Oman is the oldest independent country in the Arab world. It is an inexpensive tourist destination and a great hub for foreign workers, especially from Southeast Asian countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, etc. Though Oman is an expensive country, fortunately, getting SIM cards in Oman is not a costly affair. You can buy an Omani SIM card for just 2 OMR (Omani Rial) from the best two telecommunication companies in the country: Omantel and Ooredoo.
The cost of using mobile services in this country is fairly low as per the regional standards. 6 telecom companies are operating in Oman. To get a deeper insight into mobile network providers in Oman, let’s showcase them one by one from top to bottom.
1. Omantel
Omantel (also known as Oman Mobile) is the largest and the oldest telecom company in the country. It is a state-owned company with 51% stakes belonging to the Omani government. The company operates on 2G, 3G, 4G/LTE, and 5G NR frequencies. Omantel has excellent coverage throughout the country and its 4G/LTE network is available almost everywhere. Its prepaid SIM card is called Hayyak Prepaid, which you can obtain for 2 OMR (with 1 GB of data for 10 days). Its data-only SIM cards are available for 3 OMR (3 GB of data for 15 days) and 5 OMR (6 GB of data for 30 days).
If you are a short-term visitor or a tourist in Oman, you can have their tourist SIM card. This SIM card offer gets you 2 GB of data with unlimited WhatsApp, 50 flexi international calling minutes, and international SMS, and a validity of 10 days for just 5 OMR. The tourist SIM card itself is valid for 30 days. You can purchase only a regular plan after your tourist plan expires. You can also get an Omantel eSIM (embedded SIM) for the price of its regular SIM card. However, you need to remember that the eSIM works with only a few compatible devices such as Google Pixel 4/4 XL or iPhone XS/XS Max.
2. Ooredoo Oman
Ooredoo Oman or just Ooredoo was known as Nawras until 2014. It is just slightly behind Omantel in terms of market share. Compared to Omantel, it is a cheaper option for consumers. It operates on 2G, 3G, 4G/LTE, and 5G NR frequencies. Its coverage is considered the best in Oman and its 4G/LTE is available everywhere except the desert areas. Its SIM card is called Shababiah and is available for only 2 OMR. Ooredoo also offers a SIM card called Ooredoo Visitor Pack for tourists. The Visitor Pack is valid for only 10 to 15 days, while the SIM card is valid for 2 months.
However, a single top-up will extend the validity for another two months. You can also get an Ooredoo eSIM for the same price as a regular Ooredoo SIM. But remember that for now, its eSIM works only with iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR. Ooredoo offers plans that are a combo of data and calling minutes, data-only, and data for selected social media apps. Like all other carriers, you can get those plans on its official app called Ooredoo Oman. It is available on Google Play Store, Apple App Store, and Huawei AppGallery.
3. FRiENDi Mobile Oman
FRiENDi Mobile Oman or just FRiENDi is an MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) of Ooredoo Oman. Earlier it used to be active in Saudi Arabia too, but a few years ago Virgin Mobile KSA bought it. The company Majan Telecommunications owns FRiENDi Mobile Oman as well as Red Bull Mobile Oman. Because it is an MVNO, its network coverage is similar to the main company. Its SIM card, called Super SIM, is available for free with 2 OMR of credit from FRiENDi Mobile retailers. These retailers have independent-owned stores throughout the country. This carrier offers 7 plans, which are either combo or data-only.
4. Red Bull Mobile Oman
Red Bull Mobile Oman is an Omantel MVNO. It is the latest MVNO at this time, as it was launched in 2019. It targets the younger generation of the country, hence its customer base mostly consists of the youth. As it is an MVNO, its frequency and coverage are the same as Omantel. Red Bull Mobile vendors distribute the SIM card for free.
However, you need to purchase the plan whose price starts from 2 OMR. It offers 5 different plans which include combo, data-only, and social media data plans. These are quite cheap and a great value for money. You can buy them online on the official Red Bull MOBILE Oman app available for Android and iOS devices.
5. Renna Mobile
Renna Mobile is also an MVNO of Omantel, and it is the first of that kind. Its SIM card, called Renna SIM, is available for free with a preloaded 2 OMR credit. The company also offers Renna Mobile Visit Pack, which is meant for short-term visitors and tourists in Oman. Renna Mobile SIM cards and their plans and top-ups are available everywhere.
You can find it in Renna Mobile retailers, grocery stores, electronic stores, and corner shops throughout the country. Its official app, named My Renna, is available on both Play Store and App Store. It offers 5 data-featured plans to its customers which are either combo of data and calling minutes or just data-only. These are budget-oriented and can be purchased online using the My Renna app.
6. Vodafone Oman
Vodafone Oman was launched in December 2021. It is the latest telecom company (at the time of writing) in Oman and the third-largest independent mobile operator in the country. As it has launched recently, it will take time for preparing its full portfolio of mobile plans. The company is still in the process of building its 4G/LTE and 5G NR networks. It has started operations only in Muscat (Oman’s capital) so far. Thus, if you’re a resident, you can be among its newest customers. Vodafone Oman SIM cards are easily available in Vodafone outlets and from some resellers. Little is known about its plans and SIM card prices, as it hasn’t matured enough yet.