You are planning your trip to Oman and wondering what is the best way to stay connected to avoiding high roaming costs? This is a complete guide for buying a sim card for traveling to Oman in 2023. Find out where to buy a sim card for Oman, a comparison of the best prepaid sim cards and e-sim cards, up to date prices as per August 2023, my recommendation, a vlog with my experiences buying a sim card in Oman, info about international sim cards and more.
On my journey to visit every country in the world Oman was listed as country no. 121. Traveling in Oman is amazing, but I recommend you to rent a car. This will make it much easier to get to the best places to visit in Oman. But also stay connected and have a working data connection on your phone. It makes life so much easier and your trip to Oman more fun.
Every time I get to a new country the first thing I do is figuring out the best way to stay connected. Depending on my trip that is either buying a local prepaid sim card on arrival or ordering an e-sim card on the internet.
I like to document all my travel tips and therefore on Traveltomtom you can find more than 200 sim card guides from all over the world: Asia, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Jordan, Pakistan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Panama, USA, Canada, Moscow, Paris, Europe and many more.
So when planning your next adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid and e-sim card advice for your holiday destination. Bookmark this website!
Why buying a sim card in Oman
When looking for ways to stay connected in Oman I am sure you heard of buying a local prepaid sim card on arrival. It is often the cheapest way to get a lot of data on your phone. But getting an e-sim card for Oman is much easier and done faster. Up to you what you choose.
Don’t get stuck with high roaming charges or slow overseas data plans. Did you know that overseas data roaming plans limit the data speed? With a local Oman sim card you are guaranteed the best network connection and fastest data speed and there is 5G in Oman. E-sim cards for Oman are mostly 4G/LTE.
Being connected makes traveling to Oman much more convenient. Oman seems a small country but distances between all beautiful places to visit are far. Road tripping in Oman is popular but without a data connection on your phone it would be pretty challenging. Simply think about finding nearby places to eat, stay or get a coffee or getting directions from a navigation app and so on.
If you don’t prefer to swap your sim card for a local sim card from Oman then e-sim cards are exactly what you want, but make sure your phone is e-sim compatible. Some phones support dual sim, unfortunately iPhone does NOT support dual sim so you will have to swap sim cards and you temporarily lose your phone number from back home.
If you want to go old school or when your phone is not e-sim compatible then look into a portable WiFi device that allows you to have internet while traveling. Click on the link to read my honest review about it.
Also don’t rely on public WiFi. Most hotels in Oman offer free reliable and fast WiFi. However, surfing the internet on public WiFi is through an UNSECURED connection. The use of a VPN is strongly recommended.
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends an Omantel sim card for traveling in Oman. They have the most extensive mobile network and for $13 USD you can get 8 GB data for 1 week.
E-sim cards for Oman already start from just $4.5 USD so it is worth looking into as well. Especially if you need just a couple Gigabytes to stay connected.
Another great alternative to stay connected when traveling to Oman is a global sim card with data. They are slightly more expensive but have many advantages. Check out Traveltomtom's complete review of the best international sim card with data in 2023 and pick the one that suits your trip to the Middle East.
Be aware that using a local Oman prepaid sim card, an international prepaid sim card or an e-sim card for Oman only works if your phone is unlocked. If you are unsure about this, contact your mobile internet provider in your home country before your trip to Oman.
Best e-sim cards for Oman
If your phone supports the use of an e-sim card then this an e-sim card is the easiest and fastest way to get connected when traveling to Oman in 2023. No more visiting a sim card shop and swapping a physical sim card. You arrange everything online. Order an e-sim on the internet, process the payment, get a QR code, scan it, follow the steps and you are online in no time.
Airalo
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $4.5 USD
- 2 GB data for 15 days = $8 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $10.5 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $15 USD
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $25 USD
- 20 GB data for 30 days = $40 USD
Click here to order an e-sim cards for Oman from Airalo.
The Omancom e-sim cards for Oman are data-only. Incoming and outgoing calls and sms are not supported. Data is only valid in Oman and Omancom operates on the Omantel 4G/LTE network.
SimOptions
There are also international e-sim cards. These e-sim cards are valid in up to 130 countries around the world, including Oman. Check out the following international data-only e-sim cards:
- 6 GB data for 8 days = $19.90 USD
- 6 GB data for 15 days = $39.90 USD
Click here to order an international e-sim card for traveling in Oman on SimOptions.
