Mobily SIM Cards: What Tourists Should Know Before Buying

Jessica Taylor

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Latest update: August 2026

Mobily is Saudi Arabia’s second-largest mobile operator, widely used by Umrah pilgrims and tourists visiting Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, and Riyadh. Before purchasing a SIM card at the airport or in the city, here is what you need to know about Mobily’s network performance, best plans for tourists, costs, store locations, identity registration rules, key usage restrictions, and alternative eSIM options for convenience.

What Is Mobily in Saudi Arabia?

Mobily (Etihad Etisalat Company) is Saudi Arabia’s second-largest mobile operator by market share, behind stc and ahead of Zain. As of early 2026, Mobily (Etihad Etisalat Company) holds roughly 23.8% of the Saudi mobile market share, stc (49.0%) and Zain (14.6%).

How Fast and Reliable Is Mobily’s Network?

Mobily isn’t the fastest network in Saudi Arabia, but it’s the most dependable choice for daily use. According to Opensignal’s report on Saudi Arabia, Mobily’s network performance breaks down as follows:

In terms of everyday reliability, while stc reaches higher peak speeds on tests, Mobily delivers fewer dropped connections and smoother everyday performance for browsing, messaging, and streaming. Besides, Mobily ranks #1 for overall network quality in 7 of Saudi Arabia’s 9 largest cities, including Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, and Riyadh. It handles heavy crowd traffic in the holy cities particularly well.

You will also get dense, fast 4G and 5G coverage throughout Mobily’s main network corridor – connecting Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah, and central Riyadh. Signal drops only if you venture deep into unpopulated interior deserts.

Where Can You Buy a Mobily SIM Card?

You can buy a physical Mobily SIM or eSIM upon landing or in major city centers:

• Airport Kiosks (On Arrival): Mobily has official service counters inside the arrivals halls at major entry hubs, including Jeddah (JED), Riyadh (RUH), and Madinah (MED) airports.
• Official Retail Stores: Located across all major Saudi cities, including branches near the main hotel districts in Makkah and Madinah.
• Online via Mobily App/Website: You can order a physical SIM for delivery or purchase an eSIM directly through mobily.com.sa or the Mobily app.

Pro-Tip for Airport Purchases: If you buy an eSIM at an airport counter and run into setup or activation delays, you can visit any official Mobily store in the city center. Show your passport and visa to the staff, and they can verify your identity and activate your line on the spot.

How Much Does a Mobily Prepaid SIM Cost?

Mobily prepaid plans start at 34.5 SAR (~$9.20 USD) for basic data and go up to 172.5 SAR (~$46 USD) for heavy data packages. All plans run on a 4-week (28-day) cycle and include both general internet allowance and dedicated social media data.

Mobily does not sell a separate “Tourist” SIM, so visitors simply buy standard Mobily Prepaid packages using their passport and visa.

Mobily Prepaid Plan Options

Note: Social data covers major platforms including WhatsApp, X, Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram.

What Do You Need to Buy a Mobily SIM?

To buy and register a Mobily SIM card in Saudi Arabia, tourists need a physical passport and a valid Saudi visa. You do not need a local residence permit (Iqama).

In details, you need to prepare the followings:

• Physical Passport: You must present your original passport. Copies, scans, or photos on your phone are not accepted.
• Saudi Visa: Acceptable formats include an e-visa printout, a physical visa sticker, or a digital confirmation on your phone.
• No Iqama Required: Local residence IDs (Iqama) are strictly for Saudi residents. Tourists register Mobily lines using their passport and visa credentials.

Note: Under Saudi telecom guidelines, tourists are typically allowed to register up to 2 prepaid Mobily SIMs per passport/visa.

→ Learn more about a quick guide on buying a traditional sim card in Saudi Arabia

Does WhatsApp Calling Work on a Mobily SIM?

WhatsApp voice and video calls do not work reliably on Mobily SIM cards, though standard text messaging works normally.

While Saudi Arabia officially lifted its blanket VoIP ban in 2017, local carriers (including Mobily) still block or heavily throttle WhatsApp calls at the network level.

How to Make Internet Calls in Saudi Arabia

If you need to make voice or video calls while using your Mobily data:

• Use Botim: Switch to Botim, the officially approved and licensed VoIP app in Saudi Arabia.
• Use an International eSIM: Data-only international travel eSIMs route traffic outside local network firewalls, allowing WhatsApp calls to function normally.
• Use a VPN (With Caution): A VPN can bypass local WhatsApp call blocks. However, turn off your VPN near holy site checkpoints in Makkah and Madinah—pilgrimage apps like Nusuk may flag or block accounts connected through VPN proxies.

Security Warning: Beware of phishing calls. Scammers posing as Mobily support may ask for your One-Time Password (OTP) or personal details to “fix account issues.” Mobily will never ask for your OTP over the phone – never share it.

Should You Buy a Gigago Saudi Arabia eSIM Instead of Mobily SIM Cards?

Yes, a Gigago Saudi Arabia eSIM is a much simpler alternative to local prepaid SIMs. It allows you to skip physical store visits, passport uploads, and biometric/fingerprint registration entirely.

After choosing the eSIM plan that fits your needs and completing the payment, you will receive your eSIM QR code via mail within minutes. Scan it and connect as soon as you land- no airport queues or store visits required.

Plans start at just $1.90 USD for short stays and scale up depending on your trip duration and data needs. Note that, the eSIM routes data directly through STC, Saudi Arabia’s largest carrier, ensuring top download speeds and broad 5G coverage across Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah, AlUla, and major transit routes.

Frequently Asked Questions