The best eSIM for Saudi Arabia
A kingdom of ancient history and modern transformation. Here is the plan we would pick today, the live pricing for every plan we track, and the practical things to know before you fly.
The lowest price-per-gigabyte we currently track for Saudi Arabia. A solid fit for most one-to-two-week trips with maps, messaging, and the occasional photo upload.
| Provider | Data | Days | Price | $/GB | Get |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Nomad | 50GB | 30 | $39.00 | $0.78 | Get → |
| Nomad | 20GB | 30 | $25.00 | $1.25 | Get → |
 Virgin Connect | 100GB | 30 | $151.00 | $1.51 | Get → |
| Nomad | 50GB | 30 | $79.00 | $1.58 | Get → |
| Virgin Connect | 20GB | 30 | $32.00 | $1.60 | Get → |
| Virgin Connect | 50GB | 30 | $80.00 | $1.60 | Get → |
| Nomad | 10GB | 30 | $18.00 | $1.80 | Get → |
 Saily | 20GB | 30 | $38.69 | $1.93 | Get → |
| Nomad | 20GB | 30 | $39.00 | $1.95 | Get → |
 Roamless | 1GB | PAYG | $1.95 | $1.95 | Get → |
| Roamless | 2GB | PAYG | $3.90 | $1.95 | Get → |
| Roamless | 3GB | PAYG | $5.85 | $1.95 | Get → |
| Roamless | 5GB | PAYG | $9.75 | $1.95 | Get → |
| Roamless | 10GB | PAYG | $19.50 | $1.95 | Get → |
 GigSky | 100GB | 180 | $197.99 | $1.98 | Get → |
 GoMoWorld | 11GB | 30 | $29.99 | $2.73 | Get → |
Prices are live and may change. Google Fi is excluded from the value ranking because it is a full phone plan rather than a travel data plan.
STC (Saudi Telecom), Mobily and Zain Saudi all run dense 5G across both cities. STC has the widest 5G footprint nationally; Mobily is competitive along the Jeddah Corniche and the Red Sea coast.
The holy mosque areas have dense coverage that scales up during Hajj and Umrah peaks. STC and Mobily both deploy temporary capacity upgrades for the seasons; coverage holds inside the mosque complexes.
The AlUla visitor area, old town and main resort corridor are well covered. The Hegra archaeological site has signal at the visitor centre and the main tomb stops, with brief drops between the more remote rock-cut tombs.
Coastal cities and the new flagship resort developments at AMAALA and Sindalah have purpose-built 5G. Yanbu and the diving sites along the coast hold signal close to shore.
Abha, Taif and the high-elevation tourist viewpoints along the escarpment are well covered. The deeper valley villages and the cable car routes have signal at most stations; brief drops between them.
Even STC has limited reach across the world's largest sand sea. Tour operators based out of Najran and Sharurah have signal at their gateway locations; once you cross into the dune field, expect genuinely offline days.
Riyadh
- Arriving
- King Khalid International (RUH) is about 35 km north of the city, with full 5G from STC, Mobily and Zain across all terminals. The new Riyadh Metro reaches the airport, and taxis, Careem and Uber all operate (each needs data). Activate your eSIM or buy a SIM on arrival, since the Tawakkalna app and the ride apps are part of daily logistics. Note that VoIP calls over WhatsApp and FaceTime are restricted in the Kingdom.
- On the subway and rail
- The Riyadh Metro opened at the end of 2024 with six lines; the underground sections have cell coverage on the platforms and stations. The Riyadh Bus network feeds the metro and stays connected. Careem and Uber are ubiquitous and are how most visitors get around the sprawling, car-centric city. Coverage holds across the long arterial highways linking the districts.
- Free public WiFi
- The major malls leave WiFi open: Kingdom Centre, Al Faisaliah, Riyadh Park and Granada Centre. Cafes across Olaya and the financial district offer WiFi with a purchase. RUH airport has terminal WiFi. Hotels provide guest WiFi as standard. Because VoIP is filtered, WiFi calling apps may not work reliably even on hotel networks.
- Coverage in the city
- STC (Saudi Telecom) has the widest 5G footprint across Riyadh, strongest in Olaya, the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), Diriyah and around the Kingdom Centre and Al Faisaliah towers. Mobily and Zain are competitive. Coverage at the historic Diriyah at-Turaif district, the National Museum and the Boulevard entertainment zone is excellent. VoIP calling remains restricted across all networks.
- If you prefer a local SIM
- STC, Mobily and Zain have shops at RUH arrivals and in every major mall. Saudi Arabia ties SIM registration to a passport and a fingerprint scan at the point of sale, so allow time in store; the activation links to the Absher and Tawakkalna systems. The eSIM route, activated through the carrier app, bypasses the in-store biometric step.
Jeddah
- Arriving
- King Abdulaziz International (JED) is about 20 km north of the city, with full 5G from STC, Mobily and Zain. The Haramain High-Speed Railway has a station at JED linking to Mecca and Medina. Taxis, Careem and Uber serve the city run. JED is the main gateway for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims heading to Mecca. Have data live on arrival for the ride apps and maps; VoIP restrictions apply here too.
