Can you pay with USD or foreign bank card in shops and pharmacies in Hurghada?

A foreign card may not work everywhere: payment is possible only where there is a compatible UnionPay terminal, and the card usually has to be inserted — contactless payment may fail. It worked in a tourist clothing shop and in a leather shop at Senzo Mall, but at Spinneys supermarket there was no suitable terminal, so payment had to be made in Egyptian pounds.

Chain supermarkets in Hurghada do not accept US dollars — only Egyptian pounds or bank cards. It's best to have local currency or a card ready.

Paying in USD at pharmacies can lead to overcharging if you don't check the price printed on the packaging. Pharmacies that price in Egyptian pounds per the label offer a fair deal.

Some foreign bank cards work well in Hurghada: ATM withdrawals in Egyptian pounds and card payments at supermarkets, small shops, pharmacies, and hotels are possible with a good exchange rate. In Makadi Bay, currency exchange is hard to find, so a card is more practical.