Can phones get blocked in Egypt when using a local SIM card, including the second SIM slot?
Based on 2 discussions with 3 participants · Last activity: 13 days ago
TL;DR
Traveler reports from Hurghada suggest that in 2025–2026 phone blocking rules for Egyptian SIM use are inconsistent: some devices or SIM slots get blocked, while others do not. There is also a view that phones registered in Egypt before 2025 may still work, but this is not guaranteed.
What the community said
The latest report says that even a second SIM slot can be blocked, and this may happen even if no local SIM was used in that slot. Travelers say the blocking pattern in 2026 is still unclear.
13 days ago second SIM slot
There are opposite cases too: one traveler reported no blocking at all despite multiple trips to Egypt — four visits in 2025 and two more in 2026.
13 days ago 2025–2026
An earlier report says that by 2025 blocking had become widespread: before that there was still a chance to avoid it, but later most devices were reportedly getting blocked regardless of manufacturing year.
13 days ago 2025