Doha – known for its mosques, souqs & incredible city center.
The city is also a popular transit and stopover destination due to Qatar Airways' use of the hub-and-spoke model.
In return, Doha-Hamad International Airport is the third-busiest airport in the Middle East (behind Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Istanbul Airport (IST)).
Writing a list of all the cool things to do in Doha/Qatar would require another blog post (or a dedicated Doha/Qatar blog), so I will save you from that because you want to know what SIM card options are available at the airport.
Anyway, which SIM cards are available at the airport?
You can get an Ooredoo Qatar or Vodafone Qatar SIM card for between 35 QAR (9.60 USD) and 535 (147 USD) at Doha-Hamad International Airport (DOH).
Worry not; the 535 QAR SIM card is an outlier.
The most popular tourist SIM cards by both mobile operators cost 150 QAR (41.20 USD).
Still expensive – but cheaper options are available.
Anyway, let's review all your options and see if getting a SIM card at Doha Airport is even worth it.
Original publication: 12th of December 2023. Last updated: 14th of January 2024.
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Mobile Operators in Qatar
Qatar has two mobile operators offering prepaid services easily accessible to travelers:
- Ooredoo Qatar
- Vodafone Qatar
Fortunately, both mobile operators sell SIM cards at Doha Airport.
Ooredoo Qatar sells tourist SIM cards and regular plans at the airport.
Whereas Vodafone Qatar only sells its two tourist SIM cards.
So if you value choice, Ooredoo Qatar will be more appealing.
Alright, let's check out the offers.
Where to Buy a SIM Card at Doha-Hamad International Airport
Ooredoo Qatar and Vodafone Qatar SIM cards are sold in the arrivals hall of Doha-Hamad International Airport.
Doha Airport has only one terminal, so everyone will arrive at the same baggage claim and arrivals hall.
Speaking of luggage claim, you can even get Ooredoo SIM cards from the duty-free store (but I did not check it out because I was chilling at the Al Mana lounge).
In the arrivals hall, both mobile operators have two booths selling SIM cards.
There are two practically in front of you after clearing customs.
On the left, Vodafone Qatar has a booth.
And on the right, Ooredoo Qatar is chilling.
Take the booth in front of you for the quickest service with Vodafone.
For Ooredoo, the store on the right.
You do not have to compare the prices between the two booths – I did that for you already, and all sell the same plans.
As in, the two Ooredoo booths sell the same Ooredoo SIM cards – the same applies to Vodafone.
For now, let's review each mobile operator to see what they offer us at the airport.
What SIM Cards & Plans Does Ooredoo Qatar Sell at Doha-Hamad International Airport (+Prices)?
Ooredoo Qatar (قطر), just Ooredoo, is the largest mobile operator in Qatar.
It is also the mobile operator with the best network performance.
Ooredoo has two booths selling its SIM cards in the arrivals hall.
One is practically in front of you, depending on the exit door you choose (else slightly on your right).
Another one is on the right side of the airport.
Apparently, there is another one at the Qatar Duty-Free Store at baggage claim, but I did not go to this store.
Anyway, the stall on the right side of the airport is often less busy.
So I recommend that one for speedy service.
Unlike Vodafone Qatar, Ooredoo sells its tourist SIM cards and various regular plans at Doha Airport.
Let's start with the tourist SIM cards first – they are called the Ooredoo Visitor SIM cards.
You have two: Visitor SIM and Visitor SIM Pro.
For 35 QAR, the Visitor SIM is available with 2 GB of data, 25 local minutes & 15 international minutes for 7 days.
The Visitor Pro SIM card is available for 150 QAR, giving you 30 QAR credit, 20 GB of data1, 400 local minutes & 75 international minutes for 30 days.
1 +unlimited data @ 128 Kbps (extremely slow) after exhausting your high-speed data allowance
While they are not the cheapest tourist SIM cards out there, the allowances make up for the high prices.
Besides these tourist SIM cards, you can get combo or data-only plans.
Let's start with the Ooredoo combo plans, where you have six options:
| Price | Data | Local Minutes | International Minutes | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 QAR | 3 GB | 25 minutes | 15 minutes | 7 days |
| 70 QAR | 5 GB 1 | 145 minutes | 15 minutes | 30 days |
| 100 QAR | 10 GB 2 | 265 minutes | 15 minutes | 30 days |
| 135 QAR | 18 GB 2 | 385 minutes | 15 minutes | 30 days |
| 235 QAR | 34 GB 3 | 1025 minutes | 15 minutes | 30 days |
| 535 QAR | 302 GB 3 | 40 025 minutes | 15 minutes | 30 days |
1 +unlimited data @ 128 Kbps (extremely slow) after exhausting your high-speed data allowance
2 +unlimited data @ 265 Kbps (extremely slow) after exhausting your high-speed data allowance
3 +unlimited data @ 1 Mbps (extremely slow) after exhausting your high-speed data allowance
Next, we have the data-only plans (which still give you call credit, by the way) with these seven options at Doha Airport:
| Validity | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Data 1 | Local Minutes 2 | International Minutes 2 | |
| 55 QAR | 4 GB | 25 minutes | 15 minutes | 7 days |
| 65 QAR | 6 GB | 25 minutes | 15 minutes | 30 days |
| 95 QAR | 12 GB | 25 minutes | 15 minutes | 30 days |
| 115 QAR | 14 GB | 25 minutes | 15 minutes | 30 days |
| 135 QAR | 22 GB | 25 minutes | 15 minutes | 30 days |
| 185 QAR | 27 GB | 25 minutes | 15 minutes | 30 days |
| 235 QAR | 37 GB | 25 minutes | 15 minutes | 30 days |
1 you get unlimited data for the first two hours (except for the 55 QAR/4 GB plan)
2 minutes only for the first seven days, even when your data allowance is valid for 30 days (except for the 55 QAR/4 GB plan)
I bought the Visitor Pro SIM card.
Which, if we still remember, costs 150 QAR – I paid by card (but you can pay in QAR and USD if you want).
Before getting my SIM card, I had to hand over my passport, per Qatar's SIM card registration laws.
Unlike with some SIM cards, it worked as soon as I inserted it into my phone.
And that was it – that is how I got my Ooredoo SIM card at Doha Airport.
One thing the Ooredoo store at the airport cannot do for you is give you Ooredoo eSIMs (even though they are available to prepaid customers).
You can only get an eSIM online or in an actual Ooredoo store.
Fortunately, travel eSIMs for Qatar are available for reasonable prices.
Even unlimited data options are available.
Another perk with them is that you do not have to deal with Qatar's SIM card registration.
I write about the best travel eSIMs for Qatar in my Best Qatar eSIM buying guide.
I even tried many of them extensively for my Qatari eSIM review series.
What SIM Cards & Plans Does Vodafone Qatar Sell at Doha-Hamad International Airport (+Prices)?
Being written.