It may have seemed a stretch less than a decade ago but Saudi Arabia is growing fast as a tourist destination, seeing significant increases in only the last 36 months.
Long a destination for religious pilgrimages (Hajj and Umrah), leisure tourism is also booming in the Kingdom and raising demand for visitors to stay connected. Since stays are often short— between 5 to 10 days — a quick and easy solution is ideal for anyone entering the country. That’s where a good eSIM comes in.
Local carriers like Zain KSA offer excellent connectivity, including eSIM services, only you can’t actually activate one until you visit a Zain store in Saudi Arabia. That takes away the convenience of connecting to a local network once you touch down on in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dhahran, Medina, Tabuk or a resort along the Red Sea.
Saudi law also states that getting a physical SIM card from a local carrier in the Kingdom requires registering the card and providing biometric information (fingerprints) along with passport details.
Why not skip all that effort and come into your trip prepared before you even board your airplane? Travellers can set up eSIMs on their compatible iOS or Android phones and tablets before boarding through providers who offer data plans specifically made for short-term stays. They’re simple, painless, and easy to manage if you ever need to top up while you’re there. Here are some ways to do that.
Sim Local
SIM Local offers the Smartroam eSIM that runs on the mobile MTC Saudi Arabia network, which includes both 4G and 5G connections depending on where coverage is strongest. These are data-only plans ranging from as low as 500MB/day for $4 to as high as 20GB over 30 days for$69.50. You don’t get a local phone number, though you can use data-driven communication tools, like WhatsApp, FaceTime, Instagram, and others to stay in touch.
You can even use the data to tether other devices, so you don’t have to buy separate plans. Sim Local’s money-back guarantee gives you your money back if you choose not to activate the eSIM for any reason. Sim Local also has 100+ physical locations at airports across the United States and Europe for those times where you’d rather get help in person. Sim Local also have a handy tool for locating the right plan, fast.
Airalo
Airalo even has a name for its local Saudi eSIM, calling it "Red Sand", which runs on the Zain network, ensuring extensive coverage and 5G support. There are a range of choices to consider, like the 1GB 7-day plan for $5, 2GB over 15 days for $8.50, and as high as 25GBover 45 days for $49. Top-up prices remain the same, and Airalo only dips into that extra data when you run out of the initial bucket, something not all eSIM providers do.
These are data-only plans without local phone numbers. Hotspot tethering is fine, otherwise. The Airalo app also proves to be a nice resource, including instructions on installing the eSIM for beginners and setting up iMessage to work properly while roaming. Airalo doesn’t have physical locations, so support generally comes through its website or email.
Nomad
Nomad’s eSIMs for Saudi Arabia also run on the Zain network, suggesting coverage and reception will mirror what others running on the same network can deliver. In this case, Nomad offers with shorter durations, starting with the 1GB plan for7 days at $7.50 and on to 10GB for 30 days at $20. Top-ups stay the same when you need more data, as these are data-only plans. No local phone numbers here, either. Hotspot tethering isn’t an issue here.
The Nomad app is laid out with a simple design to reduce any potential confusion, including basic instructions on how to install the eSIM on an iPhone or Android phone. The only challenge sometimes is Nomad prefers users scan a QR code to begin a more automated install process, which is harder to do directly from a phone unless you’re able to put it on another screen.
Holafly
Holafly has eSIMs for Saudi Arabia that run on the STC network, another carrier known for its broad coverage and fast speeds. What’s unique here is plans are based more on the length of your stay. Choose the duration and you get unlimited data over that period, though is limited to 4G LTE, not 5G. Rates range from $7.90 for 1 day to $23.90 for 7days, and $36.90 for 10 days.
Despite the unlimited access, Holafly applies some brakes in case you use too much data. If it estimates you’ll use more than 90GB in a month, it may throttle speed to 256-1024Kbps “to avoid affecting other users” for 24 hours. You can tether other devices and share it with friends and family through a hotspot. No local phone number, so you would need to use data-only services to stay in contact.
Yesim
Yesim lets you choose between unlimited or standard eSIMs, both of which operate on the Mobily network. These binary choices leave it to you to decide whether you want to go by the number of days you’re staying or the amount of data you think you need. That way, a 7-dayunlimited plan costs between $41-$53, whereas a 3GB plan for 7 days is $16.50.These are data-only plans without the option for a local number.
While unlimited, they aren’t infinite plans, meaning you may encounter some throttling if you exceed your daily usage limit, which should be displayed for you in the Yesim app on your phone. This isn’t an uncommon thing from wireless carriers, so is more a consequence of Yesim’s partnerships with Mobily in this case.
