Staying connected in Saudi Arabia is straightforward once you know which carrier to pick and where to buy. Whether you are navigating Riyadh’s sprawling districts, photographing the Red Sea coast in Jeddah, or streaming directions through the desert to AlUla, a local SIM card or eSIM will keep you online at a fraction of international roaming costs. This guide, part of our Saudi Arabia Travel Guide 2026, breaks down every option available to tourists: the four domestic carriers, their visitor plans, eSIM alternatives from international providers, where to buy at each major airport, and the practical details most guides skip, from VoIP restrictions to 5G coverage outside major cities.
SIM Cards in Saudi Arabia — At a Glance
Top Carriers: STC (stc), Mobily, Zain, Salam
Where to Buy: Airport kiosks at Riyadh (RUH), Jeddah (JED), Dammam (DMM), Madinah (MED); carrier stores in malls nationwide
Visa Required: Yes — tourist e-visa or visit visa
Typical Cost: SAR 40-120 (USD 11-32) for 7-55 GB tourist plans valid 14-28 days
Best for Data: Mobily Visitors 90 — 55 GB + 300 minutes for SAR 103.50 over 30 days
Avoid: Buying SIM cards from unofficial vendors; attempting to use your home SIM without checking roaming rates first
Do You Need a Local SIM Card?
International roaming in Saudi Arabia is expensive. Most European and American carriers charge between USD 5 and USD 15 per day for unlimited roaming data, which adds up quickly on a two-week trip. A Saudi tourist SIM costs a fraction of that and delivers faster speeds, since you connect directly to the local 4G/5G network rather than routing through a roaming agreement.
There are three situations where a local SIM or eSIM makes sense: you plan to stay more than two or three days, you need reliable navigation and ride-hailing (Uber and Careem both work in Saudi Arabia), or you want to make local calls to hotels, restaurants, and tour operators. If you are only transiting through an airport for a few hours, airport Wi-Fi will suffice.
One important consideration: Saudi Arabia requires real-name registration for all mobile lines, including prepaid tourist SIMs. You will need your passport and your Saudi border number (assigned at immigration) to activate any SIM. This registration takes five to ten minutes at a staffed kiosk.
The Four Saudi Carriers Compared
Saudi Arabia has four mobile network operators. Three of them — STC, Mobily, and Zain — operate their own infrastructure and cover more than 99% of the market. Salam, the newest entrant, offers budget-friendly visitor plans and operates a growing 5G network.
| Carrier | Network Strength | Best For | 5G Coverage | Airport Presence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STC (stc) | Widest coverage, 94% availability | Desert trips, remote areas, Hajj/Umrah | Launched 2019; 78% population | Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Madinah |
| Mobily | Strong urban, 93% availability | Best value data plans, city stays | Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam | Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam |
| Zain | Good overall, 89% availability | Flexible short-term plans, daily options | Major cities; 600 MHz rollout 2025 | Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam |
| Salam | Growing; limited rural | Budget-conscious, short visits | Selected cities | Jeddah, Haramain stations |
For most tourists, the choice comes down to STC or Mobily. STC has the widest network footprint and is the safest choice if you plan to drive between cities or visit remote areas like the Empty Quarter. Mobily offers the best pure value for data-heavy users staying in urban areas.
STC Visitor Plans
STC (branded as stc) is Saudi Arabia’s largest telecommunications company and the default recommendation for tourists who want maximum coverage. Its network reaches further into rural and desert areas than any competitor, making it essential for road trips to AlUla, Tabuk, or the southern highlands around Abha.
STC Sawa Visitor Bundles
| Plan | Data | Flex Minutes | Validity | Price (SAR) | Price (USD approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visitor 35 | 5 GB | 1 hour | 14 days | 40.25 | ~$11 |
| Visitor 60 | 23 GB | 2 hours | 14 days | 70 | ~$19 |
| Visitor 73 | 25 GB | 3 hours | 21 days | 85 | ~$23 |
| Visitor 104 | 61 GB | 5 hours | 28 days | 120 | ~$32 |
| Visitor 130 | 74 GB | 6 hours | 28 days | 150 | ~$40 |
| Visitor 165 | 100 GB | 10 hours | 28 days | 190 | ~$51 |
The Visitor 60 plan (SAR 70 for 23 GB and 2 hours of calls over 14 days) represents the sweet spot for a standard tourist trip. If you are visiting for Hajj or Umrah and need a full month, the Visitor 104 plan delivers 61 GB for SAR 120 — enough for constant navigation, video calling family back home, and social media. All STC visitor plans are eSIM-ready, and you can manage your account through the mystc app.
