One of the first things you’ll want to sort out when you land in Saudi Arabia is a local SIM card. Without one, you’re stuck relying on hotel Wi-Fi or expensive roaming charges—neither of which is ideal when you’re trying to navigate a new city, book a Careem ride, or let your family know you’ve arrived safely.
The good news? All major telecom companies in Saudi Arabia offer special packages just for visitors. These are designed for tourists, pilgrims, and anyone on a short-term visa who needs mobile data and calling minutes without the hassle of a long-term contract.
I’ve put together the details on what each provider offers so you can pick the one that makes sense for your trip.
A Quick Note Before We Start
Visitor packages work differently from regular prepaid SIMs. You’ll need your passport and valid visa to purchase one, and you can only get them from official stores or authorized retailers—not random phone shops. Prices in Saudi Arabia include 15% VAT, though some providers add it at recharge rather than upfront (I’ll note where this applies).
Now, let’s look at what’s available.
STC (SAWA Visitor Packages)
STC is the biggest telecom company in Saudi Arabia, so you’ll find their stores everywhere—airports, malls, and most neighborhoods. Their visitor packages use the SAWA brand and come with what they call “Flex Minutes,” which you can use for both local and international calls.
Here’s what they offer:
Visitor 35 – SAR 40.25 for 5GB of data and 1 hour of calling. Valid for 2 weeks.
Visitor 52 – SAR 60 for 21GB of data and 2 hours of calling. Valid for 2 weeks.
Visitor 65 – SAR 75 for 30GB of data and 3 hours of calling. Valid for 3 weeks.
Visitor 104 – SAR 120 for 61GB of data and 5 hours of calling. Valid for 4 weeks.
Visitor 130 – SAR 50 for 74GB of data and 6 hours of calling. Valid for 4 weeks.
Visitor 165 – SAR 190 for 100GB of data and 10 hours of calling. Valid for 4 weeks.
The international calling works for most countries where expats come from—India, Pakistan, Philippines, Egypt, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and many others. The pricier packages (Visitor 104 and above) add more countries like Nigeria, Turkey, Morocco, Iraq, and Libya. The top-tier packages even include Russia and Afghanistan.
One thing to know: you have to visit an STC branch in person to activate your SIM. They’ll hold your number reservation for 30 days. These current offers run until March 30, 2026.
Mobily
Mobily is the second-largest operator in Saudi Arabia and often has competitive pricing. Their visitor packages are straightforward, and the higher-tier ones include unlimited social media—handy if you live on WhatsApp and Instagram.
Visitors 30 – SAR 34.50 for 5GB of data and 60 minutes of calling. Valid for 14 days.
Visitors 50 – SAR 57.50 for 20GB of data and 120 minutes of calling. Valid for 14 days.
Visitors 65 – SAR 74.75 for 30GB of data and 200 minutes of calling. Valid for 21 days.
Visitors 90 – SAR 103.50 for 55GB of data and 300 minutes of calling. Valid for 30 days.
Visitors 100 – SAR 115 for 25GB of data, unlimited social media, and 400 minutes of calling. Valid for 14 days.
Visitors 150 – SAR 173 for 40GB of data, unlimited social media, and 600 minutes of calling. Valid for 30 days.
To subscribe, send an SMS to 1100. Each package has its own code—7860 for Visitors 30, 7867 for Visitors 50, and so on.
A few useful codes to remember: dial *222# to check your Mobily number, and *1411*1# to check your balance. If you need to recharge using a scratch card, dial *1400* followed by the card number and #. Customer service is available at 1100.
Zain
Zain has a feature that sets it apart from the others: something called Call User Group (CUG). Basically, if you and your travel companions all get certain Zain visitor packages, you can call each other for free without eating into your minutes. This is genuinely useful if you’re traveling with family or a tour group.
Visitor 40 – SAR 40 for 7GB of data and 60 minutes of calling. Valid for 2 weeks.
Visitor 60 – SAR 60 for 20GB of data and 150 minutes of calling. Valid for 2 weeks.
