🇪🇬 How to Pay in Egypt

Cash is still king in many parts of Egypt, but mobile wallets like Vodafone Cash and Fawry are rapidly changing that. Uber and Careem work reliably in Cairo, Alexandria, and other major cities. Traffic in Cairo is legendary, so always budget extra time for rides. Most restaurants and shops in tourist areas accept cards, but smaller vendors and street food stalls deal strictly in cash. Download offline maps before venturing outside major cities, as data coverage can be spotty in more remote areas like the Western Desert or upper Nile villages.

Payment & Finance Apps

Fawry

Essential

Egypt's leading electronic payment platform used for bill payments, mobile top-ups, and online purchases. Fawry kiosks are everywhere, and the app lets you handle payments digitally without needing a local bank account.

Pro tip: You can use Fawry to pay for many online services and bookings in Egypt. Look for the yellow Fawry reference number option at checkout on Egyptian websites.

Vodafone Cash

Essential

A widely accepted mobile wallet service tied to Vodafone Egypt. Many shops, restaurants, and even taxi drivers accept Vodafone Cash payments. You can load it at any Vodafone store with your passport.

Pro tip: Pick up a Vodafone SIM at the airport and ask the staff to activate Vodafone Cash right away. It saves you from carrying large amounts of Egyptian pounds.

All apps in Egypt →Egypt Payments guide →