Can your phone get blocked after using a local tourist SIM card in Hurghada, Egypt?
Based on 2 discussions with 3 participants · Last activity: 11 days ago
TL;DR
Yes, as of July 2026 travelers were reporting phone blocks after using Egyptian tourist SIM cards. Reports suggest the risk exists even for people who had used local SIMs for years without issues, so some travelers prefer relying on strong hotel Wi‑Fi, sometimes available even on the beach.
What the community said
As of July 10, 2026, travelers were still actively checking whether local SIM cards could lead to a phone block after the trip. The practical takeaway was that strong hotel Wi‑Fi may be enough inside the resort, but for city walks and beach use, mobile data is still useful.
11 days ago July 10, 2026
On July 9, 2026, travelers confirmed that phone blocks were happening and described it as affecting “hundreds of tourists,” not just isolated cases. In practice, this means buying a tourist SIM in Hurghada should be treated cautiously, especially if your phone is your main device.
11 days ago July 9, 2026
One report was especially telling: the phone had used Egyptian tourist SIM cards without issues from around 2022 through December 2025, during 2–3 trips per year, but in May 2026 one SIM slot was still blocked. Even keeping a local M8 SIM in the phone as a precaution did not help.
11 days ago M8; May 2026