eSIM Providers in Qatar: Ooredoo, Vodafone and Travel eSIMs

Looking for an eSIM in Qatar? Both big Qatari operators, Ooredoo and Vodafone Qatar, offer eSIM. They suit you if you live in Qatar or want a local number. If you're just visiting, you have three options: an Ooredoo Visitor SIM eSIM, a Vodafone prepaid eSIM verified with your passport, or a data-only travel eSIM you install before you fly. This guide compares them and shows how to set each one up.

If all you need is data, a travel eSIM is the simplest route. You buy it online, install it on Wi-Fi at home and it connects when you land in Doha. It has no phone number, so you keep your home number for calls and texts. These plans run on Ooredoo in Qatar.

Data-only plans for Qatar and the wider Middle East · See all Qatar eSIMs · See Middle East eSIMs · All destinations

eSIM providers in Qatar at a glance

Apple's list of carriers that offer eSIM on iPhone includes Ooredoo and Vodafone for Qatar. Both are listed for eSIM Quick Transfer and for prepaid plans for international travelers, and Ooredoo is also listed for carrier activation (Apple: carriers that offer eSIM service on iPhone). Here's how your options compare:

• Ooredoo Visitor SIM: a prepaid bundle for visitors with data and local minutes. Ooredoo says you can get it as an eSIM instantly online.
• Vodafone Qatar eSIM: free on all Vodafone plans. Visitors choose a prepaid connection online and verify their identity with a passport.
• Travel eSIM: sold online by providers like SimOptions. Data only, no ID check at purchase, ready before you leave.

The local options give you a Qatari number and local minutes. The travel eSIM gives you data and nothing else. Which one fits depends on whether you need to make local calls.

Ooredoo eSIM and Visitor SIM

Ooredoo offers eSIM on both prepaid and postpaid plans. For visitors, it sells Visitor SIM bundles. Here are the three plans on Ooredoo's Visitor SIM page when we checked:

• Visitor SIM Go (QR 75): 6 GB of data, 25 minutes of local calls, 7 days.
• Visitor SIM Plus (QR 100): 10 GB of data, 100 local minutes, 25 international minutes, 14 days.
• Visitor SIM Pro (QR 150): 25 GB of data, 400 local minutes, 75 international minutes, 30 days.

Ooredoo says the Go price went up from QR 65 to QR 75 on 30 October 2025, and that its dollar prices are only indicative. Prices and allowances change, so check the page before you buy.

What to know about the Visitor SIM

• eSIM or SIM: click Buy Now for an instant eSIM. Otherwise Ooredoo delivers a physical SIM inside Qatar on arrival.
• Airport pickup: you can also buy at Hamad International Airport, at the Qatar Duty Free store in baggage collection, the Ooredoo kiosks at Exits 2, 3 and 4, or the Day2Day store in the Arrivals Hall.
• Local use only: the bundle data isn't valid while roaming.
• Line validity: one month, and you can extend it by recharging.
• International minutes: valid for 120 destinations.

Ooredoo's page doesn't say what ID you need to buy the Visitor SIM, so you'll see that at checkout. Have your passport ready.

How to set up an Ooredoo eSIM

According to Ooredoo's eSIM page, you check that your phone is compatible, choose a prepaid or postpaid plan and activate with the QR code sent to your email. Wi-Fi works best for the download.

1. On iPhone, go to Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM, then scan the QR code (Apple: Set up eSIM on iPhone).
2. On a Samsung Galaxy, Ooredoo gives the path Settings > Connections > SIM card manager > Add mobile plan.
3. On other Android phones, use the QR code in your SIM or network settings. Menu names vary by model.

Already have an Ooredoo number? Ooredoo says you log in, go to Services, open SIM Management and select SIM Swap. Once your eSIM is active, the physical SIM is deactivated. For help, call 111.

Vodafone Qatar eSIM

Vodafone Qatar says its eSIM is free on all plans, prepaid and postpaid, and runs on its 5G network. Here's what its eSIM FAQ says:

• Visitors: go to buynow.vodafone.qa, choose a prepaid connection and verify your identity with your passport.
• Existing customers: open the My Vodafone app, tap My Menu, choose eSIM, then Download eSIM. You complete an OTP and ID verification. Your current SIM stops working for about 10 minutes while the eSIM activates.
• New phone: open the app on the new phone, ideally on Wi-Fi, log in and repeat the same steps.
• Switching from another operator: start a transfer at buynow.vodafone.qa/mnp, choose a plan, verify your identity and select eSIM. You get a QR code by email, then send a free SMS to 151 to start the transfer.

One warning from Vodafone: if you scan a QR code more than 10 times without downloading the profile, the eSIM becomes faulty. You then need an eSIM swap in the My Vodafone app. So scan once, on a good connection.

