Prepaid SIM Cards in Saudi Arabia for Travelers

In this article, you will learn which prepaid SIM cards in Saudi Arabia are offered to tourists. We will let you know if it is possible to order a starter pack before arriving in the country and whether you should count on buying one at the airport.

We will also tell you about the current mobile internet data plans of local operators and compare them with what is offered by international companies that provide communication via eSIM technology.

What SIM cards are available in Saudi Arabia

The best SIM cards in Saudi Arabia for tourists are prepaid starter packs from international providers and local mobile operators:

• physical SIM cards;
• virtual eSIM cards.

There are three mobile operators in the country, and all of them offer quite attractive data plans for travelers. The quality of communication is good, mainly in 4G format; 5G networks are being actively developed.

Religious tourism is very popular in Saudi Arabia, so local companies provide special deals for pilgrims to Hajj or Umrah. Hajj is a full pilgrimage with a visit to the Forbidden Mosque in Mecca in a strictly designated month. Umrah is a short pilgrimage during the rest of the year.

If you want to solve the issue of mobile Internet before you travel to the country, and especially if you are going to visit not only Saudi Arabia but also other countries, an eSIM virtual card will be the most convenient and affordable solution.

Advantages of eSIM technology:

• Due to the tiny chip size, phones with this technology usually have a more powerful camera and battery.
• The card does not need to be inserted into or removed from the device; this is an in-built technology implemented by the manufacturer.
• eSIM works in most countries of the world, so switching data plans is easy and convenient.
• An eSIM virtual card is two in one: a cell phone and a SIM card at the same time. It can be used even without a smartphone, for example, in conjunction with a smartwatch.
• The same eSIM can be used for a phone and a tablet PC in parallel.
• An eSIM is embedded into the phone, so it cannot be broken, stolen, or replaced with another one;
• A virtual card can work on a smartphone in conjunction with a standard nano-SIM.

Where to buy a SIM card for Saudi Arabia

At the end of 2013, Saudi Arabia, for the first time in the history of the country, announced its intention to issue tourist visas. From that moment on, local mobile operators began to develop data plans for tourists. You can buy them at the following locations:

• at airports near the cities of Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Medina, but at higher prices;
• in the branded stores of mobile operators.

You can order a Saudi SIM card in advance from Amazon or eBay. This will take time; delivery times are not predictable. There is a simpler option: activating a virtual eSIM card, if your smartphone supports such an option.

Read also: What is eSIM and how does it work

If we talk about standard starter packages, the most favorable prices for them will be in the official outlets of telecom operators. Exception: the central parts of cities and popular attractions, where they can also be overpriced.

How to buy a prepaid SIM card in Saudi Arabia

Anyone who reaches the age of 18 can buy a SIM card in Saudi Arabia. Tourists are allowed to have a maximum of two active SIM cards issued in their own name. The registration rules also require the collection of fingerprints. In addition, you will be asked to show your passport when buying a SIM card.

The best prepaid SIM cards in Saudi Arabia

Let's find out what SIM card rates are offered in Saudi Arabia, as well as how much mobile communication via eSIM technology costs.

1. Yesim

If your smartphone supports eSIM, you can activate the Internet at any convenient time, for example, a few hours before your flight to Saudi Arabia. Thus, the tourist becomes independent of roaming and the rules dictated by local mobile operators.

All you need to do is go to the Yesim web store, choose a data plan, activate the service online, and consider that the best Internet SIM card in Saudi Arabia is already in your pocket.

The following data plans are available for Saudi Arabia:

• 3 GB for 7 days —15 EUR;
• 5 GB for 15 days — 22 EUR;
• 10 GB for 30 days — 35 EUR;
• 20 GB for 30 days — 55 EUR.

Before activating the technology, we recommend checking your smartphone for eSIM technology compatibility on the operator's device support page.

Virgin Mobile

This operator offers several prepaid plans for tourists:

• 1 GB for 7 days — $3.46;
• 2.5 GB for 30 days — $10.66;
• 13 GB for 30 days — $14.66;
• 40 GB for 30 days — $22.66.

A SIM card with unlimited internet from the same operator will be valid for 36 days and will cost $86.63.

Jawwy

The operator offers tourists just one data plan: 5 GB for 30 days — $18.39.

STC

This operator has such prepaid data plans:

• 4 GB for 30 days — $19.73;
• 10 GB for 30 days — $30.65;
• 40 GB for 30 days — $52.11;
• 80 GB for 30 days — $73.57;
• unlimited offer for 30 days — $110.35.

It can be very difficult to choose a starter package in branded salons or other outlets because of the language barrier. As a rule, salespeople communicate in Arabic and do not speak English. Therefore, it is much more convenient to activate eSIM technology on your smartphone, install the Yesim mobile eSIM service and choose a cell phone data plan suitable for your purposes.

Read also: eSIM vs SIM: what's the difference

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Frequently asked questions about SIM card for Saudi Arabia

Can I buy a SIM card in Saudi Arabia without an Iqam?

Yes, you will need to show your passport and pay a small local tax in riyals to make a purchase.

Are SIM cards sold at Riyadh airports?

Yes, SIM cards from local operators can be found at airports in Riyadh and all major cities, but starter packs at these locations are overpriced.