Saudi Arabia eSIM guide: Umrah, Riyadh and Jeddah

A Saudi Arabia eSIM gets you online the moment you land in Jeddah, Madinah or Riyadh, with no store visit and no fingerprint registration. It runs on the STC, Mobily and Zain networks, which cover Makkah, Madinah and every major city. Install it at home from the QR code, keep your own SIM in the phone for bank SMS, and switch the eSIM on for data when you arrive.

What a trip costs

Trip	eSIM price
Business trip to Riyadh (5 days)	Unlimited · 5 days: €15.07
Umrah (10 days)	Unlimited · 10 days: €28.92
Umrah with Madinah visit (15 days)	Unlimited · 15 days: €43.07
Long stay or Hajj (30 days)	Unlimited · 30 days: €79.99

Live prices in euros. When fixed-data plans are sold out, the price shown is the unlimited plan for the same number of days; with unlimited plans the connection never stops (fair usage policy applies).

Coverage by city

Where	What to expect
Makkah	Strong 4G/5G across the city and hotels. Around the Haram, speed can drop at Friday prayers, Taraweeh and the last ten nights of Ramadan.
Madinah	Strong coverage around Masjid an-Nabawi and the hotel district; same crowd slowdowns at peak prayer times.
Jeddah	Fast 4G/5G in the city and at King Abdulaziz Airport, so the eSIM works as soon as you land.
Riyadh	Full 5G coverage in the city, business districts and at Riyadh Season venues.
AlUla and desert roads	Good in AlUla town; long desert highways can have gaps, so download offline maps first.

What our Saudi Arabia customers buy

From 20 August to the end of October 2026 we sold 18 Saudi Arabia eSIMs, so this is a small sample. 16 of the 18 were unlimited plans. The most common choices were 1 day unlimited (8 orders) and 5 days unlimited (6 orders). Half of the buyers used the Turkish version of our site and half the Arabic one.

If you are going for Umrah, plan for the whole stay rather than a single day: Makkah and Madinah days are long, and video calls home add up quickly.

eSIM, local SIM or roaming?

Travel eSIM: bought online before you fly, QR code by email, fixed prepaid price, your home number stays in the phone.
Saudi local SIM (STC, Mobily, Zain): cheap, but you need your passport and a fingerprint registration at an airport or store, and you have to swap out your home SIM.
Home-carrier roaming: no setup, but daily charges add up quickly over a 10–15 day Umrah.

How much data you need

Messaging, maps and the Nusuk app: about 3 GB for 7–10 days.
A few WhatsApp video calls a day and photo sharing: 5–10 GB.
Long daily video calls with family, live streaming or hotspot for a group member: an unlimited plan.

Apps worth installing before you go

Nusuk: the official app for Umrah permits and Rawdah visit slots.
Careem and Uber: rides in Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah and Riyadh.
Google Maps with Makkah and Madinah downloaded offline.
Absher or Tawakkalna are for residents; tourists usually do not need them.

Setup in five minutes

Check that your phone supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked.
At home, on Wi-Fi, scan the QR code to add the eSIM.
After landing, choose the eSIM for mobile data and turn on data roaming for that line only.
Keep data roaming off on your home line so it stays reachable for SMS without data charges.

Frequently asked questions

Which network does a Saudi Arabia eSIM use?

It runs on the STC, Mobily and Zain networks. Together they cover Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, Riyadh and every major city.

Do I need a fingerprint registration to use an eSIM in Saudi Arabia?

No, a travel eSIM needs no fingerprint, passport scan or store visit. You buy it online and get the QR code by email right after payment. The fingerprint step applies to Saudi local SIM cards bought at the airport or in a store.

Does an eSIM work in Makkah during Umrah?

Yes, coverage is strong 4G/5G across Makkah and its hotels. Around the Haram, speed can drop at Friday prayers, Taraweeh and the last ten nights of Ramadan.

How much data do I need for a 10-day Umrah?

About 3 GB covers messaging, maps and the Nusuk app for 7–10 days. Plan on 5–10 GB if you make a few WhatsApp video calls a day. For long daily video calls or a hotspot for a group member, pick an unlimited plan.

Can I keep my home number for bank SMS while using the eSIM?

Yes, your own SIM stays in the phone next to the eSIM. Set the eSIM as the mobile data line and keep data roaming off on your home line. Your number then stays reachable for SMS without data charges.

When should I install the Saudi eSIM?

Install it at home on Wi-Fi before you fly. The validity starts on the first connection in Saudi Arabia, so installing early does not use up days.