Vodafone's FAQ also says dual SIM lets a physical SIM and an eSIM run together, so you get two numbers on one phone. It doesn't list visitor bundles, so check the Vodafone Qatar site for current prepaid plans.

Qatar travel eSIM: data without a local SIM

A travel eSIM is a data plan you buy online. You get a QR code by email, install it on Wi-Fi before you leave and it connects when you arrive. Here is what the SimOptions Qatar plans include, according to their plan details:

• Network: runs on Ooredoo in Qatar, with 4G, LTE and 5G.
• Data only: no Qatari phone number, no calls or SMS. You call and message with apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime or Signal. See how to make phone calls with a data-only eSIM.
• Activation: once installed, the eSIM activates automatically when you reach Qatar.
• Top-ups: available if you run low on data.
• Expiry: if you don't use the eSIM within a year, it becomes invalid.
• Coverage: the Qatar plans cover Qatar only. The Middle East plans cover 12 countries, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman, at 4G/LTE speed.

Need a phone number? None of the SimOptions plans for Qatar come with one. If you need a Qatari number for local calls or services, get a SIM or eSIM from Ooredoo or Vodafone.

How much data do you need for Qatar?

The Qatar plans range from 1 GB for 3 days to 60 GB for 90 days. As a rough guide:

• A stopover of a few days: 1 GB to 3 GB for maps, messages and ride apps.
• About a week: 5 GB or 10 GB for 7 days.
• Up to two weeks: 20 GB for 15 days.
• A month or longer: 50 GB for 30 days, or 60 GB for 90 days.

Want to compare more options? Our guide to the best eSIMs for Qatar covers what to look for in a plan.

How to set up your Qatar travel eSIM

1. Check your phone. It must support eSIM and be unlocked. Dial *#06#: if you see an EID, your phone supports eSIM. More in our guide to checking eSIM compatibility and our list of eSIM supported devices.
2. Buy your plan and wait for the QR code by email.
3. Install it on Wi-Fi before you leave. Step by step for iPhone and Android: how to install an eSIM.
4. Label the line "Qatar" so you can tell it apart from your home line.
5. When you land in Doha, make the travel eSIM your data line and turn on data roaming for it.

Not connecting after you land? Go through our eSIM activation fixes.

Local eSIM or travel eSIM: which one is right for you?

An Ooredoo or Vodafone eSIM fits if

• You live in Qatar or stay for several months.
• You need a Qatari number for local calls, deliveries or services.
• You don't mind verifying your identity with your passport.

A travel eSIM fits if

• You're on a short trip or a stopover and want data the moment you land.
• You want to sort it out at home, with no airport queue.
• You want to keep your home number on your phone at the same time. See how to set up a dual eSIM.
• You're also visiting nearby countries. Our guides to eSIM providers in Saudi Arabia and eSIM providers in Bahrain cover the local carriers there.

Check your own operator's roaming prices too. See our guide to roaming settings for an eSIM.

FAQs

Which eSIM should I get for Qatar?

If you only need data, a travel eSIM is the simplest choice. If you need a Qatari number or local minutes, pick an Ooredoo Visitor SIM or a Vodafone Qatar prepaid eSIM.

Does Ooredoo Qatar offer eSIM?

Yes. Ooredoo offers eSIM on prepaid and postpaid plans, and says visitors can get a Visitor SIM as an eSIM instantly online. Apple also lists Ooredoo in Qatar for eSIM on iPhone.

What is included in the Ooredoo Visitor SIM Go?

When we checked, Visitor SIM Go gave 6 GB of data, 25 minutes of local calls and 7 days of validity, for QR 75. Check Ooredoo's Visitor SIM page for current terms.

Does Vodafone Qatar offer eSIM for tourists?

Yes. Vodafone says visitors can buy a prepaid eSIM at buynow.vodafone.qa and verify their identity with a passport. The eSIM itself is free on all Vodafone plans.

Can I use a Qatar eSIM on an iPhone?

Yes, if your iPhone supports eSIM and is unlocked. Apple lists both Ooredoo and Vodafone in Qatar. Add the eSIM under Settings > Cellular > Add eSIM.

Do I get a Qatari phone number with a travel eSIM?

No. The SimOptions Qatar plans are data only. For a Qatari number, get an eSIM from Ooredoo or Vodafone.

Which network does the SimOptions Qatar eSIM use?

The SimOptions Qatar plans run on Ooredoo, with 4G, LTE and 5G.

Can I install a Qatar eSIM before I fly?

Yes. Install the QR code on Wi-Fi at home. A SimOptions travel eSIM then activates automatically when you reach Qatar.