Oman eSIM
Mobile data for your trip to Oman. Install at home, switch it on when you land.
Network: ooredoo, Omantel (5G)
- Hotspot works. As it should.
- QR code in your inbox within minutes of paying.
- Your days start when the eSIM first connects at your destination.
- Full refund as long as the eSIM is not installed.
- Data only. Your own number keeps working for calls and texts if you leave it on. Not sure your phone works with eSIM? Check it first
Details
- Coverage
- Oman. Networks: ooredoo, Omantel (5G). Uses several local networks and switches automatically when one has no coverage.
- Validity
- 7 to 30 days, depending on the plan. The days start when the eSIM first connects at your destination.
- Hotspot
- Allowed. Share your data with a laptop, tablet or travel partner.
- Top-up
- Need more? Top up on the same eSIM.
- How it works
- Buy, install at home on wifi and switch on after landing. Read the guide
How much data do you need?
Set your trip length and how many hours a day you use each type of app. We suggest a plan that fits.
These numbers are estimates. Video quality, app settings and background updates change how much you use.
Travelling in Oman: the quick facts
Oman is forts and mud-brick villages, turquoise wadis, orange dunes and a coast that runs from Muscat all the way south to Salalah. Most visitors rent a car and drive, so mobile data for maps matters. Our Oman eSIM with hotspot keeps your phone and your co-driver online on the road.
- CurrencyOmani rial (OMR), 1 rial = 1,000 baisa
- PlugsType G, 240 VSame as the UK
- LanguageArabic, with English widely used in tourism
- Emergency9999 for police, ambulance and fire
- Getting aroundRental car, or Yango and other licensed taxi apps in Muscat
- NetworksOmantel and Ooredoo (5G where available)
- Time zoneUTC+4 all year, no summer time
Most visited places in Oman
Most trips start in Muscat and loop through the mountains, the desert and the coast by car. Our founder's 10-day Oman itinerary links these places into one road trip.
Photos by Peter, except Wahiba Sands (Rafael Peier) and Salalah (Muhammad Umar Hayat Yahya) on Unsplash.
Muscat
The capital, with the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, the Royal Opera House, Mutrah Souq and the corniche. Boat trips to the Daymaniyat Islands leave from nearby.
Wadi Shab
A canyon south of Muscat on the road to Sur. A short boat crossing, a hike and a swim through turquoise pools take you to a cave with a waterfall.
Wahiba Sands
Orange dunes about three hours' drive from Muscat, with desert camps for the night. You need a 4x4 on the sand, and signal can be weak deep in the dunes.
Nizwa and Bahla
Nizwa has a 17th-century fort, a souq and a Friday goat market. Bahla Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is half an hour further on.
Al Hamra and Misfat al Abriyeen
Old mud-brick villages at the foot of the Hajar Mountains, with falaj water channels and date palms. They are on the road up to Jebel Shams.
Salalah
In the far south, a flight or a long drive from Muscat. From late June to September the khareef monsoon turns the hills green, while the north is at its hottest.
How do we compare?
Cheaper than Airalo and Holafly on every Oman plan, and hotspot is always included.
| Feature | Best choiceArrivalSIM | Airalo | Holafly |
|---|---|---|---|
Hotspot on every planChecked per country before a plan goes online | Yes | Depends on network | Max 1 GB/day |
Cheaper on every plan5 GB for 30 days from €11,49 | Yes | No | No |
Personal contactHelp from a real person when you need it | Yes | 24/7 chat | 24/7 chat |
Money-back guaranteeFull refund as long as the eSIM is not installed | Within 14 days if not installed | Within 14 days if unused | Within 6 months if unused |
Top up the same eSIMAdd data when you run low | Yes | Yes | Days only |
Fixed GB plansPay only for the data you need | Yes | Yes | No |
Checked on each provider's own website.
Oman SIM card vs eSIM
You can also buy a tourist SIM card in the arrivals hall at Muscat airport, where Omantel, Ooredoo and Vodafone have counters. Per GB it is often the cheapest data. Omantel's Tourist Pack costs OMR 5 (about €12) for 2 GB, 50 minutes and 50 texts, valid for 10 days. You need your passport.
| Topic | ArrivalSIM eSIM | Local SIM card |
|---|---|---|
| Where you get it | Online, install at home | Airport counter or phone shop |
| Online when you land | Straight away | After the queue and setup |
| Price | Plan price incl. VAT | From OMR 5 for a tourist pack |
| Passport | Not needed | Needed at the counter |
| Keeps your own SIM | Yes | Comes out (unless dual SIM) |
| Local number for calls | Data only | Calls included |
Staying for weeks and happy to queue at the airport? A local SIM gives you the cheapest data. Want to be online when you land, with hotspot for your co-driver? The eSIM is the easier choice.
Money in Oman: rials, cards and ATMs
Oman uses the Omani rial (OMR). It is pegged to the US dollar, so 1 rial is about €2.30. One rial is 1,000 baisa, and prices often have three decimals: 1.500 is one and a half rials. More practical tips in what to know before visiting Oman.
- Cards work in hotels, malls, supermarkets and most restaurants. Souqs, small shops and village cafés often want cash.
- ATMs are easy to find in Muscat and the larger towns. Take cash for the mountains and the desert, for small shops and some entrance fees.
- When a card terminal or ATM offers to charge you in euros, choose rials.
- Tipping is not expected. Rounding up is a kind gesture.
Weather and best time to visit Oman
Northern Oman, including Muscat, Nizwa and the Wahiba Sands, has a desert climate. So the best time to visit Oman depends on the heat, not the rain.
