Kuwait: 3 Best Prepaid SIM Cards Buying Guide (2022)

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.

One way to save money is by getting a Kuwait SIM card instead of roaming internationally. Roaming can be expensive.

However, local SIM cards allow you to enjoy local rates, which are almost always lower than international roaming rates.

So, how expensive are SIM cards in Kuwait?

Kuwaiti SIM cards are available from 5 KWD (Ooredoo & Zain – 16.60 USD), 6 KWD (20 USD) all the way up to 85 KWD (Ooredoo 1 year SIM with data and minutes – 282 USD) in their stores. Starter SIM cards often include credit, data & minutes. SIM cards are also sold at Kuwait International Airport.

Okay, those are not the cheapest SIM card prices out there (in fact, they are above average).

At least these starter SIM cards include benefits.

But, what if I told you that the average cost of 1 GB of data is less than 1 USD in Kuwait?

Shocking, right!? Especially because you have to hand over some serious cash for starter kits.

But that is because the Kuwaiti mobile operators are GENEROUS with their data allowances.

More than one mobile operator offers a plan with 1 TB – that is 1024 GB!

In this guide, I will go over everything you need to know about buying a SIM card in Kuwait. Let’s do this.

Original publication: 25th of December 2019. Last updated: 20th of September 2022.

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Table of Contents

Can You Buy a SIM Card in Kuwait?

Anyone 18 years old or older living in or visiting Kuwait can buy a Kuwaiti SIM card from the mobile network operators (Zain, Ooredoo & STC) with no restrictions.

You do have to comply with the SIM card registration regulations.

Moreover, you need a phone that supports the frequencies used in the country (preferably all of them to have the most optimal experience while in Kuwait).

Furthermore, you need to have a SIM-lock-free device.

Where Can You Buy a SIM Card in Kuwait?

You can get a Kuwaiti SIM card in Zain, Ooredoo & STC stores. It is also possible to get SIM cards at Kuwait International Airport.

You can expect to pay the following for Kuwaiti SIM cards:

• Zain Kuwait: 6 KWD
• Ooredoo Kuwait: 5 KWD (regular), 7 KWD (regular & data-only), 55 KWD (data-only) & 85 KWD (regular)
• STC Kuwait (formerly VIVA Kuwait): 5 KWD (regular) & 7 KWD (data-only)

For up-to-date KWD:your currency (let's say INR) exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.

Can You Use Your Phone in Kuwait?

Kuwait uses GSM technology for mobile communications. CDMA phones will not work in Kuwait. If your phone has a SIM card slot, then it supports GSMA (99% of the phones do support GSM nowadays).

Traditional European frequencies are used in Kuwait, which are mostly used in ITU Regions 1 and 3 (Africa, Asia (including the Middle East), Europe & Oceania).

The Americas (North-, Central– & South America + the Caribbean – ITU Region 2) use American Frequencies, which differ from the European ones.

If you bought your phone in Africa, Asia, Europe, or Oceania (ITU regions 1 and 3), you should not experience any issues with using your phone in Kuwait.

If you purchased your phone in the Americas (ITU Region 2) and have a low/medium-end device (without Tri-Band or Quad-Band) support, then there is a possibility you cannot use your phone when in Kuwait or can only use slower networks (3G or 2G).

If you have a medium/high-end device with Tri-Band or Quad-Band support, you can use your phone in Kuwait (to some extent) – also on 4G/LTE.

Mobile Operators, Networks & Frequencies in Kuwait

Kuwait has three mobile network operators:

• Zain Kuwait
• Ooredoo Kuwait
• STC Kuwait (Formerly VIVA Kuwait)

The following frequencies are used in Kuwait:

• 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
• 3G: 2100 MHz
• 4G/LTE: 800 MHz (Band 20) & 1800 MHz (Band 3)
• 5G NR: 2100 MHz (n1) & 3500 MHz (n78) – not for prepaid

You can learn more about frequencies in the video below.

To check whether your phone will work in Kuwait, check out this page by Will My Phone Work (may be outdated or inaccurate at times).

Again, make sure your phone is unlocked. Otherwise, you will not be able to use any SIM card except the one from your home operator (meaning you have to roam internationally or buy another unlocked phone that does support the frequencies listed above).

