Networks and 5G
- Networks for Saudi ArabiaSTC
- SpeedUp to 5G on this network. Where there is no 5G, you connect over 4G/LTE.
- Internet runs viaBelgiumDepending on the plan. Banking or streaming apps may treat you as being there.
The box is live: the network and 5G status for Saudi Arabia, and, under “Internet runs via”, the country your data is routed through on this plan. Some websites may treat you as being in that country.
Umrah and Hajj: data in crowded Makkah and Madinah
During Hajj and at busy Umrah times, the networks around Makkah and Madinah are very crowded. With so many phones in a small area, data can slow down right when you need it: around prayer times and in the courtyards of the Holy Mosques.
- Save permits offline: screenshot your Umrah and Rawdah permits and their QR codes.
- Agree a meeting point with your group in case messages are slow.
- Send photos and voice notes later, from the hotel, when the crowds thin out.
- Keep a power bank: searching for signal in a crowd drains the battery.
Apps you need data for (Nusuk and others)
Nusuk is the official app for Umrah permits, booked as a date and time slot. Permits to visit the Rawdah in the Prophet’s Mosque are booked through the Nusuk app and website too, and that service is free.
Creating a Nusuk account confirms your phone number with a one-time code sent by SMS. Our eSIM is data only and cannot receive SMS, so create the account at home, with your own number, before you fly.
- Uber and Careem for rides in Riyadh, Jeddah and other cities
- Your airline app for boarding passes and changes
- WhatsApp to keep in touch with your group: it works over data on your usual number
Riyadh, Jeddah, AlUla and desert roads
In Riyadh and Jeddah, coverage is what you expect from big cities. Driving to AlUla or across the desert is different: long empty stretches can have weak or no signal, so download the route and keep water and fuel topped up.
Continuing to the UAE, Qatar or Bahrain? A Saudi plan covers Saudi Arabia only. The Gulf States plan covers several countries with one eSIM:
6 countries · live from our catalogue
Bahrain
Kuwait
Oman
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
United Arab Emirates
Local SIM or eSIM
| Travel eSIM | Local SIM card | |
|---|---|---|
| Ready on arrival | Yes, installed at home | After buying it at the airport or a shop |
| Home number for SMS codes | Stays on your home SIM | Swapped out, unless your phone takes two SIMs |
| Local Saudi number | No, data only | Yes |
Prefer a daily allowance? 1 GB per day · 7 days for €18.99: full speed up to 1 GB a day, then 512 Kbps until the next day.
Picked like in our shop: the cheapest plan with about 0.7 GB a day. Live prices for Saudi Arabia.
Set it up before you fly
Questions and answers
Can I register Nusuk with the eSIM?
No. Nusuk sends a one-time code by SMS, and the eSIM has no phone number. Register with your own number at home.
Will data work inside the Grand Mosque?
Usually, but at peak times the networks are very crowded and data can be slow. Keep permits and important details saved offline.
How much data do I need for two weeks of Umrah?
Maps, messages, voice notes and Nusuk need little. Video calls home use the most. The plan box shows our pick for one and two weeks.
Does the plan work in the UAE or Qatar?
No, a Saudi plan works only in Saudi Arabia. For a stopover in Dubai or Doha, choose the Gulf States plan or see the UAE guide.
When does the plan start?
Most Saudi plans start when your phone first connects in Saudi Arabia. Each plan shows when it starts.
Updated 20 Oct 2026 · checked against our live catalogue
How we check our data · Prices and plans come live from our catalogue; facts come from official sources, listed where we use them.
Sources: Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: Permit to visit Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifah · Gulf News: How to get an Umrah permit via the Nusuk app (updated 5 Feb 2025)
