Can I buy a new SIM card in Egypt if I bought one there less than a year ago?

The M8 physical SIM card (available e.g. on Wildberries) is sometimes suggested as a workaround for phones blocked on Egyptian networks. However, if a device is truly blocked at the network level in Egypt, M8 will not work either — the phone becomes a 'brick' with no cellular service, only Wi-Fi. Russian roaming also stops working in this scenario.

A phone can be blocked on Egyptian networks at the device level — this is separate from the SIM issue. Trying to bypass the block using an eSIM does not work; the system still identifies and blocks the device.

If a new SIM doesn't work in your phone, visit a local mobile carrier store in Hurghada to check whether your device is blocked on Egyptian networks — they can test it on the spot.

Travelers who bought a SIM in December and return in July of the same year worry about network blocks. Based on others' experience, the block is tied to the device itself, not to how recently you previously bought a SIM.

A local Egyptian SIM card is cheaper than an eSIM. You can buy one at small shops near your hotel in Hurghada. However, if your device is blocked on Egyptian networks, neither option will work.