Do you need to register your phone to use an Egyptian SIM card in Hurghada, and is it better to buy an Orange SIM at the airport or in a city branch?
Based on 2 discussions with 3 participants · Last activity: 10 days ago
TL;DR
If your phone is being used in Egypt for the first time, an Orange SIM often works without extra registration. In Hurghada, Orange SIMs bought at the airport usually activate quickly, while a city Orange branch can check whether your phone slot is blocked.
What the community said
If this phone has not been used in Egypt before, separate registration is usually not required. Travelers report that issues are more likely for people visiting more than once a year, so some alternate between different phones and keep using local SIM cards without problems.
10 days ago Orange
There are cases where a phone had already been used in Sharm El Sheikh the year before, then got a new airport-bought SIM in Hurghada, and the service started working in under an hour. So using the same phone again does not always lead to a block.
10 days ago Hurghada Airport
A practical approach is to buy an Orange SIM at the airport, since these often start working immediately. If you are unsure about your device, you can visit an Orange branch afterward and have them check whether the SIM slots are blocked. Travelers reported that older phones with previous Egyptian SIMs kept working, and a new phone also activated fine with an airport SIM. As a backup, some consider buying a modem.
10 days ago Orange, Orange branch