Saudi Arabia eSIM
Middle East & North AfricaGet a Saudi Arabia eSIM and connect the moment you land. Buy a prepaid data plan, scan the QR, and you are online in minutes, with no roaming bill and no local SIM to find. Pay in crypto with no ID to buy. Plans start at $2.99.
- Instant delivery to your dashboard
- Prepaid, no contract, no auto-charge
- Works on any eSIM-ready phone
- Paid in crypto, no card or ID to buy
Saudi Arabia eSIM at a glance
Live prices, updated September 2026- Price
- From $2.99
- Data plans
- 1 GB to Unlimited
- Validity
- 7 to 30 days
- Networks
- STC, Mobily
- 5G
- Yes, where available
- Setup
- Scan a QR, ~2 min
- Payment
- Crypto
- ID to buy
- None
Choose your plan
Prices are in USD and payable in crypto. No contract and no auto-renewal, and any balance you do not use stays on your account for next time.
Turning on roaming can cost $10 or more a day. A whole Saudi Arabia trip starts at $2.99.
See the plansWhy an eSIM for Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is really two very different journeys. For millions it is the road to Mecca and Medina for Hajj or Umrah, the reason most visitors come at all. For a fast-growing wave of travellers it is AlUla's rock-cut tombs, the Red Sea's reefs, and Riyadh's Vision 2030 skyline. An eSIM keeps you online for both, live for maps, ride-hailing, and translation the moment you land.
You buy the data before you fly, see the price up front, and top up from your crypto balance with no ID. No SIM counter, no national-ID registration, and your home number stays on its own SIM for calls and bank codes.
- Fast, wide 4G and 5G across the cities and the holy sites.
- Online on arrival at Jeddah, Riyadh, or Medina.
- Honest about Hajj-season congestion around Mecca and Medina.
- Pay in crypto with no ID, and keep your home number.
Is a Saudi Arabia eSIM right for you?
Whoever you are travelling as, the setup is the same: buy, scan, connect. Here is what it means for you.
Saudi Arabia eSIM vs a Saudi SIM vs roaming
Coverage is fast and modern on every option in the cities and holy sites. The difference is how you buy, whether you register your ID, and how you pay. Here is how they compare.
SimVala eSIM
- Ready before you flyYes
- ID registration to buyNo
- Online the moment you landYes
- City and holy-site coverageFast
- WhatsApp and FaceTime callsWork
- Pay in cryptoYes
- Typical cost, 1 weekA few dollars
Saudi tourist SIM
- Ready before you flyNo, shop on arrival
- ID registration to buyYes, passport required
- Online the moment you landAfter the shop
- City and holy-site coverageFast
- WhatsApp and FaceTime callsWork
- Pay in cryptoNo
- Typical cost, 1 weekAround 35 to 80 SAR
Home roaming
- Ready before you flyYes, but pricey
- ID registration to buyNo
- Online the moment you landYes
- City and holy-site coverageFast
- WhatsApp and FaceTime callsWork
- Pay in cryptoNo
- Typical cost, 1 weekOften 10+ dollars a day
Saudi SIMs require a passport and ID registration at purchase. An eSIM skips that. Costs are rough guides, not quotes.
Coverage and networks in Saudi Arabia
Depending on the plan, your eSIM connects to a major Saudi network such as STC, Mobily, or Zain. Coverage across Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca, Medina, and the main highways is fast and modern, with a strong 5G rollout. It thins out in the vast empty desert of the Rub' al Khali and the remote interior.
Expect strong eSIM coverage in Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca, with data across the rest of Saudi Arabia. Signal follows the local network, so it is strongest in cities and along main routes.
Coverage by area
Fast, modern coverage across Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca, and Medina, with strong 5G. This is where almost all your data goes, though it can congest at peak pilgrimage times.
Reliable around AlUla, the Red Sea coast, and the main highways, with occasional gaps on the longer desert drives between towns.