- On the subway and rail
- Jeddah has no metro yet (a network is planned), so buses, Careem and Uber carry most visitors. The Haramain High-Speed Railway from the JED station to Mecca takes around half an hour and on to Medina, with signal at the stations and across most of the route. The Corniche waterfront and the historic Al-Balad district are best explored on foot, with cellular coverage throughout.
- Free public WiFi
- Red Sea Mall, Mall of Arabia and Jeddah Park leave WiFi open for shoppers. The Jeddah Corniche has stretches of municipal public WiFi. Cafes across the Corniche and the Tahlia Street district offer WiFi with a purchase. JED airport has terminal WiFi. As in Riyadh, VoIP filtering means WiFi calling apps may not connect reliably.
- Coverage in the city
- STC and Mobily both run dense 5G across Jeddah, strongest along the Corniche, the historic Al-Balad UNESCO district and the Jeddah Tower development zone. Mobily is particularly competitive on the Red Sea coast. Coverage at the Al-Rahma floating mosque, the King Fahd Fountain viewpoints and the old town coral houses is excellent. VoIP calling is restricted on all networks.
- If you prefer a local SIM
- STC, Mobily and Zain have shops at JED arrivals and across the malls. Passport plus fingerprint registration applies as it does nationwide. Umrah and Hajj operators often arrange SIMs for pilgrim groups. The eSIM route, activated via the carrier app, avoids the in-store biometric step and is the simplest path for a short stay.
Grab an eSIM before you arrive in Saudi Arabia to skip local SIM queues. Most urban areas offer 4G or better, while rural regions can slow down, so keep offline maps handy. Activating the eSIM in advance ensures you are connected the moment you clear customs.
Saudi Arabia has rapidly modernized its telecom infrastructure as part of Vision 2030, with STC, Mobily, and Zain delivering 5G coverage in Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca, and Medina. The Kingdom now ranks among the global leaders in 5G deployment, and travelers will find fast, reliable connectivity in all major cities and along the main intercity highways.
Remote desert areas and less-populated regions in the north and south have more limited coverage, though the highways connecting major cities are well served. Saudi Arabia restricts VoIP services - calls over WhatsApp, FaceTime, and Skype may not work reliably. The country also filters some internet content, though most travel-related websites and apps function normally. A VPN can be useful but note that unauthorized VPN use is technically restricted.
- VoIP calls (WhatsApp, FaceTime, Skype) are restricted - plan for traditional calls or messaging
- Saudi 5G speeds are among the fastest globally in Riyadh and Jeddah
- Data is essential for navigation, ride-hailing apps, and the Tawakkalna app (sometimes required for entry to venues)
- Download offline maps for desert excursions outside major highways
- Some websites and apps may be blocked - a VPN can help, though use discretion
Average Data Cost
~$2-$3/GB
Network Quality
Extensive 5G in major cities. Strong 4G LTE along highways and in populated areas.
eSIM Availability
eSIM fully supported by all three major carriers. Tourist eSIMs readily available.
Major Carriers
Recommended Providers for Saudi Arabia
Plans for Saudi Arabia
From $1.95
Pay-as-you-go: $1.95/GB
Plans for Saudi Arabia
From $4.00
Plans for Saudi Arabia
From $5.00
Plans for Saudi Arabia
From $4.49
Plans for Saudi Arabia
From $3.99
Plans for Saudi Arabia
From $6.99
Plans for Saudi Arabia
From $10.00
Pay-as-you-go: $10.00/GB
- 1
Buy and install at home on WiFi.
Installation is not the same as activation. You can install the Saudi Arabia eSIM days ahead and only switch it on after you land, which avoids burning days of validity in transit.
- 2
Screenshot your current APN before you swap.
If you ever need to switch back to your home line quickly, that screenshot saves a support call from a foreign airport.
- 3
Decide on your dual-SIM strategy.
Keep your home line on for SMS-based bank logins, two-factor codes, and emergency calls. Set the travel eSIM as the data line only. Most modern phones can do both simultaneously.
- 4
Disable iMessage on the travel eSIM line.
Otherwise iMessage will try to re-activate against the new line on arrival and you will spend the first ten minutes troubleshooting it instead of finding the taxi rank.
- 5
Download offline maps for Saudi Arabia.
Google Maps and Apple Maps both support offline regions. Pull them down on home WiFi so a flaky activation never leaves you without a route from the airport. Our offline maps guide walks through it step by step.
- 6
Activate at the airport, not before.
Once the validity timer starts it does not pause. A 15-day plan you turn on the morning of departure burns a full day of validity before you even land.
We are building this section from real, verified traveler submissions rather than stock testimonials, so it stays empty until we have notes we can stand behind. If you have used an eSIM in Saudi Arabia recently, a one-paragraph note on what worked (and what did not) helps the next traveler.
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Pricing on this page is pulled live from our database and refreshed every four hours. Coverage notes are sourced from carrier roaming agreements and updated when carriers change partners. Provider rankings are determined by price-per-gigabyte and plan flexibility, not by who pays the largest commission.