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Egypt

Pharaohs had chariots, you have Careem

Curated by travelers, verified by locals

Heads up

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.

10 apps6 essentialAfrica

Last updated: March 2026

Uber

Essential

Widely available across Cairo, Alexandria, and other major Egyptian cities. Offers upfront pricing in Egyptian pounds and multiple vehicle tiers. A reliable option when you want air-conditioned transport through Cairo's notoriously chaotic traffic.

Pro tip: Uber works well at Cairo International Airport. Set your pickup pin carefully at the arrivals terminal to avoid confusion with drivers.

Careem

Essential

A regional ride-hailing giant now owned by Uber, but operating as a separate app with its own driver fleet. Very popular among locals and often has better availability in neighborhoods where Uber coverage is thinner.

Pro tip: Careem offers a 'Go' economy tier that is often cheaper than Uber's equivalent. You can also pay in cash through the app if you haven't set up a card.

InDrive

Nice to have

A ride-hailing app where you propose your own fare and drivers either accept or counter-offer. Useful for price-conscious travelers and available in most Egyptian cities.

Pro tip: Start your offer at about 70-80% of what Uber quotes for the same route. Drivers will often accept or negotiate slightly higher.
View Ride Hailing guide →

Talabat

Essential

The dominant food delivery platform in Egypt, offering thousands of restaurant options across Cairo, Alexandria, Giza, and beyond. The interface supports English and Arabic, and delivery is generally fast in urban areas.

Pro tip: Talabat frequently runs promotions for new users. Check the 'Offers' tab before ordering for discount codes on popular restaurants.

elmenus

Nice to have

A homegrown Egyptian food discovery and delivery app with strong local restaurant coverage. Great for finding authentic Egyptian eateries that may not appear on international platforms.

Pro tip: Use elmenus to browse menus with photos before you visit a restaurant in person. It doubles as a solid restaurant guide for Cairo.
View Food Delivery guide →

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.
View Payments guide →
View Messaging guide →
View Navigation guide →
View Transit guide →

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