Where to buy a sim card for Oman
Muscat International Airport
The easiest, fastest and most convenient place to buy a sim card for Oman is on arrival at Muscat International Airport. When walking into the Arrivals hall you will walk straight into 3 mobile shops: Renna Mobile, Ooredoo and Omantel. For a complete guide for buying a sim card at Muscat Airport click on the link. You will also find a vlog about my arrival at Muscat airport in the link.
Shopping Malls in Muscat
In case you missed the opportunity to buy a sim card at Muscat Airport we recommend you to go to one of the bigger shopping malls. Here you will find the official mobile phone stores that can register a new Oman prepaid sim card for you.
Online
The easiest place to buy a sim card for traveling to Oman is of course on the internet. I already mentioned the e-sim cards for Oman, but there are also international prepaid sim cards for Oman. These physical sim cards will be shipped to your home address before your trip and are pre-activated. On arrival in Oman it is plug and play. More about it later.
Mobile internet providers in Oman
Until 2021 there were only 2 mobile internet providers in Oman: Omantel and Ooredoo. In 2022 Vodafone officially entered the mobile internet market as it got its license approved. On top of these 3 mobile network operators there are two MVNO’s in Oman: Friendi Mobile and Renna Mobile.
All the above mobile internet providers sell prepaid sim cards for tourists.
Registration process
When buying a prepaid sim card in Oman you will need to provide your passport. A copy will be taken in the store and the new Oman sim card will be registered under your name and passport number.
Registering a sim card in Oman only takes a couple minutes and works based on plug and play. Meaning you put the new sim card in your phone and you are instantly online. No need to wait for activation.
If you want to avoid the registration process or for some reason you don't want to give your passport for registration then look into buying a sim card for Oman on the internet. If you buy an international prepaid sim card or an e-sim card for Oman then you don't need to register with your passport, you just need an email address.
Prices prepaid sim cards in Oman
All the info and prices below are updated in August 2023. Prices are in Omani Rial and $1 USD = 0.39 OMR and 1 OMR = $2.6 USD. Yes, that is correct the Omani Rial is much stronger than the USD.
Omantel
Omantel is the biggest mobile internet provider in Oman and they offer the following prepaid sim card packages:
- 5.00 OMR = 7 GB data + 1 GB social media + 50 minutes valid for 1 week - $13
All the following sim card deals are valid for 4 weeks:
- 4 OMR = 2 GB data + 500 MB social media + 50 flex minutes - $10.4
- 6 OMR = 3 GB data + 1.5 GB social media + 100 flex minutes - $15.6
- 8 OMR = 8 GB data + 2 GB social media + 250 flex minutes - $20.8
- 12 OMR = 15 GB data + 300 flex minutes - $31.2
- 18 OMR = 30 GB data + 600 flex minutes - $46.8
Omantel charges 2.1 OMR ($5.5) extra if you want an e-sim card instead of a physical sim card. Check the Omantel website for more info about their prepaid packages.
Ooredoo Oman
Ooredoo is the second biggest mobile internet operator in Oman after Omantel. They offer a wide range of prepaid sim card deals at their stores:
- 2.00 OMR = 1 GB data + 500 MB social media + 50 minutes valid for 1 week - $5.2
- 5.25 OMR = 4 GB data + 50 minutes + 50 sms valid for 10 days - $13.7
- 10.5 OMR = 10 GB data + 50 minutes + 50 sms valid for 15 days - $27.3
- 5.00 OMR = 7 GB data + 1 GB social media + 50 minutes valid for 1 week - $13
- 9.00 OMR = 8 GB data + 2 GB social media + 250 minutes valid for 4 weeks - $23.4
- 18.0 OMR = 30 GB data + 600 local minutes valid for 4 weeks - $46.8
Some Ooredoo Oman prepaid packages include international minutes however, these are only applicable to India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. If you want an Ooredoo e-sim cards you will be charged an extra fee of 1 OMR ($2.6). Check out the Ooredoo Oman website for more info.
Vodafone Oman
Vodafone only started operating in Oman in 2022. Does Traveltomtom recommend a Vodafone sim card for traveling in Oman at the moment? NOPE! More about it later in my conclusion and my comparison of the Oman mobile internet network.
- 25 GB data + 500 minutes for 4 weeks = 12 OMR - $31 USD
- 35 GB data + unlimited minutes + 60 international minutes for 4 weeks = 16 OMR - $42 USD
- 80 GB data + unlimited minutes + 200 international minutes for 4 weeks = 24 OMR - $62 USD
Check out the Vodafone Oman website for more info.
Renna Mobile
Renna Mobile operates on the network of Omantel and offer the following Oman prepaid sim card deals which are valid for 30 days, see the above photo.
