Want to share your best experiences from the Maldives straight from the beach or during a manta ray excursion? You will definitely need mobile connectivity. The easiest way is to get an eSIM Maldives. And we’ll tell you right away that if you don’t want to waste time, it’s worth getting Airalo from the comfort of your home. A detailed comparison and how local SIM cards stack up are covered in the following lines.
Data eSIM Maldives: How to Choose the Best Option?
The choice of the right eSIM depends on the length of your stay and the amount of data you plan to use. In the Maldives, you essentially have two options. Get just a few GB at a reasonable price or invest more for 20 GB or more. Your hotel will likely have Wi-Fi, but it might not always be reliable (make sure to read hotel reviews).
You can choose between two operators, Ooredoo and Dhiraagu. Both offer similar prices and connection quality. Either should work fine. From what I’ve read, more people prefer Ooredoo, which is also available through Airalo.
If you need help choosing, check out our article How to Choose the Best eSIM.


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The Best Data eSIM for the Maldives
The selection of eSIMs for the Maldives is not very extensive. Many eSIM providers don’t even include the Maldives in their offerings. However, there are options worth considering, especially since tourist SIM cards at the airport in Malé start at $40.
The Cheapest Packages
One of the few providers offering 1 GB is eSIM4Travel. They also have the lowest price. It costs a reasonable $6.11. This is a good option if you don’t need constant internet but want to check emails, be available on Messenger and WhatsApp, and send a few beach photos. If you’re staying longer, you can purchase another package after the 7-day validity ends.
With Mobimatter, the price is $11.99 for 7 days. If you prefer a 15-day validity, you can get 2 GB for $19.99.
Mid-Range Packages
If you know that 1 GB won’t be enough, but you still don’t want to buy a local SIM card, there are other options. With eSIM4Travel, you can get 3 GB for $26.38. The validity period is already 30 days. With our code below, you can get an additional 10% discount.
High-Data Packages
Here, Airalo stands out. It offers packages directly through Ooredoo, which you can also purchase at the airport. If you want to save some time and avoid potential hassles at the kiosk, you can confidently get an eSIM from Airalo. These include calls and SMS within the local network (just like with local operators).
Currently available are 20 GB for $40 with a validity of 10 days. The other option is 30 GB for $50 with a 30-day validity. Additionally, you can use one of our codes for an extra discount.
💸 Use our discount codes 💸
Airalo $3 discount code for your first purchase KATERI4806
Airalo 10% discount for existing customers code EM10
Airalo 15% discount for new customers code EM15
However, note that Airalo is the only provider that requires identity verification. This means that when purchasing, you’ll need to take a photo of your passport. However, you’d also need your passport if buying directly in the Maldives, as local operators won’t sell SIM or eSIM cards without it.
30 GB is also available from Yesim, but it will cost $55.
Just for comparison, eSIM4Travel offers 20 GB for $170.48.
eSIM Maldives – Unlimited Data
If you need unlimited data, you will unfortunately have to rely on the local Wi-Fi at your hotel. Alternatively, you can purchase the largest available data packages from one of the local operators (refer to the section later in the article). They sell up to 200 GB. Perhaps you can even find larger options.
Unfortunately, even the biggest eSIM provider for unlimited data, Holafly, does not offer this option in the Maldives. The only available package is 6 GB for 15 days at $50.90.
💸 Use our discount codes for your first purchase 💸
MobiMatter $3 code MARE67aw
eSIM4Travel 10% code E4T10
Best eSIM Plans for Maldives
Provider | GB | Price | Validity |
eSIM4Travel | 1 GB | $6.11 | 7 days |
Mobimatter | 2 GB | $19.99 | 15 days |
Airalo | 20 GB | $40 | 10 days |
Airalo | 30 GB | $50 | 10 days |
Traditional SIM Cards in Maldives
In the Maldives, you can choose between two operators: Dhiraagu and Ooredoo.
How to Buy a SIM Card?
Buying a SIM card in the Maldives is relatively simple. Both operators have kiosks waiting for you directly at the airport. You will need only a credit card and a passport. The passport will need to be scanned. Without it, you won’t be able to purchase a SIM card, so don’t try to bypass this requirement.
There’s no point in purchasing a free SIM card from the kiosk (even if it’s advertised to include 500 MB), as you’ll end up needing to top it up. Instead, they offer tourist-specific plans directly.
You can also buy an eSIM directly from the local operator at the kiosk. It’s entirely up to your preference. Alternatively, you can opt for an Airalo eSIM.
The other option is to visit one of the operator’s stores. However, you’ll need to find one on the main Male island or potentially on Hulhumale. You will also need to present your passport there. They may initially offer you a tourist plan, but you can insist on a basic SIM for 50 MVR and then top it up with the required package. The question is whether you’ll have time to go to the store to get your SIM card this way.

SIM Card Prices in Maldives
At the airport, you can only choose from tourist plans. Prices are as follows:
Dhiraagu Plans:
- Traveler Lite Plan for $40: 20 GB of data, 150 local minutes, 150 local SMS, valid for 30 days.
- Traveler Premium Plan for $50: 30 GB + 70 GB for social media, 300 local minutes, 300 local SMS, valid for 30 days.
- Traveler MiFi Pack for $75: 125 GB of data, valid for 30 days, and includes a MiFi device (a portable router that acts as a mobile hotspot).
Ooredoo Plans:
- Tourist Plan for $40: 20 GB of data, 100 local minutes, 150 local SMS, valid for 30 days, and 100 MVR credit.
- Tourist Plan for $50: 30 GB + 70 GB for social media, 150 local minutes, 200 local SMS, valid for 30 days.
- Tourist Plan for $100: 125 GB of data, 150 local minutes, 200 local SMS, valid for 30 days, and includes a MiFi device.

A more affordable option is to visit a store on Male or Hulhumale. The SIM card costs 50 MVR (around $3), and you can get 20 GB of data (15 + 5 GB bonus) for approximately $23.
Summary of eSIM Maldives
If you want to stay online during your Maldives trip, even on the beach or a boat trip, it’s definitely worth getting an eSIM. You can set it up from the comfort of your home or even while heading to the airport. Once you land, simply activate it and focus on reaching your dream island.
The price of a tourist SIM card purchased at the airport is the same as Airalo’s, so it’s an easy decision. You also won’t have to worry about potential issues scanning your passport at the kiosk, as everything can be done comfortably from home.
If you want to save some money, have spare time, and feel like it, you can visit an operator’s store. On the other hand, if staying online isn’t a must, you can rely on the Wi-Fi at your hotel (although it’s not always excellent) and enjoy the sun and sea on the beach.