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Best season
October to MarchDaytime highs around 25 to 30 °C in Muscat, good for wadi hikes and a night in the desert. December to February is the busiest time.
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Hot shoulder months
April, May and SeptemberHighs of 35 to 40 °C in Muscat. Plan wadis and forts early in the morning.
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Summer and khareef
June to AugustAround 40 °C or more in the north. In Salalah, the khareef monsoon brings mist, drizzle and green hills from late June to September, and that is high season there.
Yango vs Oman Taxi: which taxi app to use in Muscat
Uber and Careem do not offer rides in Oman. Taxis book through apps licensed by the transport ministry, and you see the fare before the ride. In Muscat, Yango is the easiest choice for visitors. Outside Muscat, Salalah and Sohar there are few app taxis, so most travellers rent a car.
Yango
OTaxi, the best-known Omani taxi app, is now part of Yango. It works in Muscat, Salalah and Sohar, including from Muscat airport, and you pay by card or in cash.
Oman Taxi
One of the other licensed apps, alongside apps such as Marhaba and Hala Taxi. Handy as a backup when Yango has no car nearby. Check the fare in the app before you book.
Renting a car
For the wadis, the mountains and the desert, a rental car gives you the most freedom. A regular car is fine on the main roads, but Jebel Akhdar, the tracks on Jebel Shams and the dunes need a 4x4. Read our founder's tips for renting a car in Oman. Install taxi apps at home, because sign-up sends a code to your own number.
Internet rules in Oman: WhatsApp calls, VoIP and VPN
WhatsApp and FaceTime calls
WhatsApp messages, photos and voice notes work normally. For years, app calls were blocked on Omani networks. Since late 2024 many travellers report that WhatsApp voice and video calls connect, but there has been no official change, so the short answer is: works, not guaranteed. FaceTime results vary. Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet work. Test a call on day one and keep a normal phone call as a backup.
Calls on a travel eSIM
Our eSIM connects to Omani networks as a visitor on roaming. App calls usually connect, but we cannot guarantee it, because local rules can change.
Blocked sites and VPN
Some websites and calling services are blocked in Oman. If you need a VPN for work, install it at home before you travel. Local laws still apply when you use one.
Sources: Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and local news. Rules change, so check before you travel.
Internet in Muscat for tourists: coverage and hotspot
With our eSIM you have mobile data from the moment you land in Muscat. It uses Omantel and Ooredoo, with 5G where available. Coverage is good in Muscat, along the coastal highway and in towns like Nizwa, Sur and Salalah. Deep in the wadis, high in the Hajar Mountains and in the middle of the Wahiba Sands, expect gaps, so download offline maps before you drive.
Using hotspot in Oman
- Install the eSIM at home on wifi before you fly and leave the line switched off.
- After landing at Muscat International Airport, switch it on, set it for mobile data and turn on data roaming.
- Turn on Personal Hotspot (iPhone) or Hotspot and tethering (Android) to share data with your co-driver or a laptop. Hotspot data counts towards your plan.
Step by step: iPhone install guide, Android install guide. Need more data later? Top up the same eSIM.
A note from our founder
I travelled through Oman in January 2022 with a rental car: from Muscat down the coast to Wadi Shab, a night in the Wahiba Sands, and then inland to Nizwa, Bahla, Misfat al Abriyeen, Jebel Shams and Al Hamra. Most photos you see in this Oman guide were taken on that trip. What I remember most is how diverse Oman is and how much more you experience a country during a self-drive. I wouldn't have been able to do that without mobile data. But don't forget, download offline maps for your time in the mountains and the desert. Get ready, and enjoy one of the friendliest countries I've visited. My favourite places to take photos are in this guide. See you in Oman!
Peter
Oman eSIM FAQ
Can I make WhatsApp calls in Oman with this eSIM?
WhatsApp messages always work. Many travellers report that WhatsApp calls connect as well, but there has been no official change, so calls work but are not guaranteed. Test a call on arrival and keep a normal call as a backup.
Should I buy and install the eSIM before I travel to Oman?
That is the easiest way. Install it at home on wifi and switch it on after landing, so you can open your car-rental app or book a Yango straight away.
Does hotspot work with the Oman eSIM?
Yes. Hotspot is included on every plan, so you can share data with your co-driver, a laptop or a tablet. Hotspot data counts towards your plan.
Is ArrivalSIM cheaper than Airalo in Oman?
Yes. When we compared prices on their own websites, every Oman plan of ours cost less than the same amount of data at Airalo or Holafly, including Airalo's shorter plans, from 1 GB to 50 GB. Holafly only sells unlimited plans, priced per day.
Which plan fits a 10-day road trip in Oman?
For maps, messaging and some social media: the 10 GB plan. With a laptop on hotspot or lots of video calls, take 20 GB. The data calculator above helps you choose.
Will I have signal in the wadis and the desert?
In towns and on the main roads, yes. Deep in the wadis, high in the mountains and in the middle of the Wahiba Sands, signal can drop. Download offline maps before you drive.
Which taxi app works in Muscat?
Uber and Careem do not offer rides in Oman. Use Yango, which now includes OTaxi, or another licensed app such as Oman Taxi. Sign up at home, because the apps send a code to your own number.
Can I get a refund?
Yes, you get a full refund as long as the eSIM is not installed. Questions first? Reach us through our contact page.
Ready for Oman?
Plans from €3,99 including VAT
Pick your plan, install it at home and you are online when you land in Muscat. Travelling on? We cover 190+ countries.
Questions first? Reach us through our contact page.