, Etisalat Music, SoundCloud & Spotify.
Unlike traditional plans, you will be charged by how long you stream music, not based on how much data you use.
Dial the Activation Code to activate Music Minutes Bundles:
| Price | Plan | Data (Minutes) 1, 2 | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.50 EGP | 90 Music Internet Mins | 90 minutes | 1 day | *566*736# |
| 3.50 EGP | 180 Music Internet Mins | 180 minutes | 2 days | *566*737# |
| 5 EGP | 360 Music Internet Mins | 360 minutes | 3 days | *566*738# |
| 7 EGP | 480 Music Internet Mins | 480 minutes | 7 days | *566*739# |
| 10.50 EGP | 720 Music Internet Mins | 720 minutes | 7 days | *566*740# |
1 for Anghami, Apple Music, Deezer, Etisalat Music, SoundCloud & Spotify
2 charged on how long you are on the apps, not based on data usage – but you can use up to 250 MB an hour
The Social Minutes Bundles are data-only bundles for Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter & WhatsApp.
Unlike traditional plans, you will be charged by how long you use the apps, not based on how much data you use.
Dial the Activation Code to activate Social Minutes Bundles:
| Price | Plan | Data (Minutes) 1, 2 | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.45 EGP | 60 Social | 60 minutes | 1 day | *566*721# |
| 3.50 EGP | 120 Social | 120 minutes | 2 days | *566*722# |
| 4.90 EGP | 180 Social | 180 minutes | 3 days | *566*723# |
| 7 EGP | 300 Social | 300 minutes | 7 days | *566*724# |
| 10.50 EGP | 420 Social | 420 minutes | 7 days | *566*725# |
1 for Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter & WhatsApp
2 charged on how long you are on the apps, not based on data usage – but you can use up to 500 MB an hour
Video Minutes Bundles – Etisalat Egypt/Misr
The Video Minutes Bundles are data-only bundles for Etisalat TV, Netflix, Shadid, WATCH IT!, Viu & YouTube.
Unlike traditional plans, you will be charged by how long you stream videos, not based on how much data you use.
Dial the Activation Code to activate Video Minutes Bundles:
| Price | Plan | Data (Minutes) 1, 2 | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.45 EGP | 60 Video Mins | 60 minutes | 1 day | *566*726# |
| 3.50 EGP | 120 Video Mins | 120 minutes | 2 days | *566*727# |
| 4.90 EGP | 180 Video Mins | 180 minutes | 3 days | *566*728# |
| 7 EGP | 300 Video Mins | 300 minutes | 7 days | *566*729# |
| 10.50 EGP | 420 Video Mins | 420 minutes | 7 days | *566*730# |
1 for Etisalat TV, Netflix, Shadid, WATCH IT!, Viu & YouTube
2 charged on how long you are on the apps, not based on data usage – but you can use up to 250 MB an hour
APN/Internet Settings – Etisalat Egypt/Misr
- Name: Etisalat
- APN: etisalat
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
WE by Telecom Egypt (المصرية للاتصالات)
WE by Telecom Egypt (المصرية للاتصالات) is the smallest mobile operator in Egypt.
Telecom Egypt (TE) was founded back in 1881, while WE, the mobile division, started in September 2017 when the company managed to get a 4G/LTE license in August 2016.
Telecom Egypt signed national roaming deals with Orange Egypt/Misr and Etisalat Egypt Misr.
It also has an infrastructure deal with Vodafone Egypt/Misr.
Because Telecom Egypt has a deal with all the other mobile operators in the country, WE is often called the mobile operator with the best coverage.
Surprisingly, Telecom Egypt has a 44% stake in Vodafone Egypt/Misr.
WE uses the following frequencies:
- 2G: 900 MHz
- 3G: 900 MHz & 2100 MHz
- 4G/LTE: 1800 MHz (Band 3)
This is what you will learn about WE:
* Coverage
* How to Get a WE SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings
Coverage – WE by Telecom Egypt
WE has extensive coverage throughout Egypt (in populated areas).
You should not expect any coverage in deserts.
Below is WE's coverage map produced by Speedtest:
SIM Card Price – WE by Telecom Egypt
You can get a WE SIM card for 76.56 EGP (often rounded to 77 EGP) in WE/Telecom Egypt stores.
