FairSIM eSIM for Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia runs on apps. Umrah permits live in Nusuk, the tourist e-visa arrives by email, Riyadh Season tickets are QR codes, and Hegra is visited on timed tours booked online. Uber and Careem cover Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah with the fare fixed before you book.
Buying a local SIM means a passport check and a fingerprint scan at the counter. And WhatsApp calls are still restricted on stc, Mobily and Zain lines, even though FaceTime, Zoom and Teams were unblocked years ago.
A FairSIM eSIM roams onto stc, Mobily or Zain at the wholesale rate, with no counter and no biometrics. Saudi 5G ranked third in the world for speed in December 2025, and calls over the eSIM typically go through because traffic routes via the provider's home network.
- CarriersZain Saudi Arabia
- CompatibilityCheck if eSIM is available on your phone
- No days lostPurchase now, data will start when you arrive
Saudi Arabia eSIM plans
Plan starts: On first data use
Coverage in Saudi Arabia
- 4G LTE5G
stc
The largest network, about 58% of the market, and Opensignal's February 2026 winner for download speed and coverage. Reaches all 13 regions.
- 4G LTE5G
Mobily
Opensignal's February 2026 winner for reliability, consistent quality and video streaming, with strong 5G in the big cities.
- 4G LTE5G
Zain KSA
The third network, with wide 5G coverage in the cities and an early standalone 5G core.
4G LTE nationwide, 5G in every major city and along the Riyadh to Dammam and Jeddah to Makkah to Madinah corridors
Typical speed: About 216 Mbps median mobile download in 2025, ninth in the world, and a 5G median near 244 Mbps, third globally (Ookla, December 2025).
Excellent in Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah, Dammam, AlUla town and the Red Sea resorts. Thins out in the Empty Quarter, the far north near the borders, and the Asir and Jizan mountains. Hegra and the AlUla canyons have signal at the visitor hubs, less on the trails.
How much data do you need in Saudi Arabia?
It depends on how you travel. Find your trip below, then pick the plan that matches. You can always top up in the app.
Umrah pilgrimage
Makkah and Madinah on an Umrah or tourist visa, often with Jeddah in between.
Why data matters: Nusuk permits and bookings, the Haramain train app, Uber or Careem between Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah, and family video calls from the hotel.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 10 GB
- 30 days
- 20 GB
Riyadh Season and city weekend
Boulevard City, concerts, Diriyah and the restaurants, October to March.
Why data matters: Zone tickets on your phone, Uber against Careem prices at Boulevard City, restaurant bookings, and Snapchat and TikTok uploads that eat data.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 10 GB
- 30 days
- 20 GB
AlUla and Hegra heritage trip
Two or three nights among the tombs, canyons and Maraya concerts.
Why data matters: Timed Hegra tours booked online, shuttle times, star-gazing camp pickups on WhatsApp, and offline maps for the canyons where signal fades.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 10 GB
- 30 days
- 20 GB
Business trip to Riyadh or Jeddah
Dense schedules across KAFD, the airport road and the Corniche.
Why data matters: Teams and Zoom work on local networks, Personal Hotspot for the laptop, no Absher account needed for visitors, and WhatsApp calls that typically work on a foreign eSIM.
- 7 days
- 10 GB
- 14 days
- 20 GB
- 30 days
- Unlimited
Red Sea and Jeddah diving
Liveaboards, Yanbu wrecks and the new Red Sea resorts.
Why data matters: Dive-centre WhatsApp groups, resort apps, and speeds that drop as soon as the boat leaves the marina.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 10 GB
- 30 days
- 20 GB
Expat visit or long stay
Weeks with family or a project in the Kingdom.
Why data matters: Daily video calls, streaming and hotspot. A roaming eSIM avoids the biometric SIM counter and the local internet-calling block.
- 7 days
- 10 GB
- 14 days
- 20 GB
- 30 days
- Unlimited
What your home carrier charges in Saudi Arabia
Daily roaming passes look small until you multiply them by the length of the trip. FairSIM plans for Saudi Arabia start at $5.99 and never bill per day.
| Carrier | Roaming charge | FairSIM |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon TravelPass (US) | $12 per line per day, 5 GB of high-speed data per day then slower speeds | from $5.99, no daily fee |
| AT&T International Day Pass (US) | $12 per day per line, $6 for each additional line, charged only on the days you use it | from $5.99, no daily fee |
| T-Mobile International Pass (US) | $10 for 1 day and 2 GB, $50 for 10 days and 15 GB, $75 for 30 days and 30 GB | from $5.99, no daily fee |
| EE (UK) | £8 per day, £40 for 7 days or £60 for 15 days | from $5.99, no daily fee |
| Vodafone UK | £8 per day, £6 on plans started before 11 August 2021 | from $5.99, no daily fee |
| Telstra International Day Pass (Australia) | A$10 per day with 2 GB of data | from $5.99, no daily fee |
Carrier prices as published on their roaming pages at the time of writing. They change often; check your own plan before you fly.
How FairSIM works
Three steps between you and the internet abroad. Nothing to pick up at the airport.