Tip: STC’s “flex minutes” can be used for both local and international calls. One hour of flex equals approximately 60 minutes of local calling or 20-30 minutes of international calling, depending on the destination.
Mobily Visitor Plans
Mobily consistently offers the most data per Saudi Riyal of any carrier. Its network covers urban areas efficiently, with strong 4G and 5G in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. The trade-off is slightly less reliable coverage in remote desert areas compared to STC.
Mobily Visitors Bundles
| Plan | Data | Call Minutes | Extras | Validity | Price (SAR) | Price (USD approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visitors 30 | 5 GB | 60 min | — | 14 days | 34.50 | ~$9 |
| Visitors 50 | 20 GB | 120 min | — | 14 days | 57.50 | ~$15 |
| Visitors 90 | 55 GB | 300 min | — | 30 days | 103.50 | ~$28 |
| Visitors 100 | 25 GB | 400 min | Unlimited social media | 14 days | 115 | ~$31 |
| Visitors 150 | 40 GB | 600 min | Unlimited social media | 30 days | 173 | ~$46 |
The standout plan is Mobily’s Visitors 90: 55 GB of data and 300 minutes of calls for SAR 103.50 (about USD 28) over a full 30 days. At roughly SAR 1.88 per GB, it is the best pure data value among all Saudi visitor plans. The Visitors 100 and 150 plans add unlimited social media data (WhatsApp messaging, Instagram, Snapchat, X, and TikTok do not count against your data cap), which is valuable if you post frequently.
Zain Visitor Plans
Zain offers the most flexible plan structure, including daily and weekly options that no other carrier matches. This makes Zain particularly useful for short stays or as a backup SIM.
Zain Visitors Bundles
| Plan | Data | Call Minutes | Extras | Validity | Price (SAR) | Price (USD approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visitor 40 | 7 GB | 60 min | — | 14 days | 40 | ~$11 |
| Visitor 60 | 20 GB | 150 min | — | 14 days | 60 | ~$16 |
| Visitor 85 | 28 GB | 250 min | Unlimited visitor-to-visitor calls | 21 days | 85 | ~$23 |
| Visitor 120 | 55 GB | 350 min | Unlimited visitor-to-visitor calls | 28 days | 120 | ~$32 |
| Visitor 160 | 75 GB | 500 min | Unlimited visitor-to-visitor calls | 28 days | 160 | ~$43 |
Zain’s unique advantage is the unlimited visitor-to-visitor calling included in their higher-tier plans. If you are travelling with a group and everyone buys a Zain SIM, intra-group calls are free. Zain also offers short-term options: a daily plan (1 GB + 20 minutes for SAR 10) and a weekly plan (5 GB + 100 minutes for SAR 40) for travellers who need coverage for just a few days.
Salam Mobile Visitor Plans
Salam is Saudi Arabia’s fourth and newest mobile operator. While its coverage is narrower than the big three, it offers competitive pricing and has stores at Jeddah airport and Haramain train stations — useful for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims arriving at Jeddah and travelling to Makkah or Madinah.
| Plan | Data | Social Data | Call Minutes | Validity | Price (SAR) | Price (USD approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visitor 29 | 2 GB | 2 GB social | 50 min | 14 days | 29.75 | ~$8 |
| Visitor 59 | 12 GB | 15 GB social | 60 min | 14 days | 67.85 | ~$18 |
| Visitor 89 | 20 GB | Unlimited social | 120 min | 28 days | 102.35 | ~$27 |
Salam’s plans split data into regular and social media categories. The Visitor 59 plan’s combined 27 GB (12 GB regular + 15 GB social) for SAR 67.85 is competitive, but keep in mind that Salam’s network is less extensive outside major cities. This is best suited for visitors who will remain in Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah, or Riyadh.
eSIM: The No-Queue Alternative
If your phone supports eSIM (most iPhones from the XS onward, Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, Google Pixel 3 and newer), you can skip the airport queue entirely and activate a Saudi data plan before you even board your flight.
Saudi Carrier eSIMs
All three major Saudi carriers — STC, Mobily, and Zain — now support eSIM activation for visitors. You can purchase and activate directly through their apps or at a staffed store. The advantage of a carrier eSIM over a third-party provider is that you get a local Saudi phone number, which is useful for receiving verification codes from ride-hailing apps, hotel booking confirmations, and restaurant reservations. However, you still need to complete the identity registration process in person or through biometric verification.