- Find out how much SIM cards cost in every country, including data-only SIM cards and tourist SIM cards, offered by each mobile operator + information about starter benefits (lookup tool)
WE has no eSIMs.
Note that the Egyptian mobile operators require your identification (passport) for (future) eSIMs and physical SIM cards.
Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for Egypt without personal detail capturing, you can get the Egypt (Giza Mobile) eSIM from Airalo.
You have three options:
- Egypt/Giza Mobile 1 GB eSIM for 7 days
- Egypt/Giza Mobile 2 GB eSIM for 15 days
- Egypt/Giza Mobile 3 GB eSIM for 30 days
The Airalo links above will automatically get you the available Phone Travel Wiz exclusive offers – a code is unnecessary.
- Check out my Airalo eSIM reviews
Finally, you can get Egypt eSIMs from Holafly:
Use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for exclusive deals when getting Holafly eSIMs, AND get an additional 5% off!
- Check out my Holafly reviews
Airalo recently introduced an eSIM for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA): Menalink. The Menalink eSIM follows the popular Eurolink eSIM for 39 European countries, the fairly new Asialink eSIM for 14 Asian countries & the super new Latamlink eSIM for 19 Latin American countries.
The Menalink eSIM comes in three variants: 1 GB/7 days, 2 GB/15 days & 3 GB/30 days – most popular with PTW readers, to be used in Egypt and 14 other Middle Eastern and Northern African countries:
- Bahrain
- Egypt
- Iran
- Iraq 1
- Israel
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Morocco
- Oman
- Palestine 1
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Sudan
- Tunisia 1
- United Arab Emirates
1 on 3G only
Sometimes, it can be more convenient and cheaper to get the Menalink eSIM than the local Airalo eSIM because Menalink offers more data (instead of you having to purchase multiple 1 GB/7 days top-ups to stay connected).
With the Menalink eSIM, you can save a lot of money by skipping the initial SIM card costs per country you visit in the Middle East and North Africa!
TIP: check out my Best Egypt eSIMs Compared guide for an in-depth comparison of several eSIMs for Egypt, including ones not mentioned above.
- Find out about the best local eSIMs, local travel eSIMs & regional travel eSIMs for every country (lookup tool)
Dial *414# to see your WE phone number.
Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – WE by Telecom Egypt
WE top-up vouchers are sold in WE/Telecom Egypt stores, grocery stores, corner shops & electronics shops throughout Egypt.
The following (online) top-ups are available:
| Top-Up | Balance |
|---|---|
| 5 EGP | 3.50 EGP |
| 10 EGP | 7 EGP |
| 15 EGP | 10.50 EGP |
| 25 EGP | 17.50 EGP |
| 30 EGP | 21 EGP |
| 40 EGP | 28 EGP |
| 50 EGP | 35 EGP |
| 60 EGP | 42 EGP |
| 75 EGP | 52.50 EGP |
| 100 EGP | 70 EGP |
| 150 EGP | 105 EGP |
Reminder: 30% of your recharge amount will be deducted as part of local taxes and fees. For example, a 10 EGP recharge will leave you with 7 EGP.
To top up your WE SIM card, dial *555*VoucherCode#.
For example, if your voucher code is 123456, you would dial *555*123456#.
You can also tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.
You can also recharge online with (international) debit and credit cards.
Dial *550# to check your WE balance.
You can also top up and check your balance on the My WE app (Android/iOS).
Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – WE by Telecom Egypt
WE has five data-featured plans:
- Daily Bundles (data)
- Nitro (Prime) Packages (data)
- Video Packages (data for Netflix, Shadid.net, WE TV & YouTube)
- Nitro Packages Add-On (as the name implies)
- X Bundles (social & streaming data)
Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in.
Daily Bundles – WE by Telecom Egypt
The Daily Bundles are data-only plans.
Daily Bundles can be activated by dialing *999*1#:
| Price | Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 EGP | 25 MB 1 | 24 hours |
| 5 EGP | 315 MB | 24 hours |
1 Anghami, Facebook, Google Maps, Instagram, Snapchat, SoundCloud, Twitter & WhatsApp = 0.5 MB. Any other app/site = 1 MB
Nitro (Prime) Packages – WE by Telecom Egypt
The Nitro Packages, also known as Nitro Prime Plans, are data-only bundles.
