Honor has partnered with Netherlands-based digital mobile service provider OWN eSIM to enable smartphone users in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to access digital services internationally.
Under the deal, the OWN eSIM app is preinstalled on selected Honor smartphone models using Google Play AutoInstall (PAI), letting users in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE activate international data services instantly and eliminating the need for physical SIM cards.
How the embedded eSIM is delivered
Honor says the OWN eSIM app is preloaded on selected handset models as part of the partnership, with the preinstallation carried out via Google Play AutoInstall (PAI).
That setup is designed to route users to OWN eSIM’s digital connectivity platform so they can activate international data services directly on device, without swapping in a physical SIM.
Where it will work across the GCC
The arrangement is aimed at users in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, using the embedded OWN eSIM app as the activation path for international data services.
Honor and OWN eSIM also plan to coordinate on encouraging adoption of the embedded eSIM across the GCC region.
Why Honor is shifting strategy around the handset
Debo Zhang, GM of Honor GCC, said the partnership is part of Honor’s strategic shift from OEM to an “AI device ecosystem,” positioning devices as intelligent platforms that integrate ready-to-use connectivity solutions.
In the same statement, Zhang linked the move to helping customers stay connected more easily and confidently while traveling.
OWN eSIM’s expansion rationale
Martijn Van Der Ven, founder and CEO of OWN eSIM, said the deal with Honor is intended to expand OWN eSIM’s presence across the GCC and reach a broader consumer base.
Van Der Ven also framed the collaboration as a way to remove friction in how people connect when they travel or move across borders, adding that embedding OWN eSIM directly into Honor smartphones delivers an experience for digital-first consumers.