Power Plugs in Egypt: Adaptors, Voltage and Charging for Australians

What plug do I need for Egypt from Australia?

You need an adaptor from the Australian type I plug to the European type C plug, the one with two round pins, which fits virtually every socket you'll meet in Egypt.

Egyptian sockets are type C or type F. Type F (sometimes called Schuko) is the round, recessed socket with two metal earth clips on the sides; type C is the simpler flat socket. A type C plug fits both, so a type C adaptor is the one to buy. A bulkier type F/E adaptor with an earth also works in most F sockets, and is worth having for a high-draw appliance such as a hairdryer.

Look for adaptors with a slim, tapering body. Many Egyptian sockets are set into a recess, and a chunky universal adaptor can be too wide to push the pins fully home, which leaves it loose and arcing. Single-country Europe adaptors from an Australian chemist, airport or electronics store are cheap and do the job; a universal adaptor is fine if its European pins sit on a narrow neck.

Adaptors are sold in Egyptian supermarkets and hotel shops too, but the quality is variable and hotel prices are high, so bring your own.

Do I need a voltage converter in Egypt?

No. Egypt's 220V, 50Hz supply is close enough to Australia's 230–240V, 50Hz that every device built for the Australian market works without a converter. An adaptor only changes the shape of the plug; a converter changes the voltage, and you don't need that.

The exceptions are appliances bought in the USA, Canada or Japan that are rated only for 100–120V. Check the small print on the plug or power brick:

• "Input: 100–240V" (phones, laptops, camera chargers, most electric toothbrushes and shavers): works anywhere with just an adaptor.
• "220–240V" (Australian hairdryers, straighteners, curling wands): works in Egypt with an adaptor.
• "110V" or "120V" only: needs a step-down converter, or better, leave it at home.

Hair straighteners and dryers are the appliances most likely to cause trouble because they draw a lot of power. Many hotels supply a hairdryer, and Nile cruise cabins usually have one too, so consider leaving yours behind.

How many adaptors should you pack?

Pack two or three adaptors per room, or one adaptor plus a compact Australian power board or multi-port USB charger, because a couple travelling with phones, watches, a camera and a power bank can easily need five charging points overnight.

Many hotel rooms in Egypt, particularly in older heritage hotels and on Nile cruise ships, have only one or two usable sockets near the bed and another by the desk or mirror. A practical kit for two people:

• Two slim type C adaptors
• One multi-port USB-C/USB-A wall charger (65W or more charges a laptop and phones at once)
• Or a small Australian power board with surge protection, plugged into one adaptor
• Spare charging cables, since a forgotten cable is surprisingly hard to replace outside Cairo

Newer and refurbished hotels often have USB sockets built into bedside panels, but don't count on them.

Keep one adaptor in your carry-on rather than your checked bag. If you break the journey with a stopover in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha or Singapore, note that the UAE, Qatar and Singapore mainly use the British three-pin type G socket, so you'll need a different adaptor (or a universal one) for a stopover hotel. Many airport gates and lounges on those routes have USB ports or multi-standard sockets, but seats near them fill quickly.

How do you charge devices on a Nile cruise or dahabiya?

Nile cruise cabins have standard 220V type C/F sockets, usually two to four of them, and the ship runs on its own generators, so power is constant whether you're moored or sailing. A multi-port charger is the most useful thing you can bring on board.

A few cabins on older ships still have a low-power shaver socket in the bathroom that won't run a hairdryer, so use the main sockets for anything with a heating element. Power can briefly flicker when the ship switches from shore power to its generators at a mooring; a power board with surge protection gives sensitive laptops and camera chargers a little extra safety.

On a dahabiya, cabins are smaller and some boats limit power overnight or have fewer sockets per cabin, so a power bank charged during the day is useful. Ask about charging when you book; our Nile cruise packing list covers the rest of what to bring on board, and the Nile cruises guide explains the differences between ships.

Is the electricity supply reliable in Egypt?

In hotels, cruise ships and resorts, yes: power cuts are rare and good hotels have backup generators that cut in within seconds.

Egypt went through scheduled summer power cuts (load-shedding) in 2023 and 2024 during a gas shortage, and the government announced their end in mid-2024. At the time of writing they have not returned, but in a very hot summer a brief outage in a smaller guesthouse or a village is possible. Keep a power bank charged and your phone's torch handy, which also helps in dimly lit hotel corridors and on desert camping trips, where there is usually no mains power at all.

In the White Desert and on overnight camping trips, camps run on small generators or solar lights, if anything; bring a fully charged power bank or two and a head torch. Our desert camping guide has more on what to expect.

Can you take power banks on flights to Egypt?

Yes, but power banks must go in your carry-on bag, never in checked luggage, and some airlines now restrict using or charging them during the flight.

Under international aviation rules, power banks and spare lithium batteries travel in the cabin, with most airlines allowing banks up to 100Wh without approval and 100–160Wh only with airline approval. Since 2025 several carriers on the Australia–Egypt routes, including Emirates, have banned using power banks to charge devices on board, and rules differ between airlines, so check your carrier's current policy, especially for connections via the Gulf or Asia. Our flights from Australia guide covers the usual routes.

The same applies on EgyptAir domestic flights between Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and the Red Sea. Keep power banks and camera batteries in your daypack, and label which bank is which if your group shares them.

What about CPAP machines and medical devices?

Modern CPAP machines and most medical devices have universal 100–240V power supplies and work in Egypt with a type C adaptor; the main things to plan for are the socket's position and a backup for desert nights.

• Check the power supply label, and bring an extension lead, since the socket may be across the room from the bed.
• Ask Noble Travel to request a room or cabin with a socket near the bed when booking.
• For desert camping or a felucca overnight, you'll need a CPAP battery pack, as there's usually no mains power; talk to your equipment supplier about suitable batteries and airline rules.
• Carry a letter from your doctor describing the device for airport security, and keep it in your carry-on.

Medicines that need refrigeration can usually be kept in your room fridge or the hotel's kitchen; for wider advice on health preparation, see our vaccinations and health guide.