If you want to learn how international roaming works, this guide explains it in-depth. If you wonder why it is often so expensive to roam, this article explains the hidden reason they do not want you to know.

5G NR in Kuwait

Commercial 5G NR has been available in Kuwait since June 2019. It is available on the Zain Kuwait, Ooredoo Kuwait & STC Kuwait (VIVA Kuwait) networks. However, 5G NR is not available to prepaid customers (yet).

Best SIM Card in Kuwait

Best eSIM in Kuwait

Unfortunately, none of the mobile operators offer eSIM (to prepaid customers) in Kuwait yet.

However, you can get travel eSIMs from Airalo and Holafly.

Airalo has the Liberation Mobile eSIMs:

You have two options:

1. Kuwait/Liberation Mobile 1 GB eSIM for 7 days
2. Kuwait/Liberation Mobile 3 GB eSIM for 30 days

For Airalo eSIMs, the links above and below will automatically get you the Phone Travel Wiz exclusive offers available – a code is not necessary.

Finally, you can get Kuwait eSIMs from Holafly:

• Kuwait 6 GB eSIM for 15 days

Use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for exclusive deals when getting Holafly eSIMs, AND get an additional 5% off!

With these eSIMs, you can skip Kuwait's SIM card registration scheme entirely and use it immediately upon arriving in Kuwait!

TIP: Check out my eSIM lookup tool for an overview of local mobile operators offering eSIMs to prepaid customers and travel eSIMs I use and love (for eSIMs in Kuwait and eSIMs worldwide).

Best International/Travel SIM Card for Kuwait

If you want to buy the best international/travel SIM card for Kuwait, I recommend going with SimCorner's Kuwait Travel SIM card with 6 GB of data for 15 days. Consider SimCorner's Asia SIM card, also with 6 GB of data, for 8 days to be used in Kuwait and 20+ countries, including neighboring Bahrain, Jordan & Qatar.

The SimCorner Asia SIM card can be used in Kuwait and the following other countries:

You can also get the SimCorner International Travel SIM card with 6 GB of data valid for 15 days to be used in Kuwait and 100+ countries, including most of the ones mentioned above (Asia) and in the Americas, Europe & Oceania:

Instead of spending between 5 USD to 15 USD for SIM cards in each country, get a SimCorner travel SIM card covering numerous countries for just one price!

Use discount code PHONETRAVELWIZ for extra savings!

SIM Card Registration in Kuwait

SIM card registration with your passport information is mandatory in Kuwait. It will be done at the point of purchase.

Internet Censorship in Kuwait

There is internet censorship in Kuwait. The government censors various things, such as LGBTQ content, pornography, political criticism & escort services.

However, unlike other countries in the region, internet censorship is not as strong in Kuwait.

That is why I would recommend using a VPN to browse the web in peace. I use both NordVPN and Surfshark.

NordVPN has the most servers of any VPN service out there, which I love.

Surfshark is insanely cheap for the price they charge.

Depending on where I am, I will either use NordVPN or Surfshark.

Neither VPNs have servers in Kuwait (obviously), which makes sense, but connecting to nearby countries will still result in fast browsing speeds.

You can get amazing discounts for both NordVPN and Surfshark when using these links. Stay safe, secure, and private in Kuwait!

(oh, by the way – VPNs are not illegal in Kuwait, but the authorities may not like it. But what are they going to do? You will be private anyway 😉 just do not do anything silly like insulting government officials… and especially not the royal family).

Kuwait Mobile Speeds, Mobile Internet Prices & Insights

Currency in Kuwait

Kuwait uses the Kuwaiti Dinar with the symbol KWD (which will be used throughout this article).

Prices in Kuwait are listed in KD or د.ك. For example, 25 KWD is KD/د.ك 25.

For reference, below are some exchange rates between KWD and USD (US Dollars – Rounded):

• 1 KWD = 3.30 USD
• 10 KWD = 33.20 USD
• 100 KWD = 331.60 USD

For up-to-date KWD:your currency (let's say INR – Indian Rupee) exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.

If your credit/debit card charges you foreign exchange fees, get yourself a Wise Borderless Account and Debit Card.

Their fees are MUCH lower than banks, and credit card companies charge you (and Wise is transparent about their fees, unlike banks).