Pick a destination and a plan
Choose the country or region and the data you need. The price you see is the price you pay.
Tap install
On iPhone (iOS 17.4+) the eSIM installs in one tap, no QR code. Do it at home while you still have Wi-Fi.
Land and connect
Turn on data roaming for the FairSIM line when you arrive. Your plan starts when it first connects.
Connectivity tips for Saudi Arabia
Apply for the e-visa at visa.visitsaudi.com; it costs about SAR 535 with insurance, lasts a year, and allows 90 days per visit.
Install the eSIM at home and switch it on at the gate. There is no SIM counter in Makkah worth queueing for.
Register on Nusuk before you travel if you plan Umrah; Rawdah permits in Madinah go days ahead.
Riyadh Season traffic is heavy. Compare Uber and Careem at Boulevard City and allow an hour for the ride.
Download AlUla and the Asir mountains offline; the canyons and the Habala road lose signal.
If a WhatsApp call fails, you are probably on hotel Wi-Fi. Switch to the FairSIM line and try again.
Keep your home SIM active for bank codes, with its own data roaming off.
Summer heat above 45°C drains batteries fast; carry a power bank for the Haram and the desert.
Can you rely on free Wi-Fi?
Airports, malls and the Grand Mosque in Makkah offer free Wi-Fi, usually after an SMS code, and hotel Wi-Fi is fine in the big chains. It is no plan for a day at Boulevard City or a drive to AlUla, and WhatsApp calls are blocked on hotel networks.
Local SIM card or eSIM in Saudi Arabia?
stc, Mobily and Zain sell visitor SIMs at 24-hour kiosks in Riyadh and Jeddah airports and in mall stores. stc's Sawa Ziyara packs start at about SAR 40 (about $11) for 1 GB plus social media, with 10 to 20 GB from about SAR 85. Zain is the budget pick at around SAR 80 for 10 GB over four weeks. Airport kiosks charge more.
Every line is registered against your passport with a fingerprint scan at the counter, and internet calling on the resulting SIM follows the local rules. A FairSIM eSIM skips the queue and the biometrics: buy it in the app before you fly, switch it on when you land, and top up from the app in Makkah or AlUla.
Saudi Arabia eSIM questions
Does eSIM work in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Unlocked eSIM phones connect to stc, Mobily or Zain 4G and 5G with a travel eSIM. On iPhone that means XS, XR or newer, and iOS 17.4 for the one-tap install.
Which network will my Saudi Arabia eSIM use?
stc, Mobily or Zain. stc has the widest coverage, Mobily the best reliability scores, and all three run 5G in the cities. The app shows the network for each plan.
Is there 5G in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Saudi 5G ranked third in the world for speed in December 2025. Your eSIM uses it wherever the host network has it and your phone supports it; elsewhere you get fast 4G.
Do WhatsApp calls work in Saudi Arabia?
WhatsApp voice and video calls are commonly blocked on Saudi SIMs and hotel Wi-Fi, though the block has come and gone at times. FaceTime, Zoom, Teams and Google Meet work on all networks. On a foreign travel eSIM, WhatsApp calls typically work because traffic routes via the provider's home network; it is not officially guaranteed.
Can I use Personal Hotspot in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Every FairSIM plan supports Personal Hotspot, with no separate cap.
Should I install the eSIM before or after landing?
Before. Install it over Wi-Fi at home, then turn on the line and data roaming when you land. Validity typically starts at the first connection to a Saudi network.
Can I use the eSIM for Umrah or Hajj?
Yes. It is data for Nusuk, maps and messaging like any other plan. For Hajj, check your group's arrangements, since some packages include a local SIM.
How much data do I need for 10 days in Saudi Arabia?
About 8 to 10 GB for permits, maps, ride apps and messaging; 15 to 20 GB if you stream or upload a lot of video from Riyadh Season.
Local SIM or eSIM for Saudi Arabia?
A local SIM costs about the same as an eSIM but needs a passport and fingerprint at the counter and follows Saudi internet-calling rules. A travel eSIM is installed before you fly, has no biometrics, and tops up in the app.
What is an eSIM?
A SIM card built into your phone. Instead of a plastic chip, you download a profile. Every iPhone since the XS has one next to the physical SIM slot, so your home number stays put while FairSIM supplies the data.
Is my phone compatible?
FairSIM works with eSIM-compatible, carrier-unlocked iPhones: the XS, XR and everything newer, on iOS 17.4 or later for the one-tap install with no QR code. iPhones bought in mainland China do not support eSIM at all, even when unlocked. Not sure yours is unlocked? Check Settings, General, About, Carrier Lock, or ask your carrier. The full list is on the How it works page.
When should I install my eSIM?
Before you travel, while you still have Wi-Fi. Installing does not start your plan; the validity typically starts when the eSIM first connects to a network at your destination.
Do FairSIM eSIMs come with a phone number?
No. FairSIM eSIMs are data-only by design, which keeps costs low. For calls and texts, your physical SIM stays active so you keep your existing number, and WhatsApp, FaceTime and iMessage work over data.