International eSIM Providers
Third-party eSIM providers offer data-only plans that you can purchase online and activate instantly via QR code. These are purely for mobile data — no local phone number, no voice calls, no SMS.
| Provider | Data | Validity | Price (USD) | Network Used | Key Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airalo | 1 GB | 7 days | $5.50 | Zain | Data only, no calls/SMS |
| Airalo | 10 GB | 30 days | $19 | Zain | Data only, no calls/SMS |
| Airalo | 20 GB | 15 days | $40 | Zain | Data only, no calls/SMS |
| Airalo “Unlimited” | 3 GB/day | 10 days | $35 | Zain | Throttled after 3 GB daily |
| Holafly | Unlimited | 5 days | $19 | Varies | May throttle after heavy use |
| Holafly | Unlimited | 15 days | $47 | Varies | May throttle after heavy use |
| Holafly | Unlimited | 20 days | $64 | Varies | May throttle after heavy use |
Important: Airalo’s “unlimited” plans are not truly unlimited. They cap data at 3 GB per day, after which speeds drop to 1 Mbps. Holafly’s unlimited plans have a less defined fair-use policy but may also throttle during periods of extremely heavy use. For most travellers, a 10-20 GB capped plan from Airalo provides better value than an unlimited plan.
Local SIM vs eSIM: Which to Choose?
| Factor | Local Physical SIM | International eSIM (Airalo/Holafly) |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | 5-10 min at airport kiosk | 2 min from home before travel |
| Phone number | Yes — Saudi +966 number | No — data only |
| Voice calls | Included in plan | Not available |
| Cost per GB | SAR 1.50-2.50 (~$0.40-0.67) | $1.90-5.50 |
| ID required | Passport + border number | None |
| Top-up | Via carrier app or stores | Buy new plan |
| Best for | Stays over 3 days; need calls/SMS | Short trips; dual-SIM phones; avoid queues |
The ideal setup for many travellers is both: keep your home SIM active in one slot for receiving important texts and calls, and use a Saudi eSIM (or physical SIM in the second slot) for data. Most modern smartphones support dual SIM or SIM + eSIM configurations.
Where to Buy: Airport by Airport
Riyadh — King Khalid International Airport (RUH)
SIM card kiosks from STC, Mobily, and Zain are located in the arrivals area, primarily in and around Terminal 2. If you arrive at Terminal 1, it is a short three-minute walk to Terminal 2 where the SIM vendors are concentrated. Kiosks are staffed and typically open for all arriving international flights. Expect the process to take 5-10 minutes, including passport registration. Payment is accepted in Saudi Riyals (cash) or by credit/debit card.
Jeddah — King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED)
STC has a large store immediately as you exit the customs zone. Mobily and Zain counters are a short distance further ahead, near the exits leading to the Haramain train station. Jeddah airport is the primary arrival point for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, so during peak pilgrimage season (late May through June in 2026) expect longer queues. Arriving outside peak hours or purchasing an eSIM before departure is advisable during Hajj season.
Dammam — King Fahd International Airport (DMM)
STC, Mobily, and Zain maintain counters in the arrivals hall. Dammam and Al Khobar are the gateway to the Eastern Province, and connectivity in this oil-producing region is excellent across all carriers.
Madinah — Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport (MED)
STC and Mobily have kiosks in the arrivals area. Salam also has a presence at the Haramain train station in Madinah, which is useful if you miss the airport kiosks.
Buying in the City
If you prefer to compare plans in person or miss the airport kiosks, all four carriers have stores in every major shopping mall. In Riyadh, look for carrier stores in Riyadh Park Mall, Panorama Mall, and Kingdom Centre. In Jeddah, Red Sea Mall and Mall of Arabia both have STC, Mobily, and Zain outlets. You will need the same documentation (passport and border number) at any location.
What You Need: Registration Requirements
Saudi Arabia mandates real-name registration for every SIM card, with no exceptions for tourists. When you purchase a SIM, the vendor will need:
- Your passport — the vendor will scan or photocopy your information page
- Your Saudi border number — this is assigned at immigration when you enter the country. It may be printed on your visa sticker or can be looked up by the vendor using your passport details. You can also check it on the Absher website (absher.sa)
- Biometric verification — some vendors may take a fingerprint scan as part of the registration process
- Major cities (Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Makkah, Madinah): 4G and 5G coverage is near-universal. All three carriers deliver consistent speeds. Expect download speeds of 50-200 Mbps on 4G and 300-700 Mbps on 5G in ideal conditions.
