SIM Cards & eSIMs in Saudi Arabia: STC vs Mobily vs Zain
Short answer
Saudi Arabia's three carriers — STC, Mobily and Zain — all offer good visitor plans, roughly SAR 40–150 for 7–70 GB with some call time (e.g. Zain Visitor 40 with 7 GB at SAR 40, STC Visitor 60 with 23 GB at SAR 70, Mobily Visitors 90 with 55 GB at SAR 103.50). Buy at airport kiosks (JED/RUH) or cheaper city shops with your passport and immigration border number, or set up an eSIM before you fly to land connected. Data is essential for Nusuk, Careem and maps.
Key takeaways
- ✓Three carriers — STC (widest network), Mobily and Zain (often best price-per-GB).
- ✓Visitor plans ~SAR 40–150 for 7–70 GB; e.g. Zain 7 GB/SAR 40, STC 23 GB/SAR 70, Mobily 55 GB/SAR 103.50.
- ✓eSIMs (all three carriers + travel brands) let you arrive already connected.
- ✓Buy at JED/RUH airport kiosks (pricier) or city shops (better value) — bring passport + border number.
- ✓Data is essential for Nusuk, Careem and Ḥaram maps. Prices verified July 2026 (VAT may be extra).
Quick facts
- Carriers
- STC · Mobily · Zain
- Visitor plans
- ~SAR 40–150
- Cheapest
- Zain 7 GB / SAR 40
- eSIM
- All three support
- Buy with
- Passport + border no.
- Buy at
- Airport / city shops
You will want mobile data from the moment you land — for Nusuk permits, Careem, maps and staying in touch with your group. Saudi Arabia has three carriers (STC, Mobily and Zain) with good visitor plans, plus eSIMs you can set up before you fly. Here is how to choose the right one, where to buy it, and what you need. Prices verified July 2026; confirm at point of sale, and note most exclude 15% VAT.
Visitor plan prices (2026)
| Plan | Data | Price | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zain Visitor 40 | 7 GB | SAR 40 | Budget option |
| STC Visitor 60 | 23 GB + 2 hrs calls | SAR 70 | 14 days |
| Mobily Visitors 90 | 55 GB + 300 min | SAR 103.50 | 30 days |
In short, tourist packages run roughly SAR 40–150 for 7–70 GB with some call time. Add 15% VAT unless the price already includes it, and pick the plan whose data and validity match your trip length rather than the biggest bundle.
Which carrier?
All three have strong coverage in Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah and Riyadh, so for a short Umrah trip any of them is fine. STC has the widest network overall, which can matter on remote roads; Mobily and Zain often win on price-per-GB. If you're only in the holy cities and major hubs, choose on price and data allowance.
Physical SIM vs eSIM
A physical SIM is usually cheapest for a lot of data and is sold at airport kiosks and city shops. An eSIM (all three carriers support them, as do travel-brand providers) lets you arrive already connected — ideal if your phone supports eSIM and you want data the instant you land, which helps for the first ride and finding your driver. Travel eSIMs cost a few dollars a day.
Where to buy & what you need
- Airport kiosks at Jeddah (JED) and Riyadh (RUH) — convenient but pricier, with fewer plans.
- City shops and malls — better value and the full plan range.
- Bring your passport; the border number assigned at immigration is needed, and stores usually scan a fingerprint at the counter.
If you land late and need data immediately, an eSIM set up in advance avoids the kiosk queue; otherwise buy in the city the next day for a better deal.
Why data matters here
Saudi Arabia runs on apps: Nusuk for your permits, Careem/Uber for rides, maps for the Ḥaram's huge concourses, and payment apps. A reliable data plan is essential, and running out mid-trip is a real hassle when you need Nusuk or a ride at short notice. See the Nusuk app guide, the Careem & Uber guide, and the essential apps for Saudi Arabia. Prices verified July 2026 — confirm at purchase (VAT may be extra).
Frequently asked questions
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Last updated: 24 July 2026·Sources reviewed by the Wadana Go editorial team.