I have saved literal THOUSANDS of Euros, my main currency, when using Wise abroad when traveling compared to my debit and credit cards. Open a Wise account FREE!

Kuwaiti Prepaid SIM Cards

Below, I will guide you through Zain Kuwait, Ooredoo Kuwait & STC Kuwait (formerly VIVA Kuwait), and go through:

• Background information
• Mobile coverage
• SIM card types, prices, and availability
• Recharge/top-up information
• Combo plans, data plans, and special packs (such as social media packs)

With that being said, let’s see what Kuwait to offer to us.

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Zain Kuwait

Zain Kuwait, just Zain, is the largest mobile operator in Kuwait.

It is also the second-fastest mobile operator in the country, just behind Ooredoo Kuwait.

Zain, as a company, is active in Africa (Sudan & South Sudan) & the Middle East.

Zain uses the following frequencies:

• 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
• 3G: 2100 MHz
• 4G/LTE: 1800 MHz (Band 3)
• 5G NR: 2100 MHz (n1) & 3500 MHz (n78) – not for prepaid

This is what you will learn about Zain:

* Coverage
* How to Get a Zain SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings

Coverage – Zain Kuwait

Zain has the best coverage in Kuwait.

4G/LTE reception can be found basically anywhere in the country.

However, 5G NR is not available to prepaid customers (yet).

Below is Zain's coverage map:

SIM Card Price – Zain Kuwait

You can buy a Zain SIM card, called eeZee Prepaid, starting for 6 KWD in Zain stores. The data-only SIM card, called Prepaid Data Internet, costs 7 KWD. SIM cards are also sold at Kuwait International Airport.

The following two starter packs are available:

Price	Data	On-Net Minutes	Local Minutes	International Minutes	Validity
6 KWD	100 GB	Unlimited	100 minutes	100 minutes	30 days
6 KWD	200 GB	Unlimited	60 minutes	60 minutes	30 days

Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Zain Kuwait

Zain top-up vouchers are sold in Zain stores and Smart Branches or many other establishments, such as kiosks, gas stations & grocery stores.

The following top-up options are available:

Top-Up	Validity
1.50 KWD	7 days
3 KWD	15 days
5 KWD	30 days
10 KWD	90 days
20 KWD	180 days
25 KWD	365 days

To top up your Zain SIM card, dial *141*VoucherCode# and follow the instructions.

For example, if your voucher code is 123456, you would dial *141*123456#.

You can also tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.

You can also recharge online with (international) debit and credit cards.

Dial *142# to check your Zain balance.

You can also top up and check your balance on the Zain KW app (Android/iOS).

Extra Validity – Zain Kuwait

It is possible to extend the validity of your SIM card and credit without having to top-up extra with the Extra Validity feature.

The following Extra Validity options are available, which can be activated by texting the Activation Code to 999:

Price	Validity	Activation Code
1 KWD	15 days	v1
3 KWD	60 days	v2
5 KWD	120 days	v3
13 KWD	365 days	v4

Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Zain Kuwait

Zain has four data-featured plans:

• Special Bundles (combo)
• Internet Bundles (combo – yes, really)
• eeZee Flexi (customizable combo)
• Extra GB's (data add-ons)

Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in.

Special Bundles – Zain Kuwait

The Special Bundles are combo plans with data and minutes.

Special Bundles can be activated by texting the Activation Code to 999:

Price	Data	On-Net Minutes	Local Minutes	International Minutes	Validity	Activation Code
9 KWD	25 GB	“Unlimited”, 43 200 minutes	N/A	N/A	30 days	R7
9.50 KWD	5 GB	“Unlimited”, 43 200 minutes	N/A	25 minutes	30 days	R6
11.50 KWD	25 GB	“Unlimited”, 43 200 minutes	N/A	25 minutes	30 days	R9
14 KWD	50 GB	“Unlimited”, 43 200 minutes	500 minutes	N/A	30 days	R8
19 KWD	200 GB 1	“Unlimited”, 43 200 minutes	“Unlimited”, 9000 minutes minutes	25 minutes	30 days	R10

¹ +”Unlimited” (100 GB) streaming data for streaming apps (including but not limited to Dailymotion, Netflix & YouTube)

Internet Bundles – Zain Kuwait

The Internet Bundles are, unlike the name suggests, combo plans with data and minutes.

