Saudi Arabia: Read the full guide
A Saudi Arabia eSIM roams onto STC, with 5G where STC has built it out. Install the profile and scan the QR on Wi-Fi before you fly, since activation needs a connection. Pick a fixed-GB plan for a short trip, or a daily-allowance plan if you stream or work online. Data only: no Saudi phone number.
Every Saudi Arabia plan we sell runs on STC, so there is no network choice to make. What does vary is how the allowance works. Fixed-GB plans give you one pot to spend over 7, 15 or 30 days with no daily cap. Daily plans reset every day and, on the cheaper tiers, slow to 1 Mbps once the day's full-speed bucket is used. The table on this page shows which is which before you buy.
Size the plan to the trip. Maps, messaging, ride-hailing and the occasional video call fit comfortably in 3 to 5 GB for a week. Remote work, a lot of streaming or sharing a hotspot with a group is where 10 GB and above earns its price. Saudi plans cost more per GB than Europe or Japan, so a plan that is slightly too big is a more expensive mistake here than elsewhere.
Expect good service in the large cities and along the main highways, and expect gaps in open desert and on remote routes between towns. If your route leaves the cities, download offline maps and any booking, permit or ticket documents before you set off rather than relying on live data.
Pilgrims and visitors on official trips often need data for the government apps used to manage permits and bookings, for example Nusuk for Umrah. Install the app and sign in while you still have home Wi-Fi, then keep the eSIM line for the moments you need it on the ground.
Plans and prices
| Plan | Data | Validity | Price | Per GB | Daily cap | Hotspot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 MB/day, then 512 kbps · 1 day | 500 MB/day, then 512 kbps | 1 day | $1.87 | - | 500 MB/day, then 512 kbps | Not published |
| 1 GB · 7 days | 1 GB | 7 days | $3.19 | $3.19 | No daily cap | Not published |
| 3 GB · 30 days | 3 GB | 30 days | $8.37 | $2.79 | No daily cap | Not published |
| 5 GB · 30 days | 5 GB | 30 days | $12.84 | $2.57 | No daily cap | Not published |
| 10 GB · 30 days | 10 GB | 30 days | $19.70 | $1.97 | No daily cap | Not published |
| 10 GB/day, then 384 kbps · 1 day | 10 GB/day, then 384 kbps | 1 day | $19.98 | - | 10 GB/day, then 384 kbps | Not published |
| 20 GB · 30 days | 20 GB | 30 days | $31.22 | $1.56 | No daily cap | Not published |
Prices as of · Networks: STC
When you land
Install the profile and scan the QR at home on Wi-Fi before boarding. On landing, turn Data Roaming on for the eSIM line and leave your home line's data off so it cannot roam behind your back. The eSIM should attach to STC within a minute or two of leaving airplane mode.
Networks
STC
Common questions
- Does an eSIM work in Saudi Arabia?
- Yes. Our Saudi Arabia plans connect to STC. Install the eSIM before you travel, then turn on Data Roaming for that line when you land. Without that setting an eSIM profile shows no service, however good the coverage is.
- Which network do the plans use?
- STC. Every Saudi-only plan we list is on STC, with 5G where it is available. The coverage table on each plan shows the network.
- How much data do I need in Saudi Arabia?
- About 3 to 5 GB covers a week of maps, messaging and ride-hailing. Choose 10 GB or more if you work online, stream video or share a hotspot. Daily-allowance plans suit heavier users who want a predictable cap per day.
- Does the eSIM include a phone number or SMS?
- No. These are data-only plans without a Saudi number, so SMS codes from your bank or local services will not reach the eSIM. Keep your home line active for SMS, with its data switched off to avoid roaming charges.
- Can I use the hotspot or tethering?
- Our supplier does not publish a tethering rule for these plans, so we cannot tell you whether sharing a connection can be done on a given plan. The plan table shows what is known for each one. Hotspot data, wherever a plan does allow it, counts against the same data allowance, and sharing drains the battery quickly.
- When should I install it?
- Before you fly, on Wi-Fi. Installation needs an internet connection. Once installed, the profile connects on its own when you land and Data Roaming is on for the eSIM line.
- Will this eSIM work in other countries on my trip?
- No. A Saudi Arabia plan only works in Saudi Arabia. If you are also visiting neighbouring countries, look at a regional or global plan and read its country list carefully.
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