- Secondary cities (Tabuk, Abha, Al Khobar, Taif, Yanbu): 4G is reliable across all carriers. 5G availability varies but is expanding.
- Highways between cities: 4G coverage is generally continuous along major routes (Route 65 between Riyadh and Jeddah, Route 40 to the Eastern Province). Brief signal drops are possible in remote stretches.
- Desert and remote areas (Empty Quarter, northern borders, Rub’ al Khali): STC provides the most reliable coverage. Mobily and Zain may have dead zones. If you are driving off-highway or camping in the desert, STC is the only carrier that can be relied upon.
- 4G LTE: Bands 1, 3, 7, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41
- 5G NR: n41, n78 (mid-band), n257 (mmWave in select areas)
- WhatsApp messaging: Works without restriction. Text, photos, voice messages, and group chats all function normally.
- WhatsApp voice and video calls: Officially restricted. In early 2026, some users reported that WhatsApp calls began working intermittently on certain networks, but no official policy change has been announced. Do not rely on WhatsApp calling being available.
- FaceTime: Restricted on most networks. May work on some connections intermittently.
- Skype and Zoom calls: Restricted for consumer VoIP. Zoom business accounts may work for scheduled meetings.
- BOTIM: This is a government-approved VoIP app that allows free voice and video calling within Saudi Arabia. Download it before arrival if VoIP calling is important to you.
- Regular phone calls and SMS: Work normally through your Saudi SIM card with no restrictions.
- STC: mystc app (iOS and Android)
- Mobily: Mobily app (iOS and Android)
- Zain: Zain KSA app (iOS and Android)
- Salam: Salam app (iOS and Android)
- Carrier stores in malls and high streets
- Convenience stores and supermarkets (Panda, Tamimi Markets, Carrefour) — look for recharge card displays
- ATMs — some ATMs allow SIM top-up via debit card
- Online through the carrier’s website or app using a credit card
- 999 — Police
- 997 — Ambulance
- 998 — Fire
- 911 — Unified emergency number (being rolled out nationally)
- Careem / Uber: Ride-hailing (both operate widely across Saudi Arabia)
- Google Maps: Navigation (works well; download offline maps for desert areas)
- Tawakkalna: Government services and health information
- BOTIM: VoIP calling (government-approved alternative to WhatsApp calls)
- Visit Saudi: Official tourism app with attraction information and events
- HungerStation / Jahez: Food delivery
- mystc / Mobily / Zain app: Carrier app for whichever SIM you choose
- Road tripping or visiting remote areas (AlUla, Empty Quarter, Tabuk): STC Visitor 73 (25 GB, 3 hours calls, 21 days, SAR 85). The widest coverage network ensures you stay connected on desert highways.
- City-based holiday (Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam): Mobily Visitors 90 (55 GB, 300 minutes, 30 days, SAR 103.50). Best data-per-riyal value and strong urban coverage.
- Group travel: Zain Visitor 85 (28 GB, 250 minutes, unlimited visitor-to-visitor calls, 21 days, SAR 85). Free intra-group calling is a genuine money saver.
- Short stay (1-3 days): Airalo eSIM 1 GB (7 days, $5.50) or Zain Daily Plan (1 GB + 20 min, SAR 10/day). No airport queue needed with eSIM.
- Hajj or Umrah: STC Visitor 104 (61 GB, 5 hours calls, 28 days, SAR 120). Reliable coverage across Makkah and Madinah, where network congestion is heaviest during pilgrimage.
- Diving trip on the Red Sea coast: Mobily Visitors 50 (20 GB, 120 minutes, 14 days, SAR 57.50) plus download offline maps. Red Sea coastal areas have good Mobily coverage.
- Not checking if your phone is unlocked: A carrier-locked phone from your home country will reject Saudi SIMs. Verify and unlock before departure.
- Forgetting your border number: Without it, you cannot register a SIM. Save it immediately at immigration.
- Relying on WhatsApp calls: VoIP restrictions mean you may not be able to call via WhatsApp. Budget for regular call minutes or download BOTIM.
- Buying at unofficial kiosks: Only purchase from official carrier stores and airport kiosks. Unofficial vendors may sell improperly registered SIMs that stop working after days.
- Ignoring data usage: Saudi Arabia’s fast 5G networks make it easy to burn through data. Streaming video at full resolution will consume a 20 GB plan in days. Use Wi-Fi for heavy downloads and reduce streaming quality on mobile.
