Can you pay by foreign bank card in Sharm El Sheikh, or should you bring cash?

In October 2026, a traveller recommended asking cashiers whether they accept UnionPay, reporting that many places said yes. This describes stated acceptance rather than confirmed successful payments. Conditions change — confirm with an official source before you travel.

One traveler reported that a UnionPay card (Russian Agricultural Bank) failed to work at Gomla Market supermarket and at a Russian pharmacy — the payment did not go through.

Based on the newest report, relying on a single foreign bank card in Sharm El Sheikh is not enough: some places still process card payments unreliably, so carrying cash is strongly recommended.

Travelers note that even with a foreign MasterCard, you can run into payment issues once your cash is gone. The practical takeaway is not to depend on card payments alone and not to keep all your travel money in one form.

The most practical approach mentioned is a mix: pay by card where terminals work and bring some US dollars to exchange into Egyptian pounds locally. Compared with last year, card acceptance in Sharm El Sheikh has improved noticeably.