Yemen: Best Tourist eSIMs Reviewed (2024)

Yemen is probably not the most popular travel destination in the Middle East, but it still has a much offer.

Especially now 🗿.

But it still has a lot to offer and is one of the cheaper destinations in the Middle East.

Be careful with with international roaming though – International roaming can be expensive, which is why using local and travel eSIMs is recommended to save money.

Not only will you save a lot of money by doing so, you do not have to deal with SIM card registration laws, which are often invasive (which includes Yemen).

How much will a local or travel eSIM for Yemen cost you?

You can get an eSIM for Yemen for 29 USD and up to 79 USD between 2.5 GB to 15 GB of data from Holafly.

Original publication: 13^th of October 2022. Last updated: 20^th of January 2024.

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Table of Contents

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Holafly eSIM for Yemen

Holafly is one of the many travel eSIM resellers, but it is one of the popular ones.

Like other mobile operators, it used to sell travel SIM cards before entering the eSIM market.

However, its travel SIM cards were criminally expensive, so I did not pay too much attention to Holafly.

In 2022, they started offering eSIMs – at first, at high prices (not surprised), but the prices have decreased in recent months (which I appreciate).

However, in June, they started offering unlimited data plans for its eSIMs, making Holafly unique.

And these unlimited data eSIMs can be used in various East– Southeast Asian countries, almost all European Union member states (except for Liechtenstein) & a few other countries, like Canada and the United States.

Unfortunately, unlimited data eSIMs are not available in Yemen… yet.

I say yet because Holafly's goal is to offer unlimited data plans for every country it covers: 100+ countries.

And I can tell you that I get positive emails multiple times a week from Phone Travel Wiz readers that have used the unlimited data plans in East- and Southeast Asia, Europe & North America; they love these eSIMs.

For now, you have only five Holafly Yemen eSIM (which uses the MTN Yemen network, by the way):

1. Yemen Unlimited Data eSIM for 5 days, costing 29 USD
2. Yemen Unlimited Data eSIM for 7 days, costing 37 USD
3. Yemen Unlimited Data eSIM for 10 days, costing 44 USD
4. Yemen Unlimited Data eSIM for 15 days, costing 47 USD
5. Yemen Unlimited Data eSIM for 20 days, costing 59 USD

As expected, you cannot use 5G NR (yet) with the Holafly Yemen eSIM, nor can you call and text (it is a data-only eSIM).

Moreover, you cannot top up or extend the validity with the Holafly Yemen eSIM – so you need to buy another eSIM when you are out of data or the eSIM expires; you have to purchase a new one.

But to soften the (potential) friction of buying multiple Holafly eSIMs, you can get 5% off each and any Holafly purchase (so it does not have to be the Yemen eSIM) when you use code PHONETRAVELWIZ – you are welcome 😜.

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Local Yemeni eSIM for Prepaid Customers

If you want the best and full network experience, including being able to call and text, you want to get a local eSIM.

You have four operators in Yemen: Yemen Mobile, Sabafon, YOU, and Y Telecom.

Currently, no Yemeni mobile operator offers eSIMs to prepaid customers.

For more information about the plans offered by the Yemini mobile operators, check out my Yemen SIM card buying guide.

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International eSIM for Yemen & More Countries

Okay, I went over the Yemen travel eSIM options offered by Airalo.

As expected, these eSIMs can only be used in Yemen and not in neighboring Oman or Saudi Arabia.

So what if you plan on visiting any of those countries, or you are on a world tour and wish to use one eSIM in multiple countries – do you have any other options?

Yes, you do. Airalo have regional, global & international eSIMs covering at least 80 countries; some include Yemen too.

So let's see which multi-country eSIMs can be used in Yemen and other countries, including Yemen's neighbors.

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Airalo Menalink eSIM

Airalo recently introduced an eSIM for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA): Menalink. The Menalink eSIM follows the popular Eurolink eSIM for 39 European countries, the fairly new Asialink eSIM for 14 Asian countries & the super new Latamlink eSIM for 19 Latin American countries.

The Menalink eSIM comes in three variants: 1 GB/7 days – most popular with PTW readers, 2 GB/15 days & 3 GB/30 days – very popular with PTW readers, to be used in Yemen and 14 other Middle Eastern and Northern African countries:

As you can see, the Menalink eSIM cannot be used in Yemen (yet).

However, as many who visit Yemen do not just stay in Yemen they often go to Oman or Saudi Arabia as well, you can consider it.

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Overview of the Best eSIMs for Yemen (Holafly)

In this guide, I went over Holafly Yemen as the only (reasonably priced) eSIM for Yemen.

I recognize that there are other eSIM providers that do offer services for Yemen.

But they are either crazy expensive or the quality of service is whack (based on my experience or the experiences of other Phone Travel Wiz readers).

But you are free to try them out and let me know if they were any good 😀.

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Buying a SIM Card in Yemen

Want to just use a SIM card but not your current one because roaming will be criminally expensive?

Consider getting a Yemeni SIM card instead – local SIM cards are the cheapest way to stay connected abroad.