Kuwait: Best Tourist eSIMs Reviewed (2024)

Kuwait – known for its incredible cityscape, producing oil, and, perhaps the most fun one, camel racing.

The country also has fun beaches.

But what else can you do in Kuwait?

You can enjoy an incredible view from the Kuwait Towers.

If you are not into heights, perhaps a stroll through the Al Shaheed Park will be enjoyable.

Or you can visit plenty of museums and cultural centers, including the Kuwait National Museum or Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Center.

Honestly, there is no reason to be bored in Kuwait, I would say.

Do note that Kuwait is not the cheapest travel destination out there.

So any way to save some cash is always a good idea.

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 Kuwait).

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

You can get an eSIM for Kuwait for as little as 8 USD and up to 54 USD from STC Kuwait, Airalo (Liberation Mobile) & Holafly.

I will also introduce you to a few global eSIMs that be used in Kuwait and 80+ other countries, including Kuwait's neighbors, for competitive rates.

Original publication: 11^th of October 2022. Last updated: 7^th of March 2024.

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Table of Contents

In a Hurry? A Quick Introduction

I will write about six eSIM options in Kuwait (and explain why they are included).

But if you want to quickly check out what the best eSIMs are for Kuwait without my analysis and explanations, here is an overview of the eSIMs covered in this guide:

• Airalo Kuwait Liberation Mobile eSIM with six choices between 1 GB and 20 GB (top pick)
• Airalo Menalink eSIM with three choices between 1 GB and 3 GB
• Airalo Discover Global eSIM with five choices between 1 GB and 20 GB (top pick) – read my ongoing Airalo Discover Global eSIM review too!
• AIS eSIM2FLY Global eSIM through SimOptions with 5G NR access in Kuwait with one 6 GB option (eSIM with the most 5G NR supported countries (53/143) at a reasonable price but with a short validity)
• Holafly Kuwait eSIM with unlimited data for 5 to 20 days – use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for 5% off)

Note: the promo codes mentioned above can also be used for regional and global eSIMs (they are not restricted to country-specific eSIMs only). In other news, the eSIM providers are in alphabetical order per grouping (Kuwait-only, regional & global) – not in order of preference (you would have to read the complete guide to find out which eSIMs I love the most for Kuwait 😜).

Let's truly get started, shall we?

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Airalo Liberation Mobile eSIM for Kuwait

Airalo is probably a name you have heard of when researching travel eSIMs worldwide – perhaps even for Kuwait.

That is because it is the largest and oldest eSIM platform worldwide, covering around 190 countries (more than any other eSIM platform out there).

Its extensive worldwide coverage attracted me to Airalo early on – even when I did not have an eSIM-compatible phone and had to use my dad's phone for testing purposes.

He did not like me stealing his phone so often… so I eventually got my own 🗿.

Anyway, Airalo has an eSIM that can be used in Kuwait – it is called Liberation Mobile.

It is impossible for Airalo, or any other mobile operator, to operate in every country (and do not trust any company saying otherwise), so they set up roaming agreements.

Yes, I said roaming, but this is not the type of international roaming that will result in a 3000 USD roaming bill – do not worry!

What Airalo does, and basically all mobile operators do, is partner up with a local mobile operator so that their customers can still stay connected when abroad.

In the case of Kuwait, Airalo's Liberation Mobile eSIM uses the STC Kuwait network up to 4G/LTE (no 5G NR yet, unfortunately.

STC Kuwait has the best coverage in Kuwait, so you know you will have a smooth network experience with the Liberation Mobile eSIM.

Be aware: most travel eSIMs, including Airalo's Kuwait Liberation Mobile eSIM, are data-only eSIMs, so you cannot call or text with them (nor can you receive any calls or SMS).

Anyway, the following six Airalo Kuwait Liberation Mobile eSIMs are available:

1. Kuwait/Liberation Mobile 1 GB eSIM for 7 days, costing 4.50 USD – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
2. Kuwait/Liberation Mobile 2 GB eSIM for 15 days, costing 8 USD
3. Kuwait/Liberation Mobile 3 GB eSIM for 30 days, costing 10.50 USD – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
4. Kuwait/Liberation Mobile 5 GB eSIM for 30 days, costing 15 USD – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
5. Kuwait/Liberation Mobile 10 GB eSIM for 30 days, costing 25 USD
6. Kuwait/Liberation Mobile 20 GB eSIM for 30 days, costing 40 USD

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in December based on data up to the 30^th of December (2023 data only). The (promotional) prices were updated on the 31st of January.

