eSIM for Yemen 
Viasimo's Yemen eSIM starts at $22.99 for 1 GB over 7 days, running on YOU with 4G LTE where available. Plans last 3 to 180 days, arrive by email in minutes and install from your phone's settings, with no app.
Works everywhere in Yemen
- Abyan Governorate
- Aḑ Ḑāli‘
- Aden
- Al Bayda
- Al Hudaydah
- Al Jawf
- Al Mahrah Governorate
Duration
Unlimited data · 3 Days ×1
$139.99
Does my phone take an eSIM? Check now
Dial *#06# on your phone. If you see an EID number, your phone takes an eSIM. Most phones sold since 2019 do.
Not sure it works on your phone? Check compatibilityWhich networks does the Yemen eSIM use?
Host networks: YOU
Your eSIM picks one automatically; you do not choose or switch between them.
- Data
- 1 GB – 20 GB or unlimited
- Validity
- 3–180 days
- Speed
- 4G LTE
- Hotspot / tethering
- Supported on most devices
- Activation
- Starts when you first connect in your destination
- Speed management
- Roughly 2-3 GB per day at full speed, sometimes less depending on the local carrier, then reduced
- Top-ups
- Add more data from your account, before the plan expires
- Text messages (SMS)
- Data only: use an app for verification codes
- Connects via
- Poland
- Unused validity
- 180 days before it must be installed
How much data do you need?
The allowances below are our sizing recommendations, not measurements. The plan beside each one is the cheapest option on this page that covers it.
| You are | Plan for | Cheapest plan that covers it |
|---|---|---|
| LightMaps, messaging and the occasional lookup | About 1 GB a week | $22.991 GB, 7 days |
| TypicalMaps, social, photos and some browsing | About 3 to 7 GB a week | $98.005 GB, 30 days |
| HeavyVideo streaming, video calls and uploads | 10 GB a week or more | $179.9910 GB, 30 days |
| Working or sharingTethering a laptop, calls and cloud sync | 20 GB a week or more | $299.99Unlimited, 7 days |
eSIM, local SIM or roaming?
Charged per day
Your carrier roaming
Queue and plastic
A SIM at the airport
$22.99
Viasimo, one bundle
Only the Viasimo figure is a price: it comes from today’s live catalog. The other two rows are directional, not quoted rates.
Important to know
- This is a data-only eSIM. It carries no calls or SMS on its own number.
- Your existing number stays on your primary SIM, so calls and verification texts keep working.
- Your phone must support eSIM, and some carrier-locked phones cannot install one.
- Signal varies with location, terrain, congestion and your handset. Dense urban areas are consistently better served than remote ones.
- The eSIM selects a host network automatically. You cannot pick or switch between them.
- Unlimited plans run at full speed up to a fair-use limit, then continue at a reduced speed. Read the fair usage policy
Frequently asked questions
Does an eSIM work in Yemen?
Yes. Your Yemen eSIM connects automatically the moment you arrive, with no roaming fees and nothing to set up at the airport. The host networks it can use are YOU. Coverage runs on 4G LTE. There is no 5G on our host network in Yemen yet.
Do I get 5G in Yemen?
No. YOU do not yet offer 5G to visitors in Yemen, so your eSIM connects over 4G LTE or slower. Anyone claiming 5G for this destination is quoting a spec sheet, not the network you will actually get.
Is MTN still operating in Yemen?
Not under that name. MTN Group left Yemen in late 2021, its stake went to Emerald International Investment, and the operator became YOU (Yemeni Omani United). It's the same network your eSIM uses on 4G/LTE, so your phone may show either YOU or MTN. Leave network selection on automatic.
Can I fly into Sana'a?
Not on a commercial flight. The US State Department says Sana'a International Airport is closed to commercial flights, and only limited commercial services operate from Aden to other airports in the region. The UK and US governments both advise against all travel to Yemen, including Socotra.
Can I take photos with my phone in Yemen?
Be very careful. The US State Department says photographing military installations, including airports, military equipment and troops, is illegal and has led to arrests of US citizens. Military sites aren't always obvious. Don't photograph checkpoints, airports or people in uniform, and ask the authorities for permission if you're unsure.
