The short verdict
For Saudi Arabia, STC is the largest network with the best coverage in the cities and across the newer tourism destinations like AlUla and the Red Sea developments. Flysimio routes through STC and is the best value we found. Mobily is a strong second in urban areas; Zain is the budget domestic option. Coverage is excellent in Riyadh, Jeddah, and the main highways, but the deep desert — including the Empty Quarter — has little to no signal. Airalo uses the same networks at close to double the price.
Flysimio Saudi Arabia eSIM
$4.05 from · instant QR · 7-day refund
Saudi Arabia eSIM price index — August 2026
Across 4 providers and 16 plans compared in August 2026, the cheapest Saudi Arabia eSIM data on a standard 3–50 GB plan works out at $2.44/GB (Flysimio, priced live). On the same measure the cheapest rival plan is Nomad at $0.82/GB — cheaper than our best equivalent plan, which costs 197% more per gigabyte.
| Provider | Plan | Price | Price per GB | Network | Best for | Price checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nomad | 50 GB / 30 days | $41.00 | $0.82/GB | stc | Easy app | Aug 15, 2026 |
| Nomad | 20 GB / 30 days | $31.00 | $1.55/GB | stc | Easy app | Aug 15, 2026 |
| Nomad | 10 GB / 30 days | $18.00 | $1.80/GB | stc | Easy app | Aug 15, 2026 |
| Flysimio | 20 GB / 30 days | $48.75 | $2.44/GB | STC | Live | |
| Nomad | 5 GB / 30 days | $14.00 | $2.80/GB | stc | Easy app | Aug 15, 2026 |
| Flysimio | 10 GB / 30 days | $28.75 | $2.88/GB | STC | Live | |
| Flysimio | 50 GB / 30 days | $149.75 | $3.00/GB | STC | Live | |
| Flysimio | 3 GB / 15 days | $10.83 | $3.61/GB | STC | Live | |
| Flysimio | 5 GB / 30 days | $18.05 | $3.61/GB | STC | Live | |
| Flysimio | 1 GB / 7 days | $4.05 | $4.05/GB | STC | Live | |
| Nomad | 1 GB / 7 days | $5.00 | $5.00/GB | stc | Easy app | Aug 15, 2026 |
| Airalo | Unlimited (3 GB/day) / 7 days | $27.00 | — | Zain | Coverage & app | Aug 15, 2026 |
| Holafly | Unlimited / 7 days | $27.90 | — | Mobily | Unlimited data | Aug 15, 2026 |
| Airalo | Unlimited (3 GB/day) / 30 days | $97.00 | — | Zain | Coverage & app | Aug 15, 2026 |
| Holafly | Unlimited / 30 days | $107.50 | — | Mobily | Unlimited data | Aug 15, 2026 |
| Flysimio | Unlimited (2 GB/day) / 30 days | $216.90 | — | STC | Live |
- Airalo · Unlimited (3 GB/day) / 7 days: Airalo bills this as "Unlimited": 3 GB per day at full speed, then throttled to about 1 Mbps. Airalo's Saudi store lists unlimited packages only.
- Holafly · Unlimited / 7 days: Unlimited with no daily high-speed cap; Holafly applies a fair-use policy for at most one day at a time.
- Airalo · Unlimited (3 GB/day) / 30 days: Airalo bills this as "Unlimited": 3 GB per day at full speed, then throttled to about 1 Mbps.
- Holafly · Unlimited / 30 days: Unlimited with no daily high-speed cap; Holafly applies a fair-use policy for at most one day at a time.
- Flysimio · Unlimited (2 GB/day) / 30 days: 2 GB per day at full speed, then 1 Mbps. Sold as 1–30-day passes; 30 days is priced here for comparison.
How this table is priced. Flysimio prices are read live from our carrier catalog every time this page loads, so the figure here is the figure at checkout. Competitor prices are the US-dollar price shown on each provider's own site, read on the date in the last column and linked to the page we read it from; promotional prices are marked alongside the list price. Price per GB is the plan price divided by its included data — unlimited passes have no per-GB figure and are ranked by total price instead. Full method: how we test, the eSIM Price Index and what an eSIM costs.
- Nomad — checked Aug 15, 2026 — www.nomadesim.com/saudi-arabia-eSIM
- Airalo — checked Aug 15, 2026 — www.airalo.com/saudi-arabia-esim
- Holafly — checked Aug 15, 2026 — esim.holafly.com/esim-saudi-arabia/
STC vs Mobily vs Zain
| Carrier | Coverage | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| STC | Best overall, widest reach incl. new destinations | Riyadh, Jeddah, AlUla, Red Sea, pilgrimage |
| Mobily | Strong urban coverage | Cities and main highways |
| Zain | Good city coverage | Budget city stays |
Coverage across Saudi Arabia's top destinations
| Destination | Coverage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Riyadh | 5G on all carriers | Excellent coverage across the city and King Khalid Airport (RUH) |
| Jeddah | 5G on all carriers | Strong across the city, corniche, and Red Sea waterfront |
| Mecca | 5G on STC and Mobily | Strong across the holy sites and pilgrim areas |
| Medina | 5G on STC and Mobily | Strong across the city and the Prophet's Mosque |
| AlUla | 4G on STC | Good in the town and at Hegra; patchy on remote desert trails |
| Red Sea / NEOM | 4G on STC | Coverage at the resort developments; thinner in undeveloped areas |
| Dammam & Al Khobar | 5G on all carriers | Strong across the Eastern Province cities |
| Empty Quarter (Rub al Khali) | None to minimal | No coverage in the deep desert — go fully offline |
Installing your Saudi Arabia eSIM
- Buy before you fly — install on home Wi-Fi.
- Open the Flysimio email for the QR code.
- iPhone: Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM → Use QR Code.
- Android: Settings → Network & Internet → SIMs → Add SIM.
- Scan the QR code. Installation takes under 30 seconds.
- Label it "Saudi Arabia" and set it as your data line.
- Turn off Data Roaming on your home SIM only.
- Your phone connects to STC when you land at Riyadh (RUH), Jeddah (JED), or Dammam (DMM).
Frequently asked questions
What is the best eSIM for Saudi Arabia?
Flysimio on STC is a solid Saudi Arabia eSIM for coverage — STC has the widest reach including newer destinations like AlUla and the Red Sea — but it is not the cheapest. Checked in August 2026, Nomad also runs on STC and priced its plans below ours across the ladder. Airalo and Holafly both sell Saudi Arabia as unlimited-only. See the dated index above.
Does an eSIM work for Hajj and Umrah in Mecca and Medina?
Yes. STC has strong 5G coverage across Mecca, Medina, and the holy sites, which is what Flysimio routes through. Installing an eSIM before you travel means you are connected the moment you arrive, without queuing for a local SIM.
Is there coverage in AlUla?
Yes, in the town and at the main sites like Hegra, on STC. Signal is good around the developed tourism areas but thins on remote desert trails and canyons, so download offline maps for excursions.
Does an eSIM work in the Saudi desert?
Near towns and highways, yes. In the deep desert — especially the Empty Quarter (Rub al Khali) — there is little to no coverage on any carrier. Download maps and go prepared for offline travel.
Do I need a Saudi SIM card or can I use an eSIM?
An eSIM is the better choice for most visitors — cheaper than airport kiosks, installed before you land, and your home number stays active. A physical SIM is only needed if your phone does not support eSIM.
Sources & further reading
Daniel Reyes
eSIM & Mobile Networks Writer
Daniel is a telecoms writer who has covered mobile networks and eSIM technology since 2019. He breaks down carrier coverage, device compatibility, and activation step by step.