Best eSIM for Saudi Arabia 2026: The Complete Guide for UK Umrah Travellers

Quick answer: for most UK travellers doing Umrah, a Saudi-only eSIM you can top up, such as Airalo, is the simplest choice. World eSIM is worth comparing too, because TravAir readers get 10% off with the code TRAVAIROFF. We compare six providers below, including Saily, Yesim, GigSky and Drimsim, so you can match the plan to your trip.

Get connected now: World eSIM with code TRAVAIROFF | Airalo | Saily | Yesim

You have booked your flights, confirmed your hotel and sorted your visa. One thing can still derail the trip: landing in Jeddah or Madinah with no mobile data and no way to reach your driver, find your hotel or open the Nusuk app.

Roaming on the big UK networks costs roughly £6 to £8 a day in Saudi Arabia, unless your plan includes it. A physical SIM at the airport means a counter, your passport and a registration step after a long flight.

An eSIM is a digital SIM built into your phone. You buy it before you leave, install it at home and switch it on when you land. There is no counter and no physical card to swap.

Why you need an eSIM for Saudi Arabia, especially for Umrah

Here is where mobile data matters most on an Umrah trip:

• Nusuk app: many pilgrims use Saudi Arabia's official Umrah app for permits and bookings, and it works best with a live connection.
• Navigation: Makkah and Madinah are large, crowded cities, and maps help first-time pilgrims find their way around the Haramain.
• WhatsApp: your hotel, transfer driver and family are all on WhatsApp, and you need data to reach them from the moment you land.
• Hotel check-in: many hotels send confirmations and check-in details by email or WhatsApp.
• Airport transfers: your driver needs to reach you, and you need to reach them.

At £6 to £8 a day on UK roaming, a week costs £42 to £56. Airalo's 7-day unlimited Saudi plan is £21.

What is an eSIM, and does your phone support it?

An eSIM is a SIM card built into your phone. Instead of inserting a physical card, you scan a QR code or install a profile, and your phone connects to a local network in the country you are visiting. For when a roaming package still makes sense, see our guide to eSIM vs roaming.

Most recent phones support eSIM, including every iPhone from the XS onwards. Each provider publishes its own compatibility list, so check your exact model. World eSIM, for example, lists every iPhone from the XS onwards, Google Pixel 4 and later, and Galaxy S23 and later. For a broader overview, the GSMA's eSIM explainer is a good starting point.

A quick check: open your phone dialler and type *#06#. If an EID number appears, your phone can take an eSIM. Your phone also needs to be unlocked, so if you bought it on a network contract, ask your network before you buy.

The 6 best eSIMs for Saudi Arabia, compared for UK Umrah travellers

We compared six providers that sell data for Saudi Arabia. Figures below were checked on 21 October 2026, mostly on each provider's own pages, and they change often. Airalo and Yesim prices are what their sites showed UK visitors; the others are in the currency each provider lists.

1. World eSIM: 10% off with code TRAVAIROFF

World eSIM is the one with a TravAir discount. Enter the code TRAVAIROFF at checkout for 10% off.

• Plans: its Middle East Tour plan covers the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar. Plans run from 1 to 30 days, either unlimited or fixed data from 1GB to 50GB.
• Top-ups: most plans cannot be topped up. If you run out, you buy a second eSIM, which arrives by email in about five minutes.
• Good to know: purchases cannot be cancelled or refunded, even if your phone does not support eSIM. Support is 24/7 by web form, and the phone line only works from Japan.
• Best for: pilgrims routing through Dubai or Doha, and anyone who wants the 10% code.

2. Airalo: a Saudi-only plan with top-ups

Airalo sells Saudi-only plans you install before you travel.

• Plans: unlimited plans run from £10 for 3 days and £21 for 7 days to £75.50 for 30 days.
• Top-ups: Airalo says many eSIMs can be topped up rather than replaced. Support is 24/7, including a WhatsApp chat.
• Good to know: validity starts when the eSIM first connects to a network, so you can install at home.
• Best for: most UK pilgrims who want a Saudi-only plan they can top up.

3. Saily: a budget option from the NordVPN team

Saily is made by the team behind NordVPN.

• Plans: from $4.49 USD for 1GB, with larger and unlimited plans available. Saily says you can top up during your trip.
• Good to know: Saily does not publish which Saudi network its plans use.
• Best for: short trips and first-time eSIM users who want a simple app.

4. Yesim: flexible plans and early buying

Yesim sells Saudi-only plans from 1GB to 30GB for 30 days, plus unlimited plans. Its Saudi page lists 10GB for 30 days at £19.80.

• Top-ups: you can top up your balance.
• Good to know: you have 180 days after purchase to activate, validity starts when the eSIM connects, and no ID verification is required. Unlimited plans follow a fair usage policy.
• Best for: pilgrims buying well ahead, or adding other Middle East stops.

5. GigSky: premium brand, higher prices

GigSky offers local Saudi plans, plus Middle East and global plans.

• Plans: its app listing says plans start from $4.99 and that you can top up an existing plan. Prices change with your region setting.
• Good to know: on the comparison sites we checked, GigSky costs more than the budget providers at common plan sizes.
• Best for: frequent travellers who already use GigSky, or want larger long-validity plans.

6. Drimsim: pay per megabyte, so check the maths

Drimsim works differently. You top up a balance and pay per megabyte used.

