Oman ties every SIM to a verified ID before it works — registration at the point of sale is the real activation step, and inserting the SIM afterward is just the formality that confirms it went through.
Quick answer
Insert the SIM, restart your phone, and it activates within minutes once your registration clears. Verify with *100# (Omantel) or *102# (Ooredoo Oman).
What registration actually requires
Residents register with a national ID or resident card at the store; tourists use a passport. Airport counters for both Omantel and Ooredoo Oman process foreign passport registrations constantly, so a tourist SIM bought on arrival typically activates just as fast as a resident line bought in the city.
If there’s no signal after restarting
Give it up to 15 minutes for the registration to fully clear. If nothing after that, call 1234 (Omantel) or 1500 (Ooredoo Oman) from another phone.
Once active, check your balance: see Omantel or Ooredoo Oman balance guides.
Verified against Omantel’s and Ooredoo Oman’s official support guidance, August 2026.
Step-by-Step Guide
- 1
Insert
SIM in, restart.
- 2
Wait
Auto-activates.
- 3
Verify
*100# (Omantel) or *102# (Ooredoo).
Troubleshooting
No signal
Call 1234/1500 from another phone.
Can't call
Initial recharge may be needed.
Look Up More USSD Codes
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does activation take?
Usually instant to 15 minutes after in-store registration.
What ID do I need?
Residents use a national ID or resident card; tourists use a passport.
Can tourists get a SIM at the airport?
Yes, both operators have airport counters with instant passport-based registration.
My phone shows no signal after 15 minutes — what now?
Call 1234 (Omantel) or 1500 (Ooredoo Oman) from another phone to check registration status.
Do I need to buy credit before the SIM works for calls?
Some prepaid SIMs need an initial recharge before outgoing calls function — check at the point of sale.