I can already tell you that Airalo has the cheapest eSIM options for Kuwait in this guide.

Moreover, you will have the best performance with the Liberation Mobile eSIM compared to any other eSIM (in this guide).

What makes things even more pleasant is that you can top up your eSIM when it is expiring or when you are out of data without the need to purchase a new eSIM.

But you may think that a local SIM card or eSIM will (still) be cheaper than Airalo or any other travel eSIM.

And you are right – that is true in most cases.

However, you will have to deal with the Kuwait SIM card registration laws.

(Why does this matter? Because hackers can steal your (critical) personal data if the mobile operator does not secure your data properly, like what happened in Australia (10 million Optus customers affected, where info, like passport numbers, were stolen (including mine – luckily not my passport number but my boyfriend was not as lucky) or Indonesia (1.3 billion SIM card-related data was hacked)).

Most mobile operators will only sell you (overpriced) tourist SIM cards or the most expensive plans because of “mandatory top-up requirements” (which are often lies to take more of your money anyway).

So while you technically could get cheaper plans, the question is whether you can actually get them or not.

Anyway, you should be aware that while you can get up to 4G/LTE connection with the Airalo Kuwait Liberation Mobile eSIM, your speeds will most likely not be faster than someone using a local SIM card.

That is because you are roaming on the STC Kuwait network instead of being a native customers.

But that does not mean you will have (extremely) slow speeds – just slower than native customers.

Anyway, the Airalo Kuwait Liberation Mobile eSIM is fantastic and is the eSIM I, and many Phone Travel Wiz readers, recommend the most.

The eSIMs are affordable, the data allowances can be tailored to your needs (1 GB to 3 GB + top-ups are available) & you will have a smooth network experience (in most cases).

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Holafly eSIM for Kuwait

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

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.

But 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.

Fortunately, unlimited data eSIMs are available in Kuwait.

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.

You have the following five Holafly Kuwait eSIM options:

1. Kuwait unlimited data eSIM for 5 days, costing 19 USD – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
2. Kuwait unlimited data eSIM for 7 days, costing 27 USD
3. Kuwait unlimited data eSIM for 10 days, costing 34 USD – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
4. Kuwait unlimited data eSIM for 15 days, costing 47 USD
5. Kuwait unlimited data eSIM for 20 days, costing 54 USD – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in December based on data up to the 30^th of December (2023 data only).

As expected, you cannot use 5G NR (yet) with the Holafly Kuwait 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 Kuwait 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 Kuwait eSIM) when you use code PHONETRAVELWIZ – you are welcome 😜.

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Local Kuwaiti 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 three mobile operators in Kuwait: Zain Kuwait, Ooredoo Kuwait & STC Kuwait (formerly VIVA Kuwait).

Currently, only STC Kuwait offers eSIMs to prepaid customers.

You can get an STC Kuwait eSIM for the same price as a regular SIM card, which is 5 KWD (16.10 USD) at the moment.

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

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International eSIM for Kuwait & More Countries

Okay, I went over the Kuwait travel eSIM options offered by Airalo and Holafly+ by the local mobile operators (only STC Kuwait in this case).

As expected, these eSIMs can only be used in Kuwait and not in neighboring Iraq 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 has regional, global & international eSIMs covering at least 80 countries; some include Kuwait too.

So let's see which multi-country eSIMs can be used in Kuwait and other countries, including Kuwait'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 13 Asian countries & the super new Latamlink eSIM for 19 Latin American countries.

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

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in December based on data up to the 30^th of December (2023 data only). The (promotional) prices were updated on the 31st of January.

Airalo Discover(+) eSIM (formerly Discover Global)

Airalo was probably the first eSIM provider to introduce a global eSIM – it was called Discover Global.

I have had decent to good experiences with that eSIM, but I felt it could improve.

