If you're planning a trip to Riyadh, the deserts of AlUla, or the Red Sea coast, sooner or later you'll ask yourself the same question: how to get internet in Saudi Arabia without getting a nasty surprise on your bill when you get home. I'll tell you firsthand, no beating around the bush. Here, I compare all the real ways to connect—your operator's roaming, hotel Wi-Fi, local Saudi SIM, and eSIM—so you can make an informed choice before boarding the plane, not when you're already wandering around the terminal looking for a counter.
Getting connected in Saudi Arabia, which is opening up to tourism
In Saudi Arabia, you have four ways to connect: your operator's roaming, hotel Wi-Fi, a local Saudi SIM, or a travel eSIM. Mobile coverage is excellent in cities and good in the desert; an eSIM is usually the most convenient and economical option for a tourist.
For decades, the country was practically inaccessible to the average tourist. That changed in 2019 when the electronic tourist visa was launched, and since then the pace of opening has been dizzying: AlUla and its Nabataean city of Hegra, the skyscrapers of Riyadh, the Old Town of Jeddah, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Red Sea megaprojects, and the mountains of Abha. Suddenly, a destination that almost no one visited is full of European travelers with many logistical questions, and internet connection is one of the first.
The good news is that the telecommunications infrastructure is far more advanced than one would expect. There are three powerful operators, 5G network in major cities, and reliable 4G almost everywhere. The bad news is that making the wrong decision about how to connect can cost you dearly or make you lose an entire morning at an airport counter. That's why it's best to sort it out before landing, and not improvise with your suitcase in hand.
Roaming: why your Spanish data plan will skyrocket here
This is the most expensive mistake I see people make. Many travelers assume their plan works the same as in France or Italy, but that's not the case: Saudi Arabia is not part of the European Union zone, so the "roaming like at home" rule does not apply at all. Here, your operator charges you international rates, which are in another galaxy.
In practice, this translates into two scenarios, neither of them good. Either your company charges you a price per megabyte that can reach absurd figures—we're talking about a simple day of looking at maps and messaging costing you dozens of euros—or it offers you a daily "travel pass" that usually costs between 10 and 15 euros a day for a ridiculous amount of data. Multiply that by a week's trip and you already have the price of an entire year's eSIM.
My advice is simple: before you leave, check your customer area to see exactly what they charge outside the EU. If you can't find the fine print, assume the worst. I'll leave you with two readings to gauge the real cost: how much international roaming costs and a direct comparison between eSIM and roaming. I would only leave roaming activated as an emergency network, with data turned off unless it's urgent.
Hotel and cafe Wi-Fi: the free joker with fine print
Free Wi-Fi is tempting and, in Saudi Arabia, quite decent. Hotels in Riyadh and Jeddah usually have good connections, large shopping centers are covered, and coffee shop chains —which are almost a social institution there— almost always offer network access for customers. As support, it's great: download maps at night, make a long video call from your room, or upload your day's photos without using your mobile data.
The problem is relying on it. The moment you leave the hotel, you lose connection, and in a country where you'll be moving around a lot—long journeys between cities, desert excursions, visits to sites in the middle of nowhere—that means being without maps, without a translator, and unable to order a car precisely when you need it most. That's why I would never leave Wi-Fi as the sole plan, but rather as a complement.
There's also a security nuance: many open networks require registration with a mobile number or email, and not all encrypt traffic well. Avoid doing banking transactions on unprotected public Wi-Fi. If you want to understand why I prefer having my own data in my pocket to relying on other people's access points, I elaborate on it in this comparison between eSIM and pocket Wi-Fi, which also applies to establishment Wi-Fi.
Local Saudi SIM: passport, border number, and biometrics
Buying a local SIM from STC, Mobily, or Zain is a perfectly valid option, especially if you're going to spend weeks in the country. All three operators have counters at the airports in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Medina, and data there is cheap. However, the process has its quirks, and it's good to know them beforehand.
Registration is mandatory by law and linked to your identity. You will need to provide your passport and the border number assigned to you upon entering the country. The employee scans your document and, in many cases, takes your fingerprint: yes, biometric registration. The card is linked to your name in the national system. It's nothing dramatic, but many people are uncomfortable leaving their biometric data for a two-week SIM.