Signal thins fast and can vanish in the Rub' al Khali and remote interior on any network. Download offline maps before heading inland.
How much data do you need in Saudi Arabia?
Whether your Saudi Arabia trip is 7 days, 2 weeks, or a month, pick the data size to match. Not sure? Slide your trip length below and we will suggest a plan.
A Saudi trip leans on maps, ride-hailing, translation, and photos to the cloud, plus video calls home during a long pilgrimage. For a one to two week Umrah or a mixed trip, 5 to 10 GB suits most people. Pilgrims on a longer Hajj stay, or anyone hotspotting a laptop, will want more, and you can top up any time.
Estimate your data for Saudi Arabia
Social, photos, some video
An estimate to guide you, not a limit. Wi-Fi at your hotel covers a lot, and you can top up any time, so it is fine to start smaller.
Typical usage per hour
Using an eSIM in Saudi Arabia's top cities
One Saudi Arabia eSIM covers all of these. Here is what to expect, city by city.
eSIM in Mecca
Fast coverage around the Masjid al-Haram and the hotels of the Clock Tower, so you can find your group, follow prayer times, and call home. Expect congestion at the very peak of Hajj and Umrah when the crowds are largest.
eSIM in Riyadh
Strong 4G and 5G across the capital, from the Kingdom Centre and Diriyah to the airport. Handy for ride-hailing, restaurant bookings, and translation as the Vision 2030 projects reshape the city.
eSIM in AlUla
Good coverage around AlUla town and the Hegra tombs, the country's headline heritage site. Useful for tour times and photos, though it thins on the drives out into the surrounding desert.
Yes, you can call and text in Saudi Arabia
Your eSIM is internet. So every calling and messaging app works, just like at home. No new apps to learn, nothing to set up.
Message anyone
WhatsApp, iMessage, Telegram all run over your data.
Calling apps, know before you go
Internet calls are restricted here. See the note below for what works.
Need a real number?
A data eSIM has no number of its own. Add a virtual number for codes and a local line.
Calling apps in this country
Grab a Saudi Arabia number before you fly
Get login codes and a real line to give out, all in your dashboard. Paid in crypto, no ID.
Pay for your Saudi Arabia eSIM in crypto
This is where SimVala is different. There is no card and no ID to buy. Top up a balance with any of nine coins, then buy your Saudi Arabia plan from it. Monero is accepted for the strongest privacy, and your QR lands in your dashboard the moment payment confirms.
Bitcoin
Monero
Ethereum
Tether
USD Coin
Solana
BNB
TRON
PolygonPay by QR in one scan
No card details, ever. Just scan and send.
- 1. Pick your coin and amountWe show a payment address and a QR code.
- 2. Scan and send from your walletThe quote holds for 15 minutes, no fee maths.
- 3. Balance ready, buy your planYour eSIM QR lands in your dashboard right away.
Set up your Saudi Arabia eSIM in about two minutes
No SIM to pop out, nothing to post. It works the same on iPhone and Android. Here is all it takes.
- 1Buy your plan
Pick a plan above and pay from your crypto balance. A few taps and it is done.
- 2Open your QR code
The moment your order completes, your eSIM QR appears in your dashboard.
- 3Add the eSIM in Settings
iPhone: Settings, then Cellular, then Add eSIM. Android: Settings, then Network, then Add eSIM. Scan the QR.
- 4Turn it on and land online
Switch the line on when you land at Jeddah or Riyadh, and you are online in seconds.
This is your eSIM QR. You scan it once, and your Saudi Arabia line turns on. That is the whole install.
Will it work on your phone?
Most phones from the last few years support eSIM. Not sure? Scan your device in one tap.
Good to know
- •Coverage is fast and modern across the cities and the holy sites, though the networks get congested at peak Hajj and Umrah times when millions gather.