• Saudi rate: Drimsim lists €0.01 per MB, which is about €10 per 1GB. The eSIM itself costs €10, there are no monthly fees, and the balance does not expire.
• Good to know: at that rate, 10GB would cost roughly €100, while Yesim lists 10GB for 30 days at £19.80. For a typical Umrah trip, a fixed plan usually costs less.
• Best for: light users on multi-country trips, or anyone who already has a Drimsim.

Quick comparison: which eSIM should you choose?

Airalo, Saily and Yesim suit most Umrah trips, World eSIM adds a discount, and Drimsim only makes sense for light use.

Provider	Best for	Saudi plans	Top-up
World eSIM	The 10% code, Gulf stopovers	Unlimited 1 to 30 days, fixed 1GB to 50GB	Most plans: no
Airalo	A Saudi-only plan with top-ups	Unlimited from £10 (3 days) to £75.50 (30 days)	Often yes
Saily	Budget and short trips	From $4.49 for 1GB, larger and unlimited	Yes
Yesim	Buying ahead, flexible sizes	1GB to 30GB for 30 days (10GB £19.80), unlimited	Yes, balance
GigSky	Existing GigSky users	From $4.99	Yes
Drimsim	Light use across countries	€0.01 per MB	Yes, balance

Prices can change. Compare the checkout price for the same data and days before you pay.

How much data do you actually need for Umrah?

Plan on 1GB to 2GB a day if you use maps, social media and messaging. That is World eSIM's own estimate for a typical trip, and it means 10GB to 20GB over ten days.

• Lighter use: mostly WhatsApp and maps, with hotel WiFi for the rest. You will use less.
• Heavier use: video streaming, video calls home or a shared hotspot. Choose an unlimited plan, but note that unlimited plans usually slow down after a daily allowance. One travel guide reports that Airalo's 10-day Saudi unlimited plan drops to 1 Mbps after 3GB a day.
• Families: each phone needs its own eSIM, or one phone can share a hotspot if the plan allows it. World eSIM says some unlimited plans restrict hotspot use.

Crowds around the Haram at busy times can slow any network, so download offline maps and keep your key bookings saved on your phone.

How to set up your eSIM before travelling

Installing takes about five minutes, but it needs a stable internet connection, so do it at home on WiFi.

1. Check your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked. Type *#06# in the dialler. If an EID number appears, you are good to go.
2. Choose your provider and a Saudi plan based on trip length and usage, then pay. Our Travel Essentials page lists the providers too.
3. Wait for your QR code by email. World eSIM says it arrives in about five minutes. Some providers also install through their app.
4. On an iPhone, go to Settings, then Mobile Service (Mobile Data on older versions), then Add eSIM. On a Samsung, go to Settings, Connections, SIM Manager, then Add eSIM. Scan the QR code.
5. Name the new line "Saudi data" so you do not confuse it with your UK line.
6. Keep your UK SIM in the phone, but switch off data roaming on that line so your UK network cannot charge you for data.
7. When you land, choose the eSIM for mobile data and switch on data roaming for the eSIM line only.

Check when your plan's validity starts. Airalo says its plan begins when the eSIM first connects to a network, and World eSIM says timing depends on the plan you buy.

Still to book your flights? Compare fares to Jeddah and Madinah on Kayak, which searches many airlines and travel sites at once.

Frequently asked questions

Will an eSIM work in Makkah and Madinah?

Coverage depends on the Saudi network behind your plan. Yesim, for example, lists Mecca and Medina among its covered cities. Crowds at busy times can slow any network, so keep offline maps and your key bookings saved on your phone.

Can I keep my UK number active while using an eSIM?

Yes, if your UK SIM stays in the phone. Your UK network may still charge for calls and texts abroad, so switch off data roaming on the UK line and use WhatsApp for calls.

Is an eSIM cheaper than UK roaming in Saudi Arabia?

Usually. Roaming costs roughly £6 to £8 a day on the big UK networks unless your plan includes it, which is £42 to £56 for a week. Airalo's 7-day unlimited Saudi plan is £21.

Do I need a Saudi phone number for the Nusuk app?

Most travel eSIMs are data only and come without a Saudi number. Check the Nusuk app's own sign-in requirements before you travel, and complete any registration at home on WiFi.

What if my eSIM runs out of data during my trip?

It depends on the provider. Airalo says many eSIMs can be topped up, Saily, GigSky and Yesim offer top-ups, and Drimsim uses a balance you refill. Most World eSIM plans cannot be topped up, so you buy a new eSIM instead.

Get your eSIM before you fly

Pick your plan, install it at home and switch it on when you land. Use code TRAVAIROFF for 10% off at World eSIM.

Prefer a Saudi-only plan with top-ups? Compare Airalo, Saily and Yesim. GigSky and Drimsim suit narrower cases, as explained above.

Planning the rest of your trip? Use our DIY Umrah Planner or ask us on WhatsApp.

Related guides

• eSIM vs Roaming: Staying Connected Without the Bill Shock
• Travel Insurance for Umrah from the UK
• Umrah Transfers: Jeddah Airport to Makkah, and Makkah to Madinah

Sources

Figures were checked on 21 October 2026 and can change.

• World eSIM: Middle East Tour plans and FAQs
• Airalo: Saudi Arabia eSIM
• Saily: Saudi Arabia eSIM
• Yesim: Saudi Arabia eSIM plans
• GigSky: App Store listing
• Drimsim: Saudi Arabia rates
• UK roaming charges: Holafly, Roaming in Saudi Arabia
• Airalo unlimited speed limit: Traveltomtom, Buying a SIM Card at Jeddah Airport