Visitor 85 – SAR 85 for 28GB of data, 250 minutes of calling, and unlimited calls to other Zain visitors. Valid for 3 weeks.
Visitor 120 – SAR 120 for 45GB of data, 350 minutes of calling, unlimited calls to other Zain visitors, and unlimited social media (YouTube, WhatsApp, Facebook, Messenger, Telegram). Valid for 4 weeks.
Visitor 160 – SAR 160 for 65GB of data, 500 minutes of calling, unlimited calls to other Zain visitors, and unlimited social media. Valid for 4 weeks.
The prices listed don’t include VAT—that gets added when you recharge your line. There’s also a SAR 10 setup fee for new activations.
To activate, you can use the Zain app, visit their website, or go to any Zain shop. Recharging is easy: dial *141* then your 14-digit recharge card number, then # and press call. You can also recharge through your bank’s app using SADAD.
This current promotion runs from January 20, 2026 to April 7, 2026.
Salam Mobile
Salam is the newest of the four, but they’ve come out with some solid visitor packages. Their pricing is competitive, and they offer online ordering with delivery—which is convenient if you don’t want to hunt down a store right after landing.
Visitor 29 – SAR 29.75 for 2GB of data, 2GB of social media data, 50 minutes, and 20 SMS. Valid for 14 days. International calls work to 11 countries.
Visitor 59 – SAR 67.85 for 12GB of data, 15GB of social media data, 60 minutes, and 20 SMS. Valid for 14 days. International calls work to 39 countries.
Visitor 89 – SAR 102.35 for 20GB of data, unlimited social media data, 120 minutes, and 50 SMS. Valid for 28 days. International calls work to 40 countries.
The country coverage is decent. Visitor 29 covers the basics—India, Pakistan, Philippines, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, UAE, Yemen, Jordan, Nigeria, and Sudan (Zain network). The higher packages add a lot more, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, and most of the Middle East.
To get a Salam SIM, you can order online and have it delivered. You’ll need to provide your passport and visa details, plus an address in Saudi Arabia. They accept Mada cards, Apple Pay, STC Pay, or cash on delivery.
One thing to watch: if you go over your package limits, out-of-bundle rates are SAR 0.35 per minute for calls, SAR 0.35 per SMS (SAR 0.55 for international), and SAR 0.02 per MB for data. Not terrible, but it adds up if you’re not paying attention.
So Which One Should You Pick?
It depends on what matters most to you.
Tight budget? Salam’s Visitor 29 at under SAR 30 is the cheapest option. STC’s Visitor 35 is also affordable at around SAR 40.
Need lots of data? STC’s Visitor 165 gives you 100GB, which should be more than enough for a month. Zain’s Visitor 160 has 65GB plus unlimited social media, which might actually go further depending on how you use your phone.
Traveling with family or a group? Zain’s packages with unlimited visitor-to-visitor calling (Visitor 85, 120, or 160) make a lot of sense. You won’t burn through minutes calling each other to coordinate meetups.
Calling lots of different countries? Check the country lists carefully. Salam’s top packages cover 40 countries including the US, UK, and European destinations. STC’s premium packages have good Asian and Middle Eastern coverage.
Staying longer than two weeks? Look for packages with 3-4 week validity. STC’s Visitor 104, Zain’s Visitor 120, Mobily’s Visitors 90 or 150, and Salam’s Visitor 89 all give you at least three weeks.
Also Read: How to Check Your Border Number in Saudi Arabia
Getting Your SIM Card
You can pick up a visitor SIM at the airport when you arrive, but expect a queue—especially during Hajj and Umrah season. If you’re not in a rush, stores in malls tend to be quicker.
Bring your passport and visa copy. The activation process usually takes about 10-15 minutes.
For Salam, you can skip the store entirely and order online for delivery, which is a nice option if you’ve already arranged accommodation.
A Few Last Things
Wi-Fi is pretty widely available in Saudi Arabia—hotels, malls, coffee shops, and even some public areas. This can help stretch your mobile data further.
Download your provider’s app after you activate. It makes checking your balance, recharging, and managing your account much easier than memorizing SMS codes.