Umrah & Hajj guide · 2026–2027

Umrah and Hajj eSIM: internet in Makkah and Madinah

In Makkah and Madinah you need data for Nusuk bookings, hotel and group WhatsApp chats, video calls home and maps. This guide compares a home-carrier roaming pack, a Saudi local SIM and a travel eSIM, explains how much data you need, and walks through setup step by step.

Your options: roaming pack, local SIM or eSIM?

Carrier roaming prices and allowances change often. Before you travel, check your carrier’s current Saudi Arabia or Umrah pack and multiply the daily price by your trip length.

SIM card at Jeddah or Madinah airport, or an eSIM?

The arrivals halls at King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah and Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Airport in Madinah have STC, Mobily and Zain counters selling visitor SIMs. A physical SIM needs your passport and fingerprint registration, which is a legal requirement for every Saudi SIM.

In busy Umrah seasons such as Ramadan and school holidays, queues at those counters can be long after a night flight, and you may need to take out your home SIM. With an eSIM, data works as soon as the plane lands, so you can book a taxi or message your group leader straight away.

A local SIM makes sense for long stays where you need a Saudi number for local calls. For a one- to two-week Umrah, a fixed-price eSIM installed at home is usually less hassle.

How much data do you need for Umrah?

These figures are estimates; your usage depends on apps and video quality.

A WhatsApp video call uses roughly a few hundred MB per hour. If you plan long daily video calls with family, an unlimited plan is the more comfortable choice.

Networks and speed in Makkah and Madinah

Our Saudi Arabia eSIM uses the STC, Mobily and Zain networks. All three have strong 4G/5G coverage in Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah and Taif.

Around Masjid al-Haram and Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, speeds can drop at peak times such as Friday prayer, Taraweeh and the last ten nights of Ramadan. Download guides and important files on hotel Wi-Fi beforehand.

Setup: 5 steps before you fly

1. Check that your phone supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked.
2. Buy the Saudi Arabia plan online; the QR code arrives by email.
3. At home, on Wi-Fi, scan the QR code to add the eSIM (Settings → Cellular/Mobile data → Add eSIM).
4. When you land in Jeddah or Madinah, select the eSIM as your mobile data line and turn on data roaming for the eSIM.
5. Keep data roaming off on your home SIM; the line stays on and bank SMS still arrive.

eSIM compatible phones

Apps worth having for Umrah

• Nusuk: the official app for Umrah permits and Rawdah visit appointments.
• WhatsApp: group and family chats, live location.
• Google Maps: hotels, Haram gates and the area around the Prophet’s Mosque (download the area offline).
• Careem / Uber: getting around Makkah and Madinah.

Travelling with a group or family

Give every person their own eSIM. If you get separated in the crowds, everyone can share their location and call.

Install the eSIM on older relatives’ phones yourself before leaving home; after landing they only need to select the mobile data line.

Busy Umrah seasons ahead (2026–2027)

• Winter school holidays (late December to early February, depending on your country) are a peak for family Umrah trips.
• Ramadan 1448 is expected to start around 8 February 2027, with the last ten nights in early March. This is the busiest Umrah period of the year.
• Hajj 2027: the Day of Arafah is expected around 15 May and Eid al-Adha around 16 May 2027.
• Ramadan and Hajj dates depend on moon sighting and can shift by a day. If you travel in a peak period, install the eSIM at home and skip the SIM queue at the airport.

Frequently asked questions