The following Internet Bundles, which can be activated by texting the Activation Code to 999:

Price	Data	On-Net Minutes	Local Minutes	Local SMS	Validity	Activation Code
5 KWD	5 GB	N/A	N/A	Unlimited	30 days	R1
8 KWD	25 GB	N/A	N/A	Unlimited	30 days	R2
12 KWD	50 GB	N/A	N/A	Unlimited	30 days	R3
16 KWD	100 GB	“Unlimited”, 43 200 minutes	N/A	Unlimited	30 days	R4
18 KWD	200 GB	“Unlimited”, 43 200 minutes	“Unlimited”, 9000 minutes minutes	Unlimited	30 days	R5

You can also add additional benefits to your Internet Bundles.

Do note that the price and availability of additional bundles differ per Internet Bundle.

eeZee Flexi – Zain Kuwait

eeZee Flexi is a customizable bundle that allows you to set how much data and how many (international) minutes you want.

Additionally, additional benefits can be added in the form of unlimited social media, WhatsApp & YouTube data.

Each eeZee Flexi plan needs to cost at least 5 KWD. However, no other minimum requirements are imposed.

You can select:

• Data
• On-Net Minutes
• Local Minutes
• International Minutes
• Additional Benefits

Be aware that an eeZee Flexi plan can only be set up on the Zain KW app (recommended) or online.

eeZee Flexi Data – Zain Kuwait

The data options for eeZee Flexi start from 5 GB (3 KWD) to 200 GB (15 KWD).

Below are your options:

Price	Data
3 KWD	5 GB
5 KWD	10 GB
8 KWD	25 GB
12 KWD	50 GB
15 KWD	200 GB

eeZee Flexi (On-Net Minutes) – Zain Kuwait

The on-net minutes options for eeZee Flexi start from 100 minutes (1.5 KWD) to unlimited – 43 200 minutes (4 KWD).

Below are your options:

Price	On-Net Minutes
1.50 KWD	100 minutes
2 KWD	200 minutes
3 KWD	500 minutes
4 KWD	“Unlimited”, 43 200 minutes

eeZee Flexi (Local Minutes) – Zain Kuwait

The local minutes options for eeZee Flexi start from 50 minutes (1.5 KWD) to unlimited – 9000 minutes (6 KWD).

Below are your options:

Price	Local Minutes
1.50 KWD	50 minutes
2 KWD	100 minutes
3 KWD	200 minutes
4 KWD	500 minutes
6 KWD	“Unlimited”, 9000 minutes minutes

eeZee Flexi (International Minutes) – Zain Kuwait

The international minutes options for eeZee Flexi start from 10 minutes (1.5 KWD) to unlimited – 120 minutes (8 KWD).

Below are your options:

Price	International Minutes
1.50 KWD	10 minutes
3 KWD	30 minutes
5 KWD	60 minutes
8 KWD	120 minutes

eeZee Flexi (Additional Benefits) – Zain Kuwait

The additional benefits for eeZee Flexi include unlimited data for Social Media (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat & Twitter – 1 TB for 2 KWD), WhatsApp (1 TB for 2 KWD) & YouTube (2 KWD for 1 TB).

Extra GB's – Zain Kuwait

The Extra GB's are data add-ons. They cannot be purchased as standalone plans.

The following Extra GB's are available, which can be activated by texting the Activation Code to 999:

Price	Data	Validity	Activation Code
2 KWD	1 GB	30 days	o9
5 KWD	30 GB	30 days	o10

APN/Internet Settings – Zain Kuwait

• Name: Zain Kuwait
• APN: hsapps

Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.

Jump back to the Table of Contents.

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Ooredoo Kuwait

Ooredoo Kuwait, just Ooredoo, is the second-largest mobile operator in Kuwait.

It is the fastest mobile operator in the country.

Ooredoo, as a company, is active in Northern Africa, Southeast Asia & the Middle East.