Who can help me in Yemen if something goes wrong?
Consular help is extremely limited. The UK and US embassies in Sana'a are closed, and neither government can evacuate citizens. British nationals can call +44 20 7008 5000, and US citizens +1 202 501 4444 from outside North America. Local police are on 199, though operators may not speak English. Rely mainly on your employer's security arrangements.
How much data do I need for 7 days in Yemen?
For 7 days in Yemen, Viasimo sells 1 GB for $22.99 and unlimited data for $299.99. Our sizing recommendation, not a measurement: maps, messaging and the occasional lookup, about 1 GB a week; maps, social, photos and some browsing, about 3 to 7 GB a week. The data calculator on this site works it out from how you actually use your phone.
Installing, keeping your number, topping up and hotspot work the same everywhere: see how it works →
Yemen: what to know before you land
In Yemen your eSIM connects to the MTN network on 4G/LTE. It has operated as YOU since MTN Group left the country in late 2021. Both the UK and US governments advise against all travel to Yemen, Socotra included, and neither can provide consular help on the ground. Anyone who must go should prepare their phone for unreliable networks and strict photography rules.
- Emergency
-
- 199 police
- Plugs
- ADG 230V
- Currency
- Yemeni rial (YER)
Main airports
- ADE Aden International Airport
From MTN to YOU: the network name you'll see
MTN Group, the South African operator, announced its exit from Yemen in November 2021. Its shares in MTN Yemen went to Emerald International Investment, and the business was renamed YOU, short for Yemeni Omani United. Before it was MTN, the same operator traded as Spacetel.
That history means old guidebooks, forum posts and even some settings menus may still say MTN, while shop signs and newer phones show YOU. It's the same network, and it's the one your eSIM connects to on 4G/LTE.
If you can't get a data connection:
- Check that roaming is enabled for your eSIM line.
- Turn airplane mode on and off to force your phone to search again.
- Search for networks manually, select YOU or MTN, then switch back to automatic once you're connected.
Don't select Yemen Mobile, Sabafon or Y Telecom, as your plan doesn't use them. If no network appears at all, you may simply be outside coverage. Messaging apps that queue messages, such as WhatsApp or Signal, help here, because they'll send when you next connect.
Photography rules and checkpoints in Aden and Sana'a
Your phone camera can get you into serious trouble in Yemen. The US State Department says photographing military installations, including airports, military equipment and troops, is illegal and has led to the arrest of US citizens. It also warns that military sites aren't always obvious, and advises asking the Yemeni authorities for permission if you're unsure.
In practice, that means:
- Don't take photos or video at or near Aden airport, at checkpoints or near anything in uniform.
- Turn off automatic uploading of photos to cloud services if you're worried about what might be seen.
- Think about what's already on your phone before you travel, including images and messages that could be misunderstood if checked.
The State Department says the Houthis control Sana'a and have detained US citizens, sometimes without cause, and that some detainees haven't been able to contact their families for years. Foreigners are also targeted for kidnapping and carjacking, especially outside cities. Make sure your employer's security team knows your routes, and keep your phone charged before every journey.
When there's no consular help: UK and US contacts
Neither the UK nor the US has a functioning embassy in Yemen. The British Embassy in Sana'a has suspended its services and withdrawn all diplomatic and consular staff. The UK government says it can't help British nationals leave Yemen, and there's no evacuation plan. The US Embassy in Sana'a suspended operations in February 2015, and the US government says it can't provide emergency or routine services there.
That makes your own preparation more important. Before you travel:
- Save the UK Foreign Office's 24-hour number, +44 20 7008 5000, or the US State Department's, +1 888 407 4747 from the US and Canada or +1 202 501 4444 from elsewhere.
- Store your employer's security contacts and your insurer's emergency line offline.
- Share a copy of your itinerary and passport details with someone at home.
- Agree what should happen if you miss a check-in, allowing for network outages.
The local police number is 199, but the State Department warns that operators may not speak English. Your eSIM doesn't make phone calls, so plan how you'll call: use your home SIM, a local line or a messaging app when data is available.
