Sberbank launches QR-code-based payment for purchases in Egypt via mobile app

MOSCOW. Oct 28 (Interfax) - Sberbank has launched QR-code-based payments in Egypt via the Sberbank Online app, with payment amounts automatically converted into rubles, the bank said.

Users simply scan a QR code at a checkout counter or an establishment that accepts such payments in order to render payment, with the amount displayed on the screen in both Egyptian pounds and Russian rubles before confirming the transaction.

The number of locations in Egypt that accept QR-code payments reached approximately 1 million at the end of March 2026 according to data from the country's central bank.

Launching the service is amid an increasing flow of tourists from Russia. In 2025, Egypt welcomed over 2 million Russian tourists. From January through September 25, 2026, that number grew by approximately 23% compared to the same period last year.

Egypt is now the 14th country where Sberbank clients can pay via QR code. The service is also available in other popular tourist destinations for Russians, including Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines, rendering travel even more convenient and comfortable.