Ooredoo uses the following frequencies:

• 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
• 3G: 900 MHz & 2100 MHz
• 4G/LTE: 800 MHz (Band 20) & 1800 MHz (Band 3)
• 5G NR: 2100 MHz (n1) & 3500 MHz (n78) – not for prepaid (yet)

This is what you will learn about STC:

* Coverage
* How to Get an Ooredoo SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings

Coverage – Ooredoo Kuwait

Ooredoo has extensive coverage throughout Ooredoo.

4G/LTE reception can be found basically anywhere in the country.

However, 5G NR is not available to prepaid customers (yet).

Below is Ooredoo’s coverage map:

SIM Card Price – Ooredoo Kuwait

You can buy an Ooredoo SIM card, called Xpress or Xpress Internet, starting from 5 KWD to 85 KWD in Ooredoo stores and kiosks. SIM cards are also sold at Kuwait International Airport.

The following SIM cards are available:

Price	Credit	Data	Local Minutes	SIM Card Type	Validity
5 KWD	5 KWD	N/A	N/A	Regular	30 days
7 KWD	7 KWD	N/A	N/A	Regular	20 days
7 KWD	N/A	24 GB	N/A	Data-Only	30 days
55 KWD	N/A	100 GB/month (1200 GB)	N/A	Data-Only	12 months
85 KWD	N/A	25 GB/month (300 GB)	150 minutes/month (1800 minutes)	Regular	12 months

It is also possible to get an Ooredoo eSIM for the same price as a regular SIM card.

To use an Ooredoo eSIM, you need to have one of the following devices:

• Apple Watch Series 3/4/5
• iPhone XR/XS/XS Max
• iPhone 11/11 Pro/11 Pro Max
• Samsung Galaxy S10/S20+/S20 Ultra
• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip

You can also join Ooredoo ANA, a premium brand (as per Ooredoo itself), to get access to exclusive plans, including one that allow you to create your own plan (select data, unlimited data for select apps & (international) minutes).

While you can order an Ooredoo ANA SIM card online, the fastest way to switch to ANA is by getting a regular SIM card and moving it over to ANA on the My Ooredoo Kuwait app.

Transferring from Ooredoo to ANA is free.

Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Ooredoo Kuwait

Ooredoo top-up vouchers are sold in Ooredoo stores and kiosks or many other establishments, such as kiosks, gas stations & grocery stores.

The following (online) top-up options are available:

Recharge	Validity
1.50 KWD	7 days
2 KWD	10 days
3 KWD	15 days
4 KWD *	15 days
5 KWD	30 days
6 KWD *	30 days
7 KWD *	30 days
8 KWD *	30 days
9 KWD *	30 days
10 KWD	90 days
12 KWD *	90 days
16 KWD *	90 days
20 KWD	180 days
25 KWD	365 days

* online only

To top up your Ooredoo SIM card, dial *111*VoucherCode# and follow the instructions.

For example, if your voucher code is 123456, you would dial *111*123456#.

You can also tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.

You can also recharge online with (international) debit and credit cards.

Dial *555# to check your Ooredoo balance.

You can also top up and check your balance on the My Ooredoo Kuwait app (Android/iOS).

Extra Validity – Ooredoo Kuwait

It is possible to extend the validity of your SIM card and credit without having to top-up extra with the Extra Validity feature.

The following Extra Validity options are available, which can be activated by texting the Activation Code to 500:

Price	Validity	Activation Code
1 KWD	10 days	v1
3 KWD	30 days	v2
5 KWD	60 days	v3
12 KWD	180 days	v4

Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Ooredoo Kuwait

Ooredoo has four data-featured plans:

• Xpress Bundles (combo)
• ANA Plans (combo for ANA SIM card)
• Customizable ANA Plans (customizable combo for ANA SIM card)
• Xpress Ass-Ons (data add-ons)

Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in.

Xpress Bundles – Ooredoo Kuwait

The Xpress Bundles are combo plans with data and minutes.

Xpress Bundles can be activated by texting the Activation Code to 500:

Price	Data	On-Net Minutes	Local Minutes	Validity	Activation Code
6 KWD	6 GB	N/A	100 minutes	30 days	B2
9 KWD	30 GB	N/A	150 minutes	30 days	B3
12 KWD	50 GB	Unlimited	300 minutes	30 days	B4
16 KWD	100 GB	Unlimited	3000 minutes	30 days	B5
18 KWD	200 GB	Unlimited	Unlimited	30 days	B8

ANA Plans – Ooredoo Kuwait

The ANA Plans are combo plans with data and minutes exclusively for Ooredoo ANA.