- Assuming free Wi-Fi is sufficient: Public Wi-Fi in Saudi Arabia is improving but remains unreliable for navigation and ride-hailing. A SIM card with mobile data is essential for getting around.
- Not downloading essential information offline: If heading to remote areas, download offline maps, translation packs, and key contacts before leaving the city.
- Saudi Arabia Travel Guide 2026 — The complete guide to visiting the Kingdom
- Saudi Arabia Visa Guide — Every visa type explained, including the tourist e-visa
- Riyadh Travel Guide 2026 — Everything you need for Saudi Arabia’s capital city
- Jeddah Travel Guide 2026 — Red Sea gateway, F1, and the historic Al-Balad district
- Hajj 2026 Guide — Complete pilgrimage planning including connectivity at holy sites
- Essential Arabic Phrases for Travellers — Key words and phrases for navigating Saudi Arabia
The registration is linked to the national SIM registry managed by the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST). Each passport can register up to two SIM cards at a time. The entire process takes five to ten minutes at a staffed kiosk.
Tip: Save your border number in your phone’s notes app when you pass through immigration. Having it ready at the SIM kiosk speeds up the process significantly. If you applied for an e-visa, your border number is generated when your passport is stamped at entry, not when the visa is issued.
Network Coverage and 5G
Saudi Arabia has one of the most advanced mobile networks in the Middle East. STC launched commercial 5G in June 2019, making the Kingdom one of the first countries in the region to deploy the technology. As of 2025, 5G coverage reaches approximately 78% of the Saudi population.
Coverage by Area
Phone Compatibility
Saudi Arabia’s mobile networks operate on standard international bands. Most modern unlocked smartphones will work without issue. Key bands to check:
If your phone is locked to a specific carrier in your home country, it will not accept a Saudi SIM. Contact your home carrier to request unlocking before your trip, or use an eSIM if your phone supports it. VoLTE (Voice over LTE) is supported by all three major carriers, ensuring high-quality voice calls without falling back to 3G.
VoIP and Calling Restrictions
This is the most frequently misunderstood aspect of phone use in Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom has historically restricted Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services, which affects several apps travellers rely on.
What Works and What Does Not
Practical advice: If you need to make voice or video calls to family abroad, use the call minutes included in your Saudi SIM plan for voice calls, or use BOTIM for video calling. Do not assume WhatsApp calling will work — plan accordingly. Know some basic Arabic phrases for situations where a phone call to a local business is easier than messaging.
VPN Use
Using a VPN is legal in Saudi Arabia for legitimate purposes such as business, banking, or personal privacy. The Communications, Space and Technology Commission permits VPN use provided it is not used to access prohibited content. Many travellers use VPNs to access VoIP services, though this technically falls into a grey area. In practice, personal VPN use by tourists is tolerated and enforcement is directed at commercial VPN abuse or access to explicitly banned content.
Topping Up and Managing Your SIM
All four carriers have apps that allow you to monitor your data usage, check remaining balance, and purchase additional data or calling credit:
You can also recharge your SIM at any of the following points:
Recharge values typically start at SAR 10. If you run out of data before your plan expires, you can purchase add-on data packs through the carrier app without changing your plan.
Practical Tips for Staying Connected
Free Wi-Fi Availability
Free Wi-Fi is available at most hotels, shopping malls, and major tourist attractions in Saudi Arabia. Airport Wi-Fi is generally free but often slow. Some coffee chains (Starbucks, Caffe Bene) offer free Wi-Fi. However, speeds can be inconsistent, and connections in public spaces may require phone number verification — another reason to have a local SIM active.
Power and Charging
Saudi Arabia uses Type G power outlets (the same as the United Kingdom). If you are travelling from continental Europe, the Americas, or Asia, you will need a plug adapter. Voltage is 220V at 60Hz. USB charging ports are increasingly common in airports, malls, and newer hotels.
Emergency Numbers
These numbers work from any Saudi SIM without credit:
For more on staying safe in Saudi Arabia, including hospital locations and pharmacy information, see our dedicated safety guide. Always ensure your phone is charged and your SIM is active when exploring remote areas or hiking in the Saudi highlands.
Useful Apps to Download Before You Arrive
Keeping Your Number Active
Saudi prepaid SIMs expire if not recharged within a set period after the plan expires — typically 90 days from the last recharge. If you plan to return to Saudi Arabia, keep your SIM and add a small recharge (SAR 10) before the expiry date to maintain your number. This saves the hassle of re-registering on your next visit.
Which SIM Should You Buy? Our Recommendation
The best SIM for you depends on how you are travelling: