SIM cards and internet for tourists in the Maldives

Ooredoo vs Dhiraagu, where to buy a tourist SIM on arrival, and whether an eSIM is worth it instead.

The Maldives has two main telecom providers — Dhiraagu and Ooredoo — and both sell tourist SIM cards at the airport and at outlets in Malé and Hulhumalé. If you'd rather not deal with a physical SIM at all, an eSIM is also a realistic option these days.

Buying a physical SIM on arrival

Both Dhiraagu and Ooredoo have counters in the arrivals area at Velana International Airport, so this is the easiest time to sort it out — you'll need your passport to register. Tourist SIM packages typically bundle a chunk of data with some local call credit, valid for a set number of days. Coverage from both providers is generally solid across Malé and Hulhumalé; if you're island-hopping to more remote atolls later, it's worth asking which provider has better coverage for your specific destination, since it can vary.

Using an eSIM instead

If your phone supports eSIM, services like Airalo and similar global eSIM marketplaces sell Maldives data plans you can install before you even land — useful if you want data working the moment you touch down, without queueing at a counter. The trade-off is usually data-only (no local phone number for calls), and pricing per GB tends to run higher than a local tourist SIM.

Wi-Fi availability

Most guesthouses, hotels, cafes and restaurants in Malé and Hulhumalé offer free Wi-Fi, so even without mobile data you're rarely fully offline. Resort islands almost always include Wi-Fi, though speed can vary — some resorts charge extra for higher-speed packages.