How to withdraw cash or pay with a UnionPay card in Sharm El Sheikh?

In September 2026, a traveller reported two airport ATMs before passport control, beside the bank counter selling visas, and another after baggage reclaim, near the SIM-card stalls. The message did not identify the airport. Confirm current information with an official source before travelling.

In September 2026, a traveller described exchanging cash at an ATM with two banknote slots: select English, then Cardless Service → Foreign Exchange, review the exchange rate, press Continue and insert the banknote. Once the payout and fee appear, press Continue again. The traveller reported that a shortage of smaller banknotes could reduce the amount dispensed. Confirm current terms with an official source before travelling.

The ATM used for UnionPay cards has a withdrawal limit of 4000 EGP per transaction.

To exchange cash dollars for Egyptian pounds, no card is needed — look for ATMs with 'Cash Service' or 'Cardless' on the screen (usually located in hotel lobbies).

A UnionPay card issued in yuan (e.g. from a Chinese-linked bank) works for cash withdrawals — check your bank's conversion rate beforehand. Excursions are usually paid in USD, so no need to convert to Egyptian pounds.

Even after locating an ATM via Google Maps, check with staff whether the payment terminal accepts your specific card — having an ATM nearby doesn't guarantee card payment at the till.

If one ATM declines your UnionPay card, don't travel far — try the next machine nearby, it often works. Look for the "UnionPay" logo sticker on the ATM itself.

Same tip: if the ATM near your hotel rejects your UnionPay card, look for another machine nearby with the correct logo.

A list of shops and pharmacies accepting UnionPay cards was shared by chat admins in a pinned message — worth checking pinned posts in local travel groups for payment info.

To find the nearest ATM near your hotel, open Google Maps and search "ATM" in English — this is the simplest way to locate working machines.