Such as extending the validity of most plans (maximum used to be 180 days) and having 5G NR access in popular destinations (like many regional Airalo eSIMs do nowadays, even country-specific ones).

In August 2023, Airalo made a radical change to its global eSIM.

Until then, the eSIM could be used in about 85 countries – always up to 4G/LTE (with some networks on 3G only).

This eSIM was powered by FL1 Telecom Liechtenstein (network name can be Mobilkom (Liechtenstein) at times).

This mobile operator worked well in Europe and some Asian countries, but it was often one of the slowest performing (Airalo eSIMs).

Now, Airalo's global eSIM is called Discover(+).

It is powered by eSIM Go (which is basically Drei Austria).

The difference between the Airalo Discover and Airalo Discover+ eSIMs is that the latter has calling and texting functionalities (with an Austrian +43 phone number).

Because of this, Discover+ eSIMs can be up to 20 USD more expensive than regular Discover eSIMs.

For the previous Airalo Discover Global eSIMs, you paid the same prices as the Discover+ eSIMs for worse availability (85+ countries instead of 125+) and no calling or texting at all.

So… it is an upgrade 😎.

Not only that, but you (finally) get 5G NR access in quite some countries (55+)¹ as well.

¹ click here, press select the variant you want & click on network to see which network(s) allow for 5G NR access. You often have access to multiple local networks, but not all have 5G NR access (and some do not even give you 4G/LTE access)

Moreover, the most expensive option is now valid for a whole year (365 days) instead of 180 days.

The Airalo Discover(+) eSIM can be used in the following 125+ countries:

• Åland Islands ³
• Albania
• Argentina
• Armenia (new)
• Australia ⁵
• Austria ³
• Azerbaijan
• Bahrain (new) ³
• Bangladesh (new)
• Belarus ¹
• Belgium ³
• Bolivia (new)
• Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Botswana (new) ²
• Brazil ⁵
• Brunei (new) ¹
• Bulgaria ⁵
• Cambodia
• Canada ⁵
• Central African Republic (new) ¹
• Chad (new)
• Chile
• China ³
• Colombia
• Congo, Democratic Republic of (new)
• Congo, Republic of (new)
• Costa Rica (new)
• Croatia ³
• Cyprus ⁵
• Czech Republic ³
• Denmark ⁵
• Dominican Republic ¹
• Ecuador
• Egypt (new)
• El Salvador (new) ¹
• Estonia ⁵
• Eswatini (new) ¹
• Finland ⁵
• France ³
• French West Indies (new) ³
• Gabon (new)
• Georgia
• Germany ³
• Ghana (new)
• Gibraltar ¹
• Greece ³
• Greenland (new) ¹
• Guatemala (new) ¹
• Guernsey (new)
• Guinea-Bissau (new) ¹
• Honduras (new) ¹
• Hong Kong ³
• Hungary ⁵
• Iceland ³
• India
• Indonesia ³
• Ireland ³
• Isle of Man (new)
• Iraq ¹
• Israel ⁵
• Italy ⁵
• Ivory Coast
• Japan ³
• Jersey
• Jordan (new)
• Kazakhstan (new)
• Kenya (new)
• Kosovo

• Kuwait ³
• Kyrgyzstan (new)
• Latvia ³
• Liberia ¹
• Liechtenstein ⁴
• Lithuania ⁵
• Luxembourg ³
• Macau
• Madagascar (new)
• Malawi (new)
• Malaysia
• Mali
• Malta ³
• Mexico ⁵
• Moldova
• Monaco (new)
• Montenegro ⁵
• Morocco (new)
• Netherlands ⁵
• New Zealand
• Nicaragua (new)
• Niger (new) ¹
• Nigeria (new) ²
• North Macedonia
• Norway ⁵
• Oman (new)
• Pakistan (new)
• Panama
• Paraguay ¹
• Peru
• Philippines ³
• Poland ³
• Portugal ³
• Puerto Rico
• Qatar ⁵
• Réunion (new)
• Romania ⁵
• Russia
• Saudi Arabia ⁵
• Senegal (new) ¹
• Serbia
• Seychelles (new)
• Singapore
• Slovakia ³
• Slovenia ⁵
• South Africa
• South Korea ³
• Spain ⁵
• Sri Lanka
• Sudan
• Sweden ⁵
• Switzerland ³
• Taiwan ³
• Tanzania (new)
• Tajikistan ¹
• Thailand ⁵
• Tunisia (new)
• Turkey ³
• Uganda (new)
• Ukraine (new)
• United Arab Emirates (new) ³
• United Kingdom ⁵
• United States ⁵
• Uruguay (new)
• Uzbekistan (new)
• U.S. Virgin Islands
• Vietnam
• Yemen (new) ¹
• Zambia (new) ¹

