Why an eSIM is Essential for Saudi Arabia
International Roaming Doesn't Work
Saudi Arabia has no free roaming agreements with most countries. Using your home carrier in Saudi Arabia costs between $5 and $15 per MB - a bill that can reach hundreds of dollars for just a few days.
Benefits of a Saudi Arabia eSIM
- Massive savings: 10 GB for $8-15 vs $100+ in roaming
- Excellent coverage: access to STC, Mobily, and Zain networks
- Instant activation: connected as soon as you land
- No airport queues: skip SIM kiosks at the airport
Network Coverage in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has excellent 4G/5G coverage in urban areas:
| Carrier |
Coverage |
5G |
Used by |
| STC |
99% urban |
Yes |
Airalo, Holafly |
| Mobily |
98% urban |
Yes |
GoMoWorld |
| Zain |
97% urban |
Yes |
Saily |
Coverage by Destination
- Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca: perfect 4G/5G
- Medina, Dammam: excellent coverage
- Desert areas: variable, plan for offline
- Rural areas: limited coverage
How to Install Your Saudi Arabia eSIM
- Purchase your plan (QR code received by email in 2 min)
- Install 24-48h before departure from your WiFi
- Activate upon arrival in Saudi Arabia (timer starts)
- Keep your home SIM for calls and texts
Compatibility: iPhone XS+, Samsung S20+, Pixel 3+, Xiaomi 12+, OnePlus 8+
Best Saudi Arabia eSIM 2026
<BlogSummaryTable
title="Top 5 Saudi Arabia eSIM 2026"
countryCode="SA"
countrySlug="saudi-arabia"
plans={[
{
rank: 1,
providerId: "airalo",
data: "10 GB",
duration: "30 days",
price: "$14.70",
highlight: "Global leader + STC 5G",
promoCode: "ESIMP15",
},
{
rank: 2,
providerId: "holafly",
data: "Unlimited",
duration: "5 days",
price: "$19",
highlight: "Unlimited data + hotspot",
},
{
rank: 3,
providerId: "gomoworld",
data: "10 GB",
duration: "30 days",
price: "$12.60",
highlight: "Great value for money",
promoCode: "ESIMP",
},
{
rank: 4,
providerId: "saily",
data: "5 GB",
duration: "30 days",
price: "$9.20",
highlight: "NordVPN included",
promoCode: "ESIMP",
},
{
rank: 5,
providerId: "linkesim",
data: "5 GB",
duration: "30 days",
price: "$8.50",
highlight: "Competitive pricing",
},
]}
/>
Why These Providers?
- Airalo: global leader (8M+ users), STC 5G network, code ESIMP15 (-15%)
- Holafly: unlimited + hotspot, perfect for extended stays
- GoMoWorld: reliable Mobily network, code ESIMP (-10%)
- Saily: built-in NordVPN, ideal for public WiFi
- LinkeSIM: budget option for short stays
Conclusion
An eSIM is essential for Saudi Arabia - international roaming is prohibitively expensive.
Our recommendation: Airalo 10 GB at $14.70 with code ESIMP15 for the best coverage/price balance.
For extended stays: Holafly unlimited to never run out of data.
Saudi Arabia eSIM FAQ