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239+ destinations · plans from $1.99 · QR by email in minutes
7 plans from 1GB to 20GB. Buy now, scan the QR, and your data works the moment you land.
Network selection is automatic: your phone picks the strongest signal. Coverage in Saudi Arabia →
| Data | Validity | Price (USD) | Per GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $3.69 | $3.69 |
| 2 GB | 15 days | $7.69 | $3.85 |
| 3 GB | 15 days | $9.79 | $3.26 |
| 3 GB | 30 days | $9.89 | $3.30 |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $12.59 | $2.52 |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $21.99 | $2.20 |
| 20 GB | 30 days | $35.99 | $1.80 |
Prices checked 7 November 2026. All-in price in USD, no roaming charges, QR by email in minutes. Data only; keep your own number for calls and texts.
The eSIM gives you data from landing and leaves your own SIM in place, so your usual number still gets calls, SMS and bank codes. While you plan the trip, you can also top up family numbers in Saudi Arabia and watch fares home.
Slashtel Saudi Arabia eSIMs start at $3.69 for 1GB over 7 days, across 7 plans. The lowest price per GB is $1.80 on the 20GB plan. A one-week trip costs from $3.69 (1GB). It connects to STC, Mobily and Zain on up to 5G. It is data only: your own number stays active for calls, SMS and bank codes. The QR code arrives by email within minutes; install it on Wi-Fi before you fly and the days start when it first connects in Saudi Arabia. Prices checked 7 November 2026.
Last checked: October 2026
An eSIM for Saudi Arabia is a data only plan you install before you travel, so your phone connects on arrival without a shop visit. Slashtel plans start from $3.69 and run on the STC, Mobily and Zain networks, with 5G where available. Sizes go from 1GB to 20GB, and validity from 7 to 30 days.
What matters is that the plan covers the networks you will actually use, carries enough data for your trip length, and is installed before you fly. Price alone tells you little if the validity expires mid trip or the data runs out during a week of meetings.
If you are asking yourself what is the best eSIM for Saudi Arabia for your own itinerary, work through these points in order:
The eSIM is data only. It has no local phone number and cannot make calls or send SMS over the mobile network. WhatsApp and FaceTime calls work normally over the data connection.
Slashtel sells six data sizes and three validity periods, and the combination you pick sets the price. The smallest plan is aimed at a short trip with light use, while 20GB covers a long stay with heavy data habits.
Sizes are 1GB, 2GB, 3GB, 5GB, 10GB and 20GB. Validity options are 7, 15 and 30 days. Not every size is offered with every duration, so check the table and the live price when you order.
| Plan | Price from |
|---|---|
| 1GB | $3.69 |
| 2GB | $7.69 |
| 3GB | $9.89 |
| 5GB | $12.59 |
| 10GB | $21.99 |
| 20GB | $35.99 |
Prices start from $3.69. All plans are prepaid, data only and activated when you first connect in Saudi Arabia. There is nothing to collect at the airport and no contract to sign.
Slashtel eSIM plans for Saudi Arabia connect to STC, Mobily and Zain, and your device selects the network automatically. These are the three main mobile networks in the country, so you are not tied to a single operator for the whole trip.
Coverage follows each network's own footprint. Cities such as Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah are well served, and 5G is available in many areas. AlUla and the surrounding desert region have thinner coverage than the big cities, as you would expect in a remote area, so download offline maps before you drive out.
Because the network is chosen automatically, you do not need to change settings when you move between regions. If your phone shows no service, check that the eSIM line is switched on and that data roaming is enabled for that line, then restart the device.
Most travellers need less than they expect, but the right size depends on how you use the phone. These trip profiles match the plans Slashtel sells:
If you plan to use the eSIM as a hotspot for a laptop, or to join video meetings from a hotel, choose a larger size. Streaming and cloud backup consume data quickly. You can track usage in your phone settings and top up if you run low.
Install the eSIM at home, on wifi, before you leave for the airport. Installation needs a stable internet connection, and doing it early leaves time to sort out any issue with settings.
Follow the step by step instructions in our guide to installing an eSIM on iPhone and Android. If you are unsure whether your handset supports eSIM, read is my phone eSIM compatible first.
Keep the eSIM line switched off until you land, then turn it on and set it as the mobile data line. The plan starts when it first connects to a network in Saudi Arabia, not when you install it. Your home SIM can stay in the phone, switched off for data, so you keep your number for calls and bank codes.