Dial the Activation Code to activate Nitro (Prime) Packages:
| Price | Plan | Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 EGP | Nitro (Prime) 10 | 625 MB 1 | 30 days | *999*10# |
| 20 EGP | Nitro (Prime) 20 | 1375 MB 1 | 30 days | *999*20# |
| 40 EGP | Nitro (Prime) 40) | 3250 MB 2 | 30 days | *999*40# |
| 70 EGP | Nitro (Prime) 70 | 6250 MB 3 | 30 days | *999*70# |
| 100 EGP | Nitro (Prime) 100 | 10 000 MB 3 | 30 days | *999*100# |
| 200 EGP | Nitro (Prime) 200 | 23 500 MB 3 | 30 days | *999*200# |
| 450 EGP | Nitro (Prime) 450 | 50 000 MB 3 | 90 days | *999*450# |
1 Anghami, Deezer, Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Google Maps, Instagram, Spotify, SoundCloud & Twitter = 0.5 MB. Any other app/site = 1 MB
2 Anghami, Asphalt 9, Call of Duty Mobile, Clash of Clans, Clash Royale, Deezer, Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Fortnite, Google Maps, Instagram, PUBG Mobile, Spotify, SoundCloud & Twitter = 0.5 MB. Any other app/site = 1 MB
3 Anghami, Asphalt 9, Call of Duty Mobile, Clash of Clans, Clash Royale, Deezer, Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Fortnite, Google Maps, Instagram, PUBG Mobile, Spotify, SoundCloud & Twitter & YouTube = 0.5 MB. Any other app/site = 1 MB
Video Packages – WE by Telecom Egypt
The Video Packages are data-only plans for Netflix, Shadid.net, WE TV & YouTube.
Dial the Activation Code to activate Video Packages:
| Price | Plan | Validity | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 EGP | Daily Video | 250 MB | 24 hours | *999*250# |
| 10 EGP | Weekly Video | 1250 MB | 7 days | *999*1250# |
| 25 EGP | Monthly Video | 3500 MB | 30 days | *999*3500# |
1 for Netflix, Shadid.net, WE TV & YouTube
Nitro Packages Add-On – WE by Telecom Egypt
The Nitro Packages Add-On is a data-only add-on with 1000 MB for Netflix, Shadid.net, WE TV & YouTube. It costs 20 EGP and is valid for 30 days.
| Price | Video Data | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 20 EGP | 1000 MB | 30 days |
X Bundles – WE by Telecom Egypt
The X Bundles are unlimited data-only bundles for select apps, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp & YouTUbe.
These X Bundles are available, which you can activate by dialing the Activation Code:
| Price | Plan | Data | Validity | Activation Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 EGP | X Bundles | “Unlimited”, 3500 MB 1 | 30 days | *990*20# |
| 50 EGP | X Plus | “Unlimited, 10 000 MB 2 | 30 days | *990*50# |
1 Facebook (no video), Facebook Messenger, Google Maps & WhatsApp (no video)
2 Anghami, Facebook (with video), Facebook Messenger, Google Maps, Instagram, SoundCloud, Twitter, WhatsApp (with video) & YouTube
APN/Internet Settings – WE by Telecom Egypt
- Name: TE Internet
- APN: internet.te.eg
Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.
Jump back to the Table of Contents.
The Preferred Way to Stay Connected When Traveling in Egypt
Getting a SIM card from Vodafone or Orange would do you well when considering an Egyptian SIM card.
Local Prepaid SIM Cards in Other Middle Eastern Countries
Visiting other countries in the Middle East? Check out my Middle Eastern SIM card buying guide, covering other Middle Eastern countries, such as:
Going to other places around the world? Then you should also check out my sim card buying guides for other destinations around the world.
Next Steps to Enhance Your Travel Experiences
Looking for the next steps to enhance your phone travel experiences? Here is what to do:
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Check out my travel resources page for the best companies to use when you travel!
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Besides that, I also list services and items I use to make my life easier – and I believe they will help you too!
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In my starting an online business guide, I tell you which tools, services & products I have for this site and my YouTube channel.
If I can start a business about something I am passionate about (phone travel), then you can do it too!
Learn About Your Phone Travel Options
You can buy local prepaid SIM cards, international SIM cards, mobile hotspots, or roam internationally.
Each of these options has its pros and cons. Learn more about them, and find the best option for you.
Phone Travel Tips, Tricks & Hacks
I have written many articles with tips and hacks to save money on mobile costs while abroad. You surely want to check them out!
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