Oman is a country with amazing beaches, but also historical monuments. Recently it has experienced an unprecedented interest from tourists who are looking for exoticism but do not want to travel tens of hours to see it. Unfortunately, it’s already outside the EU borders, so you’ll have to pay extra to use data or make calls. However, you can buy a local SIM card or get a virtual eSIM. And now we’ll show you the advantages and disadvantages of both options.
eSIM Oman: How to choose the best one?
Data volume and validity are important considerations when choosing an eSIM. Going on a ten-day vacation to a hotel with Wi-Fi, but still want a backup plan? A 1 GB package that only lasts for 7 days won’t be enough. If you’re traveling more and spending less time in a hotel, packages with more data will come in handy.
As for the network used by the eSIMs, it doesn’t really matter here as all providers use Omantel, which admittedly has better connectivity in cities and tourist areas, but if you’re traveling from Muscat to Salalah, you’re basically not going to get any connection on the way. If you want navigation for the trip, it might be worth getting a local sim from Ooredoo.
The best data eSIM for Oman
Let’s take a look at how much you can get the most-used data packages for.
Cheapest packages
If you just want to have data for backup, look at maps or order a ride, 1 GB of data is enough. This is cheapest on Airalo, where it costs $4.5. This package is good for 7 days.
The second cheapest package is offered by MobiMatter. The package is called Middle East, so it is clear that it includes other countries as well. Specifically Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt, Morocco, Turkey, Israel and Jordan. The price is $4.99 and the validity is only 7 days.
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Average usage (5 GB of data)
You’re at the beach during the day, but want to get on the hotel Wi-Fi at night? Maybe 5 GB of data is enough. You can get the cheapest at Airalo for $15. It’s valid for 30 days.
The second cheapest package is again offered by MobiMatter, and with it you have data to other countries in the Arabian Peninsula and more. It costs $15.99 and is also valid for 30 days.
High data usage (10 GB or more)
If you don’t want to limit your data usage too much, a 10 GB package is the right choice for you. You can get the cheapest at Airalo for $25.
The second cheapest is the Middle East package from MobiMatter for $36.99. Both are valid for 30 days.
Unlimited data in Oman
You can only get unlimited data from Holafly. They offer 5-30 days of unlimited data at prices ranging from $27-79. For example, 15 days will set you back $47. Note that you cannot use the hotspot with Holafly.
Overview of the best packages
| Provider | GB | Price | Validity |
| Airalo | 1 GB | $4,5 | 7 days |
| Airalo | 5 GB | $15 | 30 days |
| Airalo | 10 GB | $25 | 30 days |
| Holafly | unlimited | $47 | 15 days |
📱 Not sure which eSIM provider to choose? 📱 Read our reviews.
Local data SIM card Oman
Of course, you can also buy a local SIM card in Oman at the airport, specialized operator shops or supermarkets. You will need a passport to buy a local SIM card.
I’ve read online that it’s also possible to pay for your SIM card at home before you leave, but I haven’t tried this and unfortunately haven’t found out how to do it. And of course you’ll pay a bit more.
In the country you will find two or now three operators and also two virtual operators that use the network of the main ones. The most popular are Omantel and Ooredoo. Vodafone also entered the market in 2022, but it doesn’t have such a widespread infrastructure yet and also has a rather limited choice. There are also two virtual operators under the two main ones, Renna Mobile (running on Omantel’s network) and Friendi Mobile (running on Ooredoo’s network). However, they don’t offer anything special and their outlets are not easy to find. That’s why we’re only going to focus on Omantel and Ooredoo.
With both you can expect good coverage and speed in cities and tourist areas. Of course, if you go to the desert, you won’t get much internet. Omantel has better coverage in the cities, but Ooredoo also offers pretty good coverage along the route from Muscat to Salalah.
Data plans price
Ooredoo offers plans from 2 GB to 25 GB with validity periods ranging from 24 hours to 4 weeks. Omantel only offers three packages, but in return it offers unlimited data and you also get a certain number of SMS and call minutes with each package (be careful, it does offer international calls, but only to certain countries). All this at the expense of the fact that their plans are only valid for 10 days. Prices are quite similar.
- 3 GB – 3 OMR ($8.10), validity 28 days
- 6 GB – 5 OMR ($13.50), validity 28 or 10 dys
- 15 GB – 10 OMR ($27), validity 28 or 10 days
- unlimited plan – 20 OMR ($54), validity only 10 days
Summary
Data isn’t the cheapest thing in Oman, and in the case of this country in particular, a local SIM card will set you back the same price as an eSIM. So it’s up to you whether you want the convenience of buying data from home or getting SIM card from local operator.