ANA Plans can be activated on the My Ooredoo Kuwait app:

Price	Plan	Data	On-Net Minutes	Local Minutes	International Minutes	Validity
5 KWD	ANA Basic Plan Offer	30 GB	Unlimited	50 minutes	10 minutes	30 days
6 KWD	ANA Talkers	15 GB	Unlimited	500 minutes	N/A	30 days
6 KWD	ANA Surfers	50 GB	Unlimited	50 minutes	N/A	30 days
6 KWD	ANA All-In-One	100 GB	Unlimited 1	100 minutes	100 minutes	30 days
6 KWD	ANA Cyber Offer	200 GB	Unlimited 1	60 minutes	60 minutes	30 days

¹ also to Ooredoo Kuwait numbers

Customizable ANA Plans – Ooredoo Kuwait

The Customizable ANA plans are, as the name implies, customizable plans that allows you to set how much data and how many (international) minutes you want.

Additionally, Extras can be added in the form of unlimited social media, WhatsApp & YouTube data.

Each Customizable ANA Plan needs to cost at least 6 KWD. However, no other minimum requirements are imposed.

You can select:

• Data
• Local Minutes
• International Minutes
• Extras

Be aware that an eeZee Flexi plan can only be set up on the My Ooredoo Kuwait app (recommended) or online.

Customizable ANA (Data) – Ooredoo Kuwait

The data options for Customizable ANA start from 5 GB (1 KWD) to 1 TB (20 KWD).

Below are your options:

Price	Data
1 KWD	5 GB
2 KWD	15 GB
3 KWD	30 GB
5 KWD	50 GB
9 KWD	100 GB
14 KWD	250 GB
20 KWD	1 TB

Customizable ANA (Local Minutes) – Ooredoo Kuwait

The on-net minutes options for Customizable ANA start from 50 minutes (1 KWD) to unlimited minutes (10 KWD).

Below are your options:

Price	Local Minutes
1 KWD	50 minutes
2 KWD	100 minutes
3 KWD	300 minutes
4 KWD	500 minutes
5 KWD	1000 minutes
10 KWD	Unlimited

Customizable ANA (International Minutes) – Ooredoo Kuwait

The international minutes options for Customizable ANA start from 10 minutes (1 KWD) to 100 minutes (10 KWD).

Below are your options:

Price	International Minutes
1 KWD	10 minutes
2.50 KWD	20 minutes
4 KWD	30 minutes
6 KWD	50 minutes
10 KWD	100 minutes

Customizable ANA (Extras) – Ooredoo Kuwait

The Extras for Customizable ANA include unlimited data for Social Media (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat & Twitter for 1.5 KWD), WhatsApp (1 KWD) & YouTube (2 KWD).

Xpress Add-Ons – Ooredoo Kuwait

The Xpress Add-Ons are data add-ons. They cannot be purchased as standalone plans.

The following Xpress Add-Ons are available:

Price	Data	Validity	Activation Code
0.25 KWD 1	1 GB	24 hours	250
3 KWD 2	15 GB	30 days	App only

¹ auto-renews
² also for Xpress Internet SIM card

APN/Internet Settings – Ooredoo Kuwait

Most phones will automatically retrieve the correct APN settings when inserting a SIM card – the same counts for Ooredoo Kuwait SIM cards.

If that does not automatically happen, you can text HELP ANDROID or HELP IPHONE to 121 to download the APN settings.

If that does not work, you will have to add the settings manually by filling in these fields:

• Name: Ooredoo Kuwait
• APN: action.ooredoo.com

Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.

Jump back to the Table of Contents.

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STC Kuwait (formerly VIVA Kuwait)

STC Kuwait, just STC and formerly known as VIVA Kuwait, is the smallest mobile operator in Kuwait.

It is also the newest entrant to the Kuwaiti telecom market.

Its small market share may change in the future because the mobile operator is going all-in 5G NR, having the best 5G NR availability in the country and worldwide (together with T-Mobile USA).

Unfortunately, 5G NR is not available to prepaid customers (yet).

STC stands for Saudi Telecom Company and is, of course, from Saudi Arabia.