Researched October 2026 · 3 sources
- gov.uk Yemen travel advice – GOV.UK
- travel.state.gov Yemen International Travel Information – travel.state.gov
- en.wikipedia.org Telecommunications in Yemen – Wikipedia
If you must travel to Yemen: three essential days for arrival, connection and keeping in touch
Not a holiday itinerary. The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to the whole of Yemen, including Socotra, and cannot offer consular help or evacuation. This plan is for aid, journalism or other essential trips, covering arrival, staying connected and keeping in touch.
Not a holiday plan. Official UK travel advice warns against travel here, so this covers arriving, staying in touch and staying reachable. Check the latest advice before you go.
When to go There is no recommended time to travel. If timing is flexible, avoid the extreme heat of Aden from June to September, and expect frequent power cuts, which also hit mobile masts, at any time of year.
-
Day 1 Aden (or as directed by your organisation)
Arrival
Limited commercial flights link Aden with a few airports in the region; check current schedules with your organisation and airline.
Before flying, install and switch on your eSIM, save offline copies of your passport, visa, insurance and your organisation's security contacts, and share your itinerary with someone at home. Sana'a airport is closed to commercial flights; the limited commercial services run via Aden. On landing, keep your phone camera away entirely: photographing airports, troops or military equipment is illegal and has led to arrests. Meet your organisation's arranged transport and send a first check-in.
Signal Your eSIM connects to the YOU network, formerly MTN, on 4G/LTE where it is available. Expect slow or intermittent data, and toggle airplane mode or select YOU manually if your phone fails to register.
-
Day 2 Aden (or as directed by your organisation)
Working and staying connected
Follow your organisation's security plan for every movement, using arranged vehicles and avoiding checkpoints, crowds and anything resembling a military site with your phone out. Keep your phone charged from a power bank, as power cuts are frequent. Think about what is stored on your devices and switch off automatic photo uploads. Your eSIM provides data only, so plan voice calls via a messaging app, your home SIM or a local line.
Signal Data can disappear without warning during power cuts or network outages. Agree in advance what your contacts should do if you miss a check-in, so an outage isn't mistaken for an emergency.
-
Day 3 Aden (or as directed by your organisation)
Keeping in touch and departure
Arranged vehicle to Aden airport; allow plenty of time for checks.
Send your agreed check-in first thing and confirm your departure flight with your organisation. Save the UK Foreign Office's 24-hour line, +44 20 7008 5000, or the US State Department's, +1 202 501 4444, but remember that neither government has a functioning embassy in Yemen and the UK has no evacuation plan. Travel to the airport with arranged transport, and send a final message before security checks.
Signal Coverage around the airport is usually enough for a message, but don't rely on it. Send your departure update before reaching the terminal.
Staying connected on this route
- Store all key documents, contacts and maps offline before you arrive; outages are common.
- Carry a power bank and charge whenever mains power is available.
- Never photograph airports, checkpoints, troops or military sites, and review what is already on your phone before travelling.
- Your eSIM is data-only: arrange how you will make voice calls before you go.
Itinerary sources · 4
- gov.uk Yemen travel advice: warnings and insurance – GOV.UK
- gov.uk Yemen travel advice – GOV.UK
- travel.state.gov Yemen International Travel Information – US State Department
- en.wikipedia.org Telecommunications in Yemen – Wikipedia
Information and verification
Each block below says what was checked and when. Anything we cannot date, we do not claim.
- Prices and plans
- Every price and allowance on this page is read from the live catalog, not typed in.
- Host networks
- The operator list comes from the network partner that carries this eSIM.
Yemen eSIM prices
| Data | Price | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited | $139.99 | $46.66/day |
| Data | Price | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited | $219.99 | $44.00/day |
| Data | Price | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited | $414.99 | $41.50/day |
| Data | Price | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| 3 GBBest value | $62.99 | $2.10/day |
| 5 GB | $98.00 | $3.27/day |
| 10 GB | $179.99 | $6.00/day |
| 20 GB | $364.99 | $12.17/day |
| Unlimited | $1,129.99 | $37.67/day |
| Data | Price | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited | $2,259.99 | $37.67/day |
| Data | Price | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited | $3,379.99 | $37.56/day |
| Data | Price | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited | $6,759.99 | $37.56/day |
Destinations
