Russian Currency and Card Usage in Egypt: real experience from chats
Short answer
Russian bank cards, including Mir and UnionPay, are not accepted in Egypt for payments or QR code transactions. You must carry sufficient cash in Egyptian pounds, as rubles cannot be officially exchanged and local payment methods for tourists are unreliable.
From real experience
In Egypt, Russian bank cards are generally not accepted for payments.
Exchange of currency should be done in cash. RSB UnionPay cards are also not recommended for payments. It is best to carry sufficient Egyptian Pounds in cash for transactions, especially for excursions.
✓ 2 reports from chats
Payment via QR code in the MTS app with Russian-issued cards does not work in Egypt.
Attempts to pay for services and at shops using this method have repeatedly failed, even in July. This applies to direct payment for museums, services, and airport shops.
✓ 1 report from chats
In Egypt, Russian rubles cannot be officially exchanged.
Exchange is possible only through private exchangers, typically with a minimum amount of 10,000 RUB. Mir cards are generally not accepted for direct transactions.