- •Unlike some of its Gulf neighbours, Saudi Arabia allows internet calling, so WhatsApp and FaceTime voice and video calls generally work on your data.
- •Signal thins out in the deep desert, including the Rub' al Khali (the Empty Quarter). Download offline maps for long inland drives.
- •The eSIM carries data. Keep your home SIM active for calls and bank codes.
Popular in Saudi Arabia
Why travellers choose SimVala
“Went for Umrah and this was perfect. Online at Jeddah, mapped my way around Mecca and Medina, and video-called the family every night. Paid in USDT, no ID.”
“Did the AlUla and Riyadh tourist trip. Coverage in the cities and at Hegra was excellent and fast. It dropped on the long desert drives, as expected, so I had offline maps ready.”
“During Hajj it got congested right at the holy sites, which is just the crowds. Everywhere else it was quick. Loved not queueing at a SIM counter after that flight.”
Visiting more of the Middle East & North Africa?
If Saudi Arabia is one stop of a bigger trip, one regional plan covers the whole area on a single eSIM.
eSIM in Saudi Arabia: FAQ
Does my phone support eSIM?+
Most phones from the last few years do, including recent iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, and Google Pixel models.
How do I pay?+
In crypto only: Bitcoin, Monero, USDT, USDC, Solana, and more.
When does my plan start?+
Your plan validity begins when you install and activate the eSIM, not when you buy it.
Will an eSIM work in Saudi Arabia?+
Yes, as long as your phone supports eSIM and is carrier unlocked. The eSIM connects to a local network in Saudi Arabia and gives you data the moment you arrive.
How much data do I need in Saudi Arabia?+
It depends on what you do. Maps and messaging use very little, while video and hotspotting use much more. For a typical one to two week trip, 3 to 5 GB suits most travelers, and you can top up any time.
Can I keep my phone number in Saudi Arabia?+
Yes. Your home number stays on your physical SIM for calls and codes, while the eSIM carries local data. Both work at once on a dual-SIM phone.
Can I buy my eSIM before I travel?+
Yes, and you should. Buy and install it before you fly, then switch the line on when you land in Saudi Arabia. Your plan's days only start counting when you activate it, not when you buy.
Does the plan expire?+
Each plan runs for a set number of days once you activate it, shown on the plan. Any balance you have not spent stays on your account for your next trip, so nothing is wasted.
Can I use my eSIM as a personal hotspot?+
On most plans, yes, so you can share your connection with a laptop or a friend. Tethering uses more data, so pick a larger plan if you rely on it.
Do WhatsApp and FaceTime calls work in Saudi Arabia?+
Yes, generally. Unlike the UAE, Saudi Arabia lifted its ban on internet calling in 2017, so WhatsApp and FaceTime voice and video calls work on your data plan. At the very busiest holy sites during Hajj a call may struggle from congestion, but that is the crowds, not a block.
Do I need ID to get connected in Saudi Arabia?+
Not with an eSIM. Saudi SIM shops require your passport and register the SIM to your ID. An eSIM sidesteps that entirely, with no registration and payment in crypto, so you are online the moment you land.
Is coverage good in Mecca and Medina?+
Yes, it is fast and modern around the holy sites and the hotels near them. The one caveat is congestion at the very peak of Hajj and Umrah, when millions of pilgrims gather in a small area at once.
Will an eSIM work in the Saudi desert?+
In the cities, holy sites, and along the main highways, yes, with fast coverage. But the vast interior deserts like the Rub' al Khali can have no signal at all on any network. Download offline maps for long inland drives.
Is there an unlimited data plan for Saudi Arabia?+
Yes, an Unlimited 30-day plan, good for a longer Hajj stay or heavy use. Sized plans are the cheaper pick if you use less, and you can top up any time.
More for Saudi Arabia
Ready for Saudi Arabia?
Pay in crypto, scan the QR, and land connected. No card, no ID to buy. Set it up before you fly and you are online the second you arrive.