Should you buy a SIM card in Hurghada in advance or at the destination, and can using an Egyptian SIM cause your phone to be blocked?
Based on 2 discussions with 3 participants · Last activity: 12 days ago
TL;DR
Travelers report that it’s more reliable to buy a SIM card after arriving in Hurghada, since pre-arranged SIMs may not be recognized at the airport. Phone blocking is generally mentioned only for stays over 90 days, so short-term tourists are usually unaffected.
What the community said
The most recent advice is that short-term travelers in Hurghada usually don’t need to worry about their phone being blocked after inserting an Egyptian SIM. Based on traveler reports, this mainly affects people staying in Egypt for more than 90 days.
12 days ago 90 days
Travelers warn that a phone used with a local SIM may be checked again on a future trip to Egypt. However, this concern is discussed mainly in connection with long stays, not a standard holiday package in Hurghada.
12 days ago Future trip to Egypt
According to traveler experience, arranging a SIM before departure can create unnecessary hassle: you may pay in advance, then arrive in Hurghada and find that staff have no record of the order. The practical takeaway is that it’s more reliable to buy the SIM after arrival.
12 days ago Buy SIM on arrival in Hurghada