Maldives

Yes, as long as your iPhone is eSIM-capable and carrier-unlocked. That covers the iPhone XS, XR and every model released since, including the latest iPhones. After purchase you'll get a QR code by email; scan it under Settings, then turn on data roaming for the GulfData line only so the eSIM carries your mobile internet in the Maldives. Your physical SIM stays in place, so you keep your usual number for WhatsApp and apps. This is a data-only travel eSIM, so there are no native calls or texts, but you'll have fast prepaid data the moment you land at Velana International Airport in Male. If you're unsure whether your handset qualifies, our 24/7 support team can confirm before you buy.

Yes. The Maldives eSIM works on most recent eSIM-capable, carrier-unlocked Android phones. That includes the Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, the Z Fold and Z Flip range, Google Pixel 3 and later, and many other modern Android handsets. Installation is the same as on iPhone: scan the QR code we email you, add the eSIM under your connection settings, and switch data roaming off on your normal line so the eSIM handles your mobile internet. Because it's a data-only tourist SIM, calls and texts run through WhatsApp, FaceTime or other apps rather than the standard dialler. If your phone model isn't listed, message our support team with the make and model and we'll check compatibility before you travel to the Maldives.

The Maldives eSIM connects to the Dhiraagu 4G network, one of the country's main mobile operators. That gives you strong, fast data coverage across Male and out to the atolls, so you stay online whether you're in the capital, transferring by speedboat or settling into a resort island. Dhiraagu's network reaches the populated islands and most tourist areas well, which makes it a reliable choice for a travel eSIM. You don't choose or configure the network manually; your eSIM locks onto Dhiraagu automatically as soon as you arrive and connect. That means no fiddling with settings and no roaming fees, just prepaid mobile internet that works from the moment you land in the Maldives.

Coverage is genuinely good for a destination spread across hundreds of islands. The Dhiraagu network reaches well beyond Male, serving inhabited islands and resort areas throughout the atolls, so you'll usually have solid 4G data on populated and tourist islands. Signal can dip on long boat or seaplane transfers between atolls and over open water, which is normal anywhere in the Maldives regardless of provider. On resort islands and in towns you can expect dependable mobile internet for maps, messaging and uploading photos. If you're heading somewhere remote, download offline maps and key bookings in advance. For most travellers staying on resort or guesthouse islands, the eSIM keeps you connected with reliable coverage the whole trip.

Installation takes just a few minutes. After you buy, we email you a QR code. Open your phone's settings, choose to add an eSIM or mobile plan, and scan that code to install it. We recommend doing this before you fly while you're on home Wi-Fi. The eSIM then sits dormant until you reach the Maldives. Activation happens automatically: your validity and data allowance only start when the eSIM first connects to the Dhiraagu network on arrival, not when you install it. Once you land, enable the eSIM line, switch data roaming off on your normal SIM, and you're online. There's nothing to top up at a kiosk and no roaming fees. If anything looks off, our 24/7 support can walk you through it.

Yes, and we recommend it. Install the eSIM at home while you're on Wi-Fi by scanning the QR code we email you straight after purchase. Installing early doesn't start your plan: validity and data only begin when the eSIM first connects to the local network in the Maldives, so there's no risk of wasting days by setting it up in advance. This means you arrive at Velana International Airport with everything ready, switch the eSIM on, and get online without hunting for a tourist SIM kiosk or paying roaming fees. Setting up before you fly also gives you time to contact our 24/7 support if you have any questions, rather than troubleshooting after a long flight. It's the smoothest way to land connected.

For most travellers, yes. Standard roaming charges from your home carrier can add up fast, especially across a longer trip or when you're using maps, messaging and uploading holiday photos. A GulfData Maldives eSIM gives you a flat prepaid price you know upfront, with no roaming fees and no surprise bill when you get home. You buy the data you expect to use, and if you run low you simply add another plan rather than overpaying in advance. Because it's data-only, you avoid expensive per-minute and per-text roaming rates too, keeping calls free through WhatsApp or FaceTime. That predictable, prepaid model is usually far better value than switching on roaming for the Maldives, and it puts you in control of your spend.

It depends on how you travel. For a week in the Maldives, light users who mainly check messages, use WhatsApp and look things up can often get by on a smaller allowance. If you're posting photos and videos from the beach, video calling home or streaming in the evenings, you'll want more. As a rough guide, browsing and messaging use little data, while social media uploads and streaming use a lot more. Most resorts and guesthouses offer Wi-Fi, so you can lean on that for big downloads and save your eSIM data for when you're out on the water or island-hopping. The good news is you're never locked in: if you run low, just add another plan as a top-up rather than guessing high upfront.

Yes to both. The Maldives eSIM is data-only, and apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime, iMessage, Telegram and Messenger all run over that data, so you can call and message friends and family as much as you like. Your normal phone number stays active on your primary SIM thanks to dual-SIM, so you keep your usual identity for WhatsApp and any apps tied to your number. The key step is to turn data roaming off on that primary line so it doesn't rack up charges, and let the eSIM carry your mobile internet instead. That way you stay reachable on your own number, use all your usual apps over fast prepaid data, and avoid roaming fees while you're in the Maldives.

Yes. Personal hotspot, or tethering, is supported on the Maldives eSIM, so you can share your mobile internet with a laptop, tablet or a travel companion's phone. Just switch on the hotspot in your phone's settings as you normally would, and connected devices use the same prepaid data allowance as your handset. This is handy on resort islands or during downtime when you want to get a laptop online or keep the family connected from one plan. Bear in mind that hotspot use, especially video calls, streaming or large downloads, draws from your data quickly, so keep an eye on usage. If you run low while tethering, you can simply add another plan rather than facing any roaming fees in the Maldives.

The best eSIM for the Maldives is one that runs on a strong local network, installs easily and has no surprise costs, which is exactly what GulfData offers. Our Maldives travel eSIM uses the Dhiraagu 4G network for fast, reliable coverage across Male and out through the atolls, so you stay connected from the capital to your resort island. You install it in minutes by scanning a QR code before you fly, pay a flat prepaid price with no roaming fees, and keep your normal number for WhatsApp and apps. Hotspot sharing is supported, top-ups are easy if you need more data, and 24/7 support is on hand throughout. For hassle-free mobile internet on your trip, it's a smart, great-value tourist SIM choice.