The eSIM is data only, so it cannot make calls or send SMS, and it has no local number. Use WhatsApp, FaceTime or similar apps for voice and video calls over the data connection.
Your home SIM remains the way to receive calls, SMS and one time bank codes. Keep it active for those services, but make sure mobile data is set to the eSIM line so you are not charged for roaming data by your home operator. If your phone supports dual SIM standby, both lines can remain active at once.
Short answers to the points people check most before buying.
Can I make calls with the eSIM? No. It is data only, with no number and no SMS. Use WhatsApp or FaceTime over data, and keep your home SIM for calls and bank codes.
Does it work for Umrah and AlUla? Yes. The plan connects to STC, Mobily and Zain, and the network is selected automatically. Coverage in remote areas such as AlUla is thinner, so download offline maps first.
Can I share data? Yes, hotspot is supported. If you will tether a laptop, choose 5GB or more.
When does the plan start? It activates when it first connects to a network in Saudi Arabia, not at purchase or installation.
Can I top up? Yes, you can buy another plan if you run low. Check your usage in phone settings.
Which phones work? Most recent iPhone and Android handsets with eSIM support, provided the device is carrier unlocked.
Yes. The Slashtel Saudi Arabia eSIM is data only. It has no local phone number and cannot make calls or send SMS over the mobile network. Messaging and calls through apps such as WhatsApp and FaceTime work over the data connection.
WhatsApp, FaceTime and similar apps work over the data connection, including voice and video calls. The eSIM itself cannot place ordinary calls or send SMS. Keep your home SIM active for calls, texts and bank verification codes, with mobile data set to the eSIM.
Yes, hotspot is supported, so you can share data with a laptop or a second device. Sharing uses data faster than phone browsing, so pick 5GB or more if you plan to tether regularly, and check your usage in phone settings.
The plan activates when the eSIM first connects to a network in Saudi Arabia. Installing it at home does not start the clock. Keep the eSIM line switched off until you land, then enable it and set it as your mobile data line.
Yes. You can buy another plan from Slashtel if your data runs low, and the new plan starts when it connects. Check your remaining usage in your phone settings so you can top up before you run out during a trip.
Most recent iPhone and Android handsets that support eSIM and are carrier unlocked will work. Check your model before buying using our compatibility guide. Install the eSIM on wifi before you fly so any settings issue can be fixed at home.
For most trips a 5GB to 10GB data eSIM valid for 30 days is the right size: Slashtel's 5GB plan for Saudi Arabia is $12.59 on STC, Mobily and Zain. Install it before you fly, keep your home SIM on for calls and bank texts, and top up the same eSIM if you run low.
From $3.69 for 1GB valid 7 days, as of 7 November 2026. Longer trips: two weeks from $7.69 (2GB), one month from $9.89 (3GB).
$1.80 per GB on the 20GB plan (30 days, $35.99). Bigger plans usually cost less per GB, so buy the size you expect to use.
STC, Mobily and Zain, with speeds up to 5G where available. The eSIM picks the strongest network automatically.
No. Slashtel eSIMs are data only, with no local number, calls or SMS. WhatsApp and other internet calls work, and your home SIM can stay on for calls and OTP texts.
Validity starts when the eSIM first connects to a network in Saudi Arabia, not when you buy it, so you can buy and install it before you travel.
The Saudi riyal (SAR).
darb card / darb digital pass (Riyadh Metro): buy at station ticket machines or offices; digital pass in darb app. Phone wallet: Contactless bank card or Apple Pay at gates (Express Mode).
King Khalid International (RUH): Riyadh Metro Yellow Line (Line 4) from Terminal 1-2, 3-4 and 5 stations into the city.
Pick a plan, pay by card. QR arrives by email within a minute.
Scan the QR on Wi-Fi at home. Takes two minutes. Keep your main SIM in.
Enable data roaming on the Slashtel line. Done, no shops, no queues.
Money, getting around and the apps you'll need. Facts checked 2026-10.
Riyadh Metro · metro · Riyadh
King Khalid International (RUH): Riyadh Metro Yellow Line (Line 4) from Terminal 1-2, 3-4 and 5 stations into the city
Apps that need data: Darb
Get a Saudi Arabia eSIM → so maps, ride apps and transport top-ups work from the moment you land.
Sources: kkia.sa · sama.gov.sa · gulfnews.com
Covers the UAE, Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. 5GB for 30 days is $23.89; plans from $5.69. Data only, your own number stays on for calls and OTPs.
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