Gulf nations are hailed as global leaders in 5G roaming speeds, delivering an unparalleled digital experience for travelers in 2024.
Based on Ookla’s Speedtest Intelligence data, which evaluated mobile user experiences for inbound roamers in Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, these countries are setting a new standard for connectivity, in comparison to the visitors’ home network experiences.
5G: The Backbone of Modern Travel
Karim Yaici, Lead Industry Analyst for the Middle East and Africa at Ookla, emphasized the transformative role of 5G in travel, explaining that “Mobile connectivity is a critical factor shaping one’s travel experience by enabling visitors to stay connected with their family and friends, use essential navigation features, locate tourist attractions, access restaurant reviews, and share their experiences on social media. By leveraging 5G technology’s capabilities when roaming, users can access high-speed internet, stream HD videos, and perform lag-free video calls.”
In this context, 5G-enabled eSIMs provide immediate connectivity across various destinations without the need for physical SIM cards. This advancement simplifies logistics for travelers and boosts customer satisfaction.
Blazing Speeds Across the Gulf
In Qatar, visitors enjoyed median 5G download speeds of 381.05 Mbps, while the UAE followed closely at 374.60 Mbps, and Kuwait clocked in at 240.37 Mbps. These lightning-fast speeds positioned the Gulf as a haven for tech-savvy travelers.
“The advent of our 5G service means we’ve created a new mobile experience that guarantees stress-free roaming: it offers virtually no lag time with a greatly improved capacity that is up to ten times faster than 4G,” noted Tamara Al Bakri, Head of Roaming and Carrier Services, Vodafone Qatar.
The Ookla-powered study also revealed distinct patterns among roamers: visitors from Austria, Saudi Arabia, and Hong Kong were the most likely to tap into 5G networks, while those from Pakistan, India, and Egypt lagged behind in adoption.
In the UAE, the experience varied widely by nationality. Saudi Arabian and Russian travelers topped the charts with the fastest download speeds across all technologies and 5G, while their counterparts from Austria, India, and Hong Kong encountered slower performance.
Meanwhile, in Kuwait, Saudi visitors experienced robust 5G speeds of 240.37 Mbps, though their overall speeds across all technologies were about 40% lower, highlighting the disparity between 5G and older networks.
GCC’s Tourism Boom Fuels Connectivity Demand
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is rapidly transforming into a global hub for tourism and business, fueled by ambitious infrastructure investments, world-class amenities, and simplified visa policies. This evolution is driving a surge in demand for seamless, high-speed connectivity—a demand that 5G is uniquely positioned to meet. Analysts project that the GCC’s travel and tourism market will generate USD 9.57 billion in revenue by 2029, with mobile operators poised to capitalize on 5G roaming as a lucrative revenue stream.
As the demand for roaming services continues to rise, the roaming clearing market is also experiencing significant growth. This market ensures that the necessary infrastructure and processes required are implemented to ensure that financial transactions between mobile network operators are accurately tracked, recorded, and settled. The utilization of 5G networks in roaming services necessitates efficient and reliable roaming clearing solutions to handle the increased volume of data and transactions.
Pilgrimages and Beyond: Who’s Roaming the Gulf?
Saudi Arabia, a key player in this growth, welcomed the second-highest number of inbound roamers in 2024, trailing only the UAE. Indonesia accounted for 14.4% of these visitors, many of whom journeyed to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. Beyond the Gulf, the United States led non-regional roamers at 7.9%, followed by India (5.6%) and Austria (5.3%), with significant contributions from Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Pakistan.
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