Should I bring US dollars or use a UnionPay card for spending money in Hurghada, Egypt?

From messages by 4 participants in 2 sources · Last activity: 35 days ago

TL;DR

Bring cash US dollars for items such as the visa, tours and insurance excess, then exchange money into Egyptian pounds for everyday spending. Keep a UnionPay card as backup: reported ATM withdrawals were limited to EGP 4,000 per transaction with a fee of about RUB 299.

What the community said

If you bring cash, take a UnionPay card as a backup. One report says ATMs dispense a maximum of EGP 4,000 per withdrawal, so larger amounts may require multiple transactions.

35 days ago Withdrawal limit: EGP 4,000

For Egyptian-pound withdrawals with a RUB UnionPay card, a RUB 299 transaction fee was reported, with possible additional conversion costs. In one example, withdrawing EGP 4,000 cost more than RUB 7,000 from the card.

35 days ago EGP 4,000; RUB 299 fee

Cash US dollars are practical for the visa, excursions and an insurance excess. For daily purchases, exchange the remaining money into Egyptian pounds and pay in the local currency.

38 days ago US dollars and Egyptian pounds