Dee

Useful info — thanks! Be sure to ask about all the available options, even if you only want to use data (this applies everywhere, not just Maldives — data-only SIM card pricing can be quite odd!)

We arrived on a Friday as well and only Ooredoo shop was open (unfortunately). Their SIM and Mobile Broadband products work fine, but they do not sell you the correct plan if you ask for data only. See comment below.

Unfortunately, Ooredoo tricks tourists at the airport. Only tourist packages are sold for MVR 694 that include 2.2GB data. But the ideal option for tourists that only need data would be to buy a normal prepaid for MVR 30 and add a 4GB data plan for 299 MVR. That gives you double the data for half the price. The only product they advertise in the store is the highly overpriced tourist package.

Hi Sue,

I’m afraid I don’t know the hours for those stores — I arrived around 9am, and they were both open. If you’re traveling independently and arriving at that time, you’ll presumably be spending the night in Male anyway, so I’d look to pick up a SIM the following day either in Male itself, or back at the airport (it’s only a 5 minute ferry away). If you’re being picked up by a resort, I’d ask them if they know the opening hours, and if the stores will be closed, whether they can arrange a SIM for you in advance.

My question relates to the hours of both telco shops at Male airport. I’ve read different times of closing from different people. We arrive at 2210 on a Friday night and I’m concerned we won’t be able to buy a sim card. Do you know the hours or the solution to this problem?

Thanks for any help you can give Dave