SIM cards, eSIMs, and mobile data in Morocco

Mobile data in Morocco is cheap, fast in cities, and patchy in the mountains and desert. Three carriers, all roughly equivalent: Maroc Telecom (IAM), Inwi, Orange.

The three options

1. SIM at the airport (easiest, slightly pricier)

Walk out of arrivals at CMN, RAK, or AGA and there are Maroc Telecom and Inwi kiosks. Bring your passport.

• Tourist SIM: 100–200 MAD for 10–30 GB, valid 7–30 days. They activate it for you on the spot.
• Pros: zero hassle, the staff speak English.
• Cons: ~30% more expensive than buying in town.

2. SIM from a Maroc Telecom or Inwi store in town

Find a boutique IAM or Inwi shop (every medium-sized town has one). Bring your passport.

• Same data packages, ~70–150 MAD. Top up via the shop, an Orange Money kiosk, or the carrier app.
• Pros: cheaper, you can ask questions in person.
• Cons: paperwork takes 15 minutes.

3. eSIM (no paperwork, works immediately)

If your phone supports eSIM (most iPhones since XS, most flagship Androids), buy before you arrive:

• Airalo: the cheapest reliable option. ~€5 for 1 GB / 7 days, ~€15 for 10 GB / 30 days.
• Holafly, Nomad, Saily: all work. Slightly more expensive, often unlimited.
• Apple’s built-in eSIM marketplace (iOS): functional but pricier than Airalo.

Pros: works the second you land, no passport hassle, no Moroccan phone number. Cons: no Moroccan phone number means you can’t receive SMS from local services (taxi apps, payment confirmations).

What’s the best carrier?

Honestly all three are fine in cities. Maroc Telecom has the best rural coverage (Atlas, desert). Inwi is often the cheapest. Orange sits in the middle.

For coverage in the Sahara (Merzouga, Erg Chigaga), assume 2G/3G at best. Download offline maps, photos, and your hotel address before you leave the highway.

How fast?

5G is rolling out in Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, Tangier. Expect 50–200 Mbps in city centres, 10–50 Mbps in towns, 1–5 Mbps in rural areas, and nothing at all in deep desert.

Calling home

Use WhatsApp or Signal. Everyone in Morocco does. Locals will hand you their WhatsApp number, not a landline.

Common mistakes

• Buying a SIM with no data plan. It comes with maybe 100 MB. Make sure they activate a data package before you walk away.
• Not noting the PIN. Moroccan SIMs come PIN-locked. They’ll tell you the PIN, write it down or take a photo of the card.
• Roaming on your home carrier. Don’t. Moroccan roaming on most US/EU plans is €5–€15/day. A local SIM is €5 for a week.