Can international travelers pay by card in Egypt, or is it better to withdraw Egyptian pounds in cash?

In early September, a temporary issue was reported with card payments in shops and pharmacies: terminals could show an incorrect-PIN error even when the PIN was correct, while ATM cash withdrawals still worked. Another report said card payments were again accepted at pharmacies and in most shops from 8 September, so carrying some Egyptian pounds is prudent in case of similar disruptions.

In the most recent report, a UnionPay card worked in several places: withdrawing Egyptian pounds from an ATM next to the hotel reception, paying at a pharmacy, at the airport duty free, and at the Adidas store across the road. Small souvenirs were often paid in US dollars, while cash EGP was mainly used for tips and minor purchases.

One traveler noticed that card payments do happen in Egypt, but mostly among locals, so foreign cards may not always work reliably. If you are using an international bank card, it is safer to keep some Egyptian pounds on hand.

Another traveler reported that some places may refuse card payments entirely, so you should not rely only on cashless payment. In that case, the practical advice was to withdraw Egyptian pounds at the hotel, although card payment did work at a pharmacy in Senzo Mall.