* “(new)” is compared to the previous Discover Global eSIM (discontinued) or recently added countries
¹ on 3G only
² check the networks section on the Airalo website or app because at least one of the available networks is on 3G only (while the others are up to 4G/LTE)
³ 5G NR access for all available networks
⁴ even if your phone does not support 5G NR, select FL1 Telecom/Telecom Liechtenstein for 4G/LTE access because Salt Liechtenstein is restricted to 3G only
⁵ check the networks section on the Airalo website or app because at least one of the available networks is up to 4G/LTE (while the others are up to 5G NR)

You have these 12 Airalo Discover Global eSIMs:

1. Discover 1 GB eSIM for 7 days, costing 9 USD
2. Discover+ 1 GB (with 10 minutes and 10 SMS) eSIM for 7 days, costing 15 USD
3. Discover 2 GB eSIM for 15 days, costing 17 USD
4. Discover+ 2 GB (with 20 minutes and 20 SMS) eSIM for 15 days, costing 27 USD
5. Discover 3 GB eSIM for 30 days, costing 24 USD
6. Discover+ 3 GB (with 30 minutes and 30 SMS) eSIM for 30 days, costing 36 USD – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
7. Discover 5 GB eSIM for 60 days, costing 35 USD – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
8. Discover+ 5 GB (with 50 minutes and 50 SMS) eSIM for 60 days, costing 50 USD
9. Discover 10 GB eSIM for 180 days, costing 59 USD
10. Discover+ 10 GB (with 100 minutes and 100 SMS) eSIM for 180 days, costing 79 USD
11. Discover 20 GB eSIM for 365 days, costing 69 USD – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
12. Discover+ 20 GB (with 200 minutes and 200 SMS) eSIM for 365 days, costing 89 USD

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in December based on data up to the 30^th of December (2023 data only). The (promotional) prices were updated on the 31st of January.

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AIS eSIM2FLY Global eSIM (5G NR access in Kuwait)

SimOptions also sells a global eSIM: AIS eSIM2FLY Global.

And it can be used in 140+ countries for 15 days – 53 of them with 5G NR access.

The AIS eSIM2FLY Global eSIM can be used in the following countries:

¹ with 5G NR access

If you get this eSIM from SimOptions, which I recommend, you will pay 39.90 USD.

The main issue I have with the AIS eSIM2FLY Global eSIM is its short validity.

Making it hard to call it an actual global eSIM… unless you can somehow visit 140+ countries within 15 days – something not even I can do🧐.

Still, it is a relatively affordable global eSIM covering 140+ countries… with 5G NR access!

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Overview of the Best eSIMs for Kuwait (Airalo vs. Holafly)

I introduced you to various travel eSIMs that can be used in Kuwait.

But I also informed you that you can get an STC Kuwait eSIM, which is available to prepaid customers too.

However, you will have to deal with the Kuwaiti SIM card registration requirements (and internet censorship).

These are things you do not have to deal with the travel eSIMs offered by Airalo and Holafly.

So, which eSIM do I recommend the most? Here is my recommendation order:

• Airalo Kuwait Liberation Mobile eSIM (top pick)
• Airalo Menalink eSIM
• Airalo Discover Global eSIM (top pick)
• AIS eSIM2FLY Global eSIM through SimOptions with 5G NR access in Kuwait (eSIM with the most 5G NR supported countries (53/143) at a reasonable price but with a short validity)
• Holafly Kuwait eSIM

Remember to use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for Holafly eSIMs – a code is unnecessary for Airalo eSIM purchases.

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Buying a SIM Card in Kuwait

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

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