- 2 OMR = 1 GB data + 25 minutes - $5.2
- 3 OMR = 3 GB data - $7.8
- 9 OMR = 8 GB data + 25 minutes - $23.4
- 16 OMR = 22 GB data + 350 minutes - $41.6
As you can see the Renna Mobile prepaid sim card deals are ok, nothing really special either. You will find Renna Mobile stores randomly around Muscat, but there are very few. Renna Mobile does NOT offer an Oman e-sim card, only physical sim cards. If you want more info check out the Renna Mobile website.
Friendi Mobile
Friendi Mobile operates on the network of Ooredoo and offer the above prepaid sim card packages.
- 3 OMR = 2 GB data
- 5 OMR = 5 GB data
As you can see the Friendi Mobile sim card deals are not really interesting either. For more info check out the Friendi Mobile website. You can find Friendi sim card shops in supermarkets or shopping malls.
Best 4G/5G network in Oman in 2023
You don’t want to lose phone signal as soon as you drive out of Muscat right? Therefore looking at the mobile internet coverage for Oman is just as important to find out what is the best prepaid sim card for Oman.
Is there 5G in Oman?
Yes, there is 5G in Oman, but it is not that wide spread yet as you may have hoped. However, I completely depends on the mobile internet operator you choose. See the network coverage maps below. Omantel was the first to roll out 5G in the country and has the largest 5G network in Oman as of 2023.
At the time of updating the article in August 2023 Vodafone Oman network coverage maps are still not available. They only starting operating in 2022 and there is still no information available about the Vodafone Oman mobile network coverage. Therefore Traveltomtom also still does NOT recommend a Vodafone sim card for traveling in Oman. Let's have a look at the Oman network coverage maps.
Omantel 4G/5G network coverage map
Ooredoo Oman 4G/5G network coverage map
From the above network coverage maps we can see that Omantel has a more advanced mobile internet network and the best 4G/5G network in Oman in 2023. However, on the road down south towards the beautiful Salalah, one of the best places to visit in Oman, Ooredoo has better network coverage.
Best sim card for Oman in 2023
Considering all the above information about Oman sim cards we come up with a couple conclusions.
First off, the Vodafone is a completely new mobile internet operator in Oman. Despite having some good prepaid sim card plans and data offers I would still NOT recommend Vodafone Oman at the moment. May be in the future yes, but there is no proper information available yet about the 4G/5G network. Where can you find a Vodafone Oman signal, only in Muscat?
Renna Mobile and Friendi Mobile don't have any shockingly cheap sim card deals to lure costumers. In fact for the bigger data packages you get better value at Ooredoo and Omantel. Also Friendi Mobile and Renna Mobile stores are not easy to find in Oman and therefore I would also not recommend Friendi and Renna as sim cards for tourists in Oman.
E-sim cards are actually the cheapest way to stay connected when traveling to Oman as Oman e-sim cards already start from just $4.5 USD. E-sim cards are also the easiest way to stay connected as you arrange everything online. It is up to you, but first make sure your phone is e-sim compatible before ordering an e-sim card for traveling in Oman.
When it comes to comparing Ooredoo and Omantel and choosing the best prepaid sim card for Oman in 2023 we can clearly see the difference in 4G/5G network coverage. Especially around Muscat and the Northern areas Omantel has a much better 4G/5G network and since prices for prepaid sim cards for tourists do not differ so much Traveltomtom rates Omantel as the best sim card for Oman in 2023.
If you want to watch a quick video about buying a sim card in Oman then check out my vlog the below!
Order a sim card for Oman online
If your phone is not e-sim compatible there is still the option of buying a sim card for Oman online. It is rather eexpensive though and there is not much choice. A pre-activated physical prepaid sim card will be send to your home address.
This is the only option I found on the SimOptions website:
- 5 GB for 14 days = $49.90 USD
Click here to directly order one of the above sim cards for Oman or get more info about it. But if your phone is e-sim compatible then simply go for an e-sim card. Arrange everything directly online by ordering an e-sim card for Oman.
I hope some of the above tips for buying a sim card in Oman were helpful. Let me know if you have any more questions, leave me a comment below and I will try to help you out.
For some Oman travel inspiration check out my YouTube channel or Instagram page @traveltomtom. As per August 2023 I have visited more than 155 countries around the world, so many more to go.
Enjoy your trip to Oman!
Some links in this article about the best sim cards for traveling to Oman are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using an affiliate link I earn a small commission. This is at absolutely no extra cost to you.