Should travelers use a local SIM card in Hurghada or buy an eSIM before arrival to avoid phone blocking issues in Egypt?
Based on 1 discussion with 3 participants · Last activity: 6 days ago
TL;DR
Travelers report that putting an Egyptian physical SIM into your main phone can cause device-blocking issues, especially if you plan to return to Egypt with the same phone. A safer option is to buy an eSIM before arrival; airport SIM cards may also take time to activate, sometimes about an hour.
What the community said
The safest option is to activate an eSIM before flying to Egypt. Travelers recommend this if you want to keep using the same phone on future trips and avoid the risk of device blocking linked to a local physical SIM.
6 days ago eSIM
Buying a SIM card at Hurghada Airport is seen as a risky choice by some travelers: mobile service may not start immediately and can take around an hour to activate.
6 days ago Hurghada Airport
If it is a phone you do not plan to bring back to Egypt, some travelers say using a local SIM is less of a concern. For your main phone that you plan to use on future Egypt trips, they advise extra caution.
6 days ago