Add to this the queue at the airport after a long flight, the physical card swap—with the risk of losing your own—and the fact that your Spanish number becomes inaccessible for receiving bank SMS. If it still works out for you, go ahead. But first, I recommend reading this comparison between eSIM and local SIM, because for most tourist stays, the balance clearly tips towards the former.
eSIM: the option I recommend and why
An eSIM is a digital card that is already integrated into your phone: you don't change anything physical, you simply activate a data plan by scanning a QR code. If the concept sounds unfamiliar, I'll explain it step by step in what an eSIM is. The key idea is that you buy it from your couch, get it ready before you take off, and it connects automatically as soon as your mobile detects the Saudi network upon landing.
For Saudi Arabia, the advantages are clear compared to the other three options. You don't hand over your passport or give fingerprints, because the plan is activated based on your online purchase identity. You keep your Spanish number active for bank SMS or WhatsApp. You avoid queues at the airport. And the price is a fraction of roaming: we're talking about plans that cover your entire stay for what a single day of international rates would cost you.
The first time I used an eSIM in a Gulf country, I got off the plane, activated my data, and already had Google Maps working before I reached the baggage claim. Zero counters, zero tiny cards falling to the floor.
If you want the specific destination guide, including how to install it and what plan to choose, you can find it in the eSIM guide for Saudi Arabia. Here, I'm focusing on comparing it to the rest; there, I go into practical detail.
The four options head-to-head
Placed side by side, the differences are clear at a glance. I've summarized in the following table what really matters when deciding: how much you pay, what paperwork is involved, how calls are handled, and in what situation I would choose each one. As you'll see, there's no single answer: the winner changes depending on your travel profile and how long you're staying.
| Option | Estimated price | Process | When I would choose it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roaming | Very high (€10-15/day or per MB) | None | Only as an emergency network |
| Hotel Wi-Fi | Free | None | Complement in the room |
| Local SIM (STC/Mobily/Zain) | Cheap data | Passport + border number + possible fingerprint | Very long stays |
| Travel eSIM | Economical and flexible | Scan a QR | Most tourists |
For a typical trip of one to three weeks, an eSIM almost always wins: you connect instantly, you don't compromise your personal data at a counter, and you pay little. A local SIM makes sense if you're staying for months. Roaming, I insist, should only be used as a default off. And Wi-Fi, as a free safety net when you're at the hotel. Order your priorities—price, convenience, privacy—and the choice becomes obvious.
Calls and video calls: the truth about restrictions
Here I need to be honest, because there's a lot of outdated information circulating online. For years, Saudi Arabia blocked internet calls (VoIP): Skype, FaceTime, and, particularly, WhatsApp voice and video calls. Part of that block was relaxed in 2017 for apps that complied with local regulations, but WhatsApp video calls remained restricted by a decision of the regulator (CITC) around 2019. I'm telling you this with total transparency so you don't get any surprises.
And now, in 2026? The situation is mixed. WhatsApp text messages work perfectly fine on any network in the country. Voice and video calls, officially, are still listed as restricted, although in early 2026 many users reported that they suddenly worked intermittently for them, without the authorities confirming it. That is to say: they may work for you, they may not, and it may depend on the day and the network.
My practical recommendation is this: for chatting, you'll be fine. For guaranteed calls, have a backup plan. Apps approved by the country—like Google Meet or BOTIM—work without blocking, and many travelers use a VPN to make their WhatsApp video calls normally. Be aware: the eSIM gives you excellent data, but the restriction is network-based, not on your card, so an approved app or VPN is your real safeguard.
Real coverage by area: cities, desert, and roads
The coverage is, honestly, better than I expected the first time. STC, the dominant operator, will exceed 18,000 5G sites by early 2026 and reach 99% of the urban population in the thirteen regions of the country. Average speeds are around 226 Mbps download, more than enough for anything you do while traveling. In large cities, it's very rare to lose signal.
| Area | Coverage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam | Extensive 5G | Excellent speed throughout the city |
| AlUla and Hegra | Reliable 4G | Better signal from Medina with STC |
| Red Sea and NEOM | 4G in tourist areas | Occasional drops in isolated sections |
| Abha and mountains | Reasonable 4G | Less dense in remote villages |
| Roads (routes 65 and 40) | Almost continuous 4G | Brief interruptions in open deserts |
In the places that most interest you as a tourist—the desert of AlUla, the Red Sea resorts, the climb to Elephant Rock—you'll have reliable 4G, although don't expect 5G on every dune. On long roads between cities, the signal is practically continuous with occasional cuts in very sparsely populated sections. For GPS, messaging, and looking for a place to eat, you won't have any problems on the usual tourist routes.
Mecca, Medina, and how much data you need
If your trip is a pilgrimage—Hajj or Umrah—connectivity stops being a luxury and becomes almost essential: coordinating with your group among huge crowds, following schedules, not getting lost, and, above all, making video calls to family back home. In Mecca and Medina, coverage is dense precisely because they receive millions of people, so the network holds up. What you do need is to calculate your data allowance well, because a pilgrim uses more than they think.
| Travel Profile | Typical Usage | Data per Week |
|---|---|---|
| Light | Maps, messaging, little else | 3-5 GB |
| Medium | Social media, photos, daily navigation | 7-10 GB |
| Intense | Video, uploading content, sharing connection | 15-20 GB |
| Pilgrimage (Umrah/Hajj) | Daily video calls, constant GPS | 15-25 GB or plan with top-up |
My quick rule: for a week-long urban getaway with normal use, 7-10 GB gives you plenty of margin. If you're going to rely on maps all day, share your connection with family, or make long video calls—common during a pilgrimage—increase to 15 GB or more, or choose a plan you can top up on the fly. It's better to have a little extra than to be stranded halfway through the Tawaf looking for Wi-Fi.
Frequently asked questions
Does WhatsApp work in Saudi Arabia? What about video calls?
WhatsApp text messages work completely normally. Voice and video calls have been officially restricted for years; in 2026, many users report that they work intermittently. To ensure them, use a VPN or an approved app like Google Meet.
Do I need a passport to activate an eSIM?
No. The eSIM is activated based on your online purchase identity, so you don't hand over your passport or provide fingerprints. That only happens with the local Saudi SIM, which requires biometric registration at the counter.
How much data do I need for a week?
For normal use over a week, between 7 and 10 GB is more than enough. If you're going to share your connection, use a lot of GPS, or make long video calls, plan for 15 GB or more, or choose a top-up plan.
Is there coverage in AlUla and the desert?
Yes. AlUla, Hegra, and the main tourist routes have reliable 4G, and STC offers the best signal from Medina. Don't expect 5G on every dune, but for maps and messaging, you'll be well covered.
Can I use an eSIM for the pilgrimage to Mecca?
Perfectly. Mecca and Medina have dense coverage due to the enormous volume of pilgrims. For Hajj or Umrah, a generous or top-up plan is advisable, as daily video calls to family consume quite a bit of data.
Is it legal to use a VPN in Saudi Arabia?
Personal use of a VPN is common among travelers and residents, especially for calls. Use it with common sense and always for legal purposes; it is the most reliable way to make WhatsApp video calls without depending on whether the network allows them that day.
Does my Spanish plan work with roaming in Saudi Arabia?
It works, but it's expensive: Saudi Arabia is not in the EU, so "roaming like at home" doesn't apply. Expect high prices per MB or daily bonuses of €10-15. Keep it as an emergency network and use your own data.
Conclusion
To sum up what I would do: I rule out roaming except for emergencies, I use hotel Wi-Fi only as backup, I leave the local SIM for those staying for months, and for a normal tourist trip, I activate an eSIM before leaving home. It's the cheapest, most convenient, and discreet way to have connection from minute one, without queues, without handing over your passport, and without surprises when you open your bill next month.
With that sorted, all that's left is to enjoy AlUla at sunset, the old town of Jeddah, and the Red Sea. If you want to get everything ready today, take a look at PuraSIM's eSIM for Saudi Arabia: buy it, install it in two minutes, and arrive connected. Have a great trip, and may your only worry be which photo to upload first.
