It’s fair to say that Kuwait isn’t exactly the most popular tourist destination.
Kuwait, a tiny country sandwiched between two much larger neighbors in the Persian Gulf, has little to attract foreign holidaymakers other than its annual camel racing competition, and the Kuwaiti government has little desire to change that.
I love visiting places like this, though: the vibe here is completely different from many other countries around the world that attract tens of millions of tourists every year.
Kuwait isn’t very large, so it’s easy to get to know the country in a few days: it’s nice not to have to spend weeks exploring somewhere!
Having a working phone is very useful, especially in Kuwait City. It’s a car-centric place and not very walkable even in the winter when the temperatures are mild. This meant a lot of taxis and the rest of the time using Google Maps to find non-obvious walking routes!
Staying connected with a local SIM card is convenient, and you get plenty of data no matter which plan you choose, but like many things in Kuwait, it’s not particularly cheap. Fortunately, there is another option: I discuss both options below.
Here’s what you need to know.
company
There are three telephone networks in Kuwait: Zain, Ooredoo and STC.
Zain is present in all parts of the Middle East, but Kuwait is its birthplace. It is the largest mobile operator in Kuwait, with the largest number of users and wide coverage.
Ooredoo’s coverage and prices are similar to STC, while STC lags far behind Ooredoo in terms of coverage and number of customers. Its cheapest plan is also more expensive than the other two, so as a tourist, there is no particular reason to choose it.
All three carriers offer 5G service nationwide, but note that it’s usually not included in the cheaper prepaid plans.
Of course, all of this assumes you need or want a physical SIM card. I’ve mostly switched to travel eSIMs lately, and Kuwait was no exception.
Since I didn’t need a ton of data and was only in the country for a few days, a travel eSIM was a cheaper (not to mention more convenient) option, so I ended up purchasing it.
After researching prices, I realized I could save money and time by using a travel eSIM to stay connected while in Kuwait.
Before traveling to Kuwait, I purchased an eSIM Ella Loa company I often use elsewhere. Although I was able to use it everywhere, the speed was extremely slow, so slow that it frustrates me.
After the first day, I decided to Eros to see if that makes a difference. It turns out that yes: both uploads and downloads become Dramatically hurry up.
Since the difference in cost between the two companies is generally small (there’s a price list below, updated weekly), it’s an easy recommendation to make. If you need an eSIM while you’re in Kuwait, go with aloSIM.
I mainly use it for text and voice chat with my partner, navigating around the city, and calling cars through Careem (the local Uber equivalent) to get me from one place to another. It works well whenever and wherever I need it, and provides good service everywhere.
As with most travel eSIMs, you don’t get a local number. These days, I use apps for everything from communications to transportation, so this isn’t a big deal for me, but you may have different needs. With an aloSIM, you can choose a free US or Canadian number if you want one.
If you’re new to eSIMs, they’re a huge convenience for travelers when you arrive in a new country, allowing you to connect to the network quickly, easily, and (usually) cheaply. Latest mobile phones Support them and you can read all about them here.
How to buy a prepaid SIM card in Kuwait
All three airlines have shops in the arrivals area of Kuwait International Airport: The Zain shop was particularly busy when I walked past it.
You don’t have to buy it at the airport, but since you pay the same fee at the airport as you would anywhere else in the country, there’s no reason not to do it unless the lines are long and you’re in a hurry.
If you decide to wait until you get to Kuwait City, you’ll find stores of all three companies in major shopping malls and other commercial areas in the city. Zain and Ooredoo have more stores than STC, but you won’t have a hard time finding any of them.
Make sure you have your passport with you as it is a legal requirement when registering your SIM card.
Whichever company you decide to go with, you’ll quickly notice two things: the prices for SIM cards and plans are pretty high, and you’ll get a lot of Even the smallest plans can generate a lot of data.
This is great if you can use it, but not ideal if you’re only in the country for a few days like I was.
Prepaid SIM and eSIM fees
Zain
All companies charge 5 KWD (about $16.50 USD) for a SIM starter pack, which includes the physical SIM card and 5 KWD credit that you can use to purchase any calls/texts/data packages.
Conveniently, Zain’s cheapest prepaid plan, ‘eeZee’, is just KD 5, giving you 30GB of data and 100 minutes of domestic calls, valid for a month. That’s not a typo: the smallest plan is indeed 30GB!
Add a few dinars and you’ll get double the data and 250 minutes: Prices and inclusions continue to rise from there.
If you just need data, you can even buy an (online only) plan with up to 2TB of data, valid for 90 days, for 15 KWD (about $49). Even in three months, you’d have to watch a lot of YouTube videos to use up that much data.
Zain also allows you to build your own plan with a custom mix of calls, texts, and data, but since the minimum spend is still 5 Kuwaiti dinars, it may not be much of a benefit unless you plan on making a lot of calls.
Eros
As I mentioned, I have used Eros and Ella Lo I used a travel eSIM during my stay in Kuwait and had a much better experience with the aloSIM. Considering the similar price, this would definitely be my first choice.
In both cases, I bought a 1GB/7-day data package for $4.50. There are several other options, up to 20GB of data for up to a month, so just choose the duration and data allowance you think you’ll need.
If you need 5GB or less of data during your stay, you can usually save money with an eSIM. This should cover the needs of most short-term visitors to Kuwait; I used far less than that. Beyond that, a local physical SIM card is a better value.
Prices can change over time, though, so it’s worth checking the table below for the latest details before making a decision. They are updated weekly, most recently on August 12, 2024.
top up
Zain
Zain prepaid plans are valid for at least a month, and considering the amount of data included, I’d be very surprised if you could use up all the data before the plan expires.
However, if you are visiting Kuwait for a long term and need to renew your prepaid plan, it is easy to do. You can go to a Zain store or Fast Payment section to add credit, then just send a text message The bag you want arrive 999.
Eros
Recharging your aloSIM (or any other travel eSIM company) is possible by logging into the website or app. Simply select your Kuwait eSIM, click the Recharge button, and purchase the same plan again.
The price and duration of the top-up packages are exactly the same as for the original eSIM: Apart from the fact that no activation is required, there is virtually no difference between topping up an existing eSIM and buying a new one.
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During this trip, I explored all of Kuwait City, both downtown and in the suburbs, and with Airalo and aloSIM, I was able to enjoy reliable LTE service everywhere.
As I mentioned before, though, whether I was at an airport, the waterfront, a shopping mall, or beside a busy highway while gazing at a beautiful set of water towers, the Airalo was significantly slower than the aloSIM. That wasn’t the case.
Both aloSIM and Airalo use the Zain network, so either way you can use your phone nationwide, although upload and download speeds vary greatly!
Check out our guide to SIM cards and eSIM Over 65 years old Other countries here.