The mobile operator was known as VIVA Kuwait until late December 2019.

However, that brand name is still ingrained in many, even after two years after rebranding.

STC uses the following frequencies:

• 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
• 3G: 2100 MHz
• 4G/LTE: 1800 MHz (Band 3)
• 5G NR: 2100 MHz (n1) & 3500 MHz (n78) – not for prepaid

This is what you will learn about STC:

* Coverage
* How to Get an STC SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings

Coverage – STC Kuwait (formerly VIVA Kuwait)

STC has extensive coverage throughout Kuwait.

4G/LTE reception can be found basically anywhere in the country.

However, 5G NR is not available to prepaid customers (yet).

But it currently has the best 5G NR availability in the world, together with T-Mobile USA, even winning the OpenSignal 5G Global Winner Award.

Below is STC’s coverage map:

SIM Card Price – STC Kuwait (formerly VIVA Kuwait)

You can buy an STC SIM card, called Allo, for 5 KWD with 5 KWD credit for 30 days in STC stores (1/2/3/4/5/6). The data-only SIM card, called Prepaid Internet SIM, costs 7 KWD with 30 GB for 30 days. SIM cards are also sold at Kuwait International Airport.

Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – STC Kuwait (formerly VIVA Kuwait)

STC top-up vouchers are sold in STC stores (1/2/3/4/5/6) and many other establishments, such as kiosks, gas stations & grocery stores.

The following top-up options are available:

Top-Up	Validity
2 KWD	10 days
3 KWD	15 days
5 KWD	30 days
10 KWD	90 days
20 KWD	180 days
25 KWD	365 days

To top up your STC SIM card, dial *500*VoucherCode# and follow the instructions.

For example, if your voucher code is 123456, you would dial *500*123456#.

You can also tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.

You can also recharge online with (international) debit and credit cards.

Dial *555# to check your STC balance.

You can also top up and check your balance on the mystc KW app (Android/iOS).

Get Validity (Extra Validity) – Zain Kuwait

It is possible to extend the validity of your SIM card and credit without having to top-up extra with the Get Validity feature.

The following Get Validity options are available, which can be activated by texting the Activation Code to 510:

Price	Validity	Activation Code
1 KWD	15 days	61
4 KWD	3 months	62
7 KWD	6 months	63
13 KWD	12 months	64

Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – STC Kuwait (formerly VIVA Kuwait)

STC has three data-featured plans:

• Allo Local Plans (combo)
• Internet Boosters (add-on)
• Extra GB Booster (data add-on for data-only SIM card)

Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in.

Allo Local Plans – STC Kuwait (formerly VIVA Kuwait)

The Allo Local Plans are combo plans with data and minutes.

Allo Local Plans can be activated by texting the Activation Code to 510:

Price	Data	On-Net Minutes	Local Minutes	Validity	Activation Code
5 KWD	5 GB	100 minutes	N/A	30 days	12
8 KWD	25 GB	150 minutes	N/A	30 days	13
12 KWD	50 GB	“Unlimited”, 15 000 minutes	300 minutes	30 days	14
18 KWD	200 GB	“Unlimited”, 15 000 minutes	“Unlimited”, 3000 minutes	30 days	15

Internet Booster – STC Kuwait (formerly VIVA Kuwait)

The Internet Booster is a 15 GB data add-on for Allo SIM cards. It costs 3 KWD and can be activated by texting 33 to 510. It cannot be purchased as a standalone plan.

Price	Data	Validity	Activation Code
3 KWD	15 GB	30 days	33

Extra GB Booster – STC Kuwait (formerly VIVA Kuwait)

The Extra GB Booster is a 15 GB data add-on for the data-only cards. It is also the only plan available for this SIM card.

The Extra GB Booster costs 3 KWD and can be activated by texting 93 to 510. It cannot be purchased as a standalone plan.

Price	Data	Validity	Activation Code
3 KWD	15 GB	30 days	93

APN/Internet Settings – STC Kuwait (formerly VIVA Kuwait)

• Name: STC Kuwait
• APN: VIVA

Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.

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The Preferred Way to Stay Connected When Traveling in Kuwait

Getting a SIM card from Zain or Ooredoo would do you well when considering a Kuwaiti SIM card.