Is an eSIM compulsory for Umrah?

No rule makes an eSIM compulsory for Umrah. You can use a travel eSIM, a Saudi SIM or roaming, whichever suits you. What you do need is a valid visa and an Umrah permit from Nusuk, so check the app for the current rules. An eSIM simply makes the trip easier, because maps, WhatsApp and rides all need data.

Which phones support eSIM?

Older Android phones and iPhones from before 2018 may not support eSIM, since Apple added it with the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR in 2018. Check Settings and Cellular on your phone. Make sure it is not locked to a carrier, because a locked phone may reject an eSIM from another provider.

Do WhatsApp calls work in Saudi Arabia?

WhatsApp messages work in Saudi Arabia, and calls usually work too but can be unreliable at times. Test a call on your first day, and use messages as the main way to reach your driver and your family. A message also stays in the chat, so you can find your pickup details again.

Can my family share one eSIM?

Each eSIM is tied to one device, so every phone needs its own eSIM or a hotspot from one phone. Hotspot rules differ between plans, so ask the seller if tethering is allowed and how much data a hotspot can use before you buy.

Umrah travel tips · mobile data in Saudi Arabia · 2027

eSIM for Umrah Pilgrims in 2027: Land With Data Already On

A pilgrim setting up an eSIM on a phone before Umrah — Four ways to get data in Saudi Arabia, the registration rules, the setup and the signal near the Haram.

stc sells a visitor SIM in Saudi Arabia from SAR 31 for 6 GB, but it asks you to visit a branch after you arrive to activate it. After a long flight, that queue is the last thing you want.

I am Rohail Arshad, founder of Hujjaj Umrah Taxi, and I run our rides in Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah. Bookings and driver details reach our pilgrims by WhatsApp, so I treat mobile data as part of the trip plan, and an eSIM for Umrah is the easiest way to have it working before you land. This guide covers your options, the rules, the setup and the signal near the Haram.

Jump to:

Four ways to get data Which option to choose Registration rules Data and Nusuk How much data Install and activate Keep your home SIM Signal near the Haram Book your ride FAQ

Four Ways to Get Mobile Data in Saudi Arabia

You can use a Saudi SIM, a Saudi eSIM, a travel eSIM bought online, or your home plan with roaming.

Option	How you get it	Local number
Saudi operator SIM	Operator kiosk, branch or app	Yes
Saudi operator eSIM	Operator app, with an identity check	Yes
Travel eSIM	Online, before you fly	Usually no, data only
Home plan roaming	No change to your phone	Your home number

Kiosks for stc, Mobily and Zain stand in the Jeddah and Madinah airports. The stc visitor plans run from 6 GB for 2 weeks up to 100 GB for 4 weeks. In May 2025, the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) announced a digital option. International pilgrims could verify their identity through Absher and activate a Saudi eSIM without a branch visit. The announcement named Hajj pilgrims and did not mention Umrah, so ask your operator if it applies to your visa. Roaming is the simplest option, but it usually costs much more.

Which Option Should You Choose?

My honest pick depends on who is travelling.

Short trip, 1 to 2 weeks: a travel eSIM installed at home. It skips the branch queue, and your data is on when you land.
Long stay: a Saudi operator plan, because it gives you a local number and plans of up to 4 weeks.
Families: a travel eSIM on each adult's phone, since each eSIM works on one device. Ask the seller about a hotspot for the children's phones.
Elderly pilgrims who dislike phone settings: home roaming, if the cost is acceptable, or a physical SIM fitted by staff at an operator kiosk. I would not ask them to install an eSIM alone. Their rides need the same care, so plan transportation for elderly or disabled pilgrims before you fly.

Registration Rules for an eSIM for Umrah

Every Saudi operator SIM or eSIM must be registered with a valid passport, so carry yours. The rules for a travel eSIM bought abroad are less clear. I recommend asking the seller in writing if registration is needed.

Do You Need Data to Join Nusuk

You do not need a Saudi number to register. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah FAQ says you can sign up from outside the Kingdom with a valid visa, and that a verification code is sent to your email. Keep your home SIM active until you finish, in case a code arrives by SMS.

Save your permit's QR code offline before you fly, because staff scan it at the Haram entrances. You still need data for WhatsApp, maps and rides.

How Much Data an Umrah Trip Needs

As a rough guide, messaging and maps use about 3 to 5 GB in one week and about 6 to 10 GB in two weeks. If you make video calls daily, plan for 10 GB or more. Choose by how you will use your phone and not by price alone, and plan for your whole stay, since stc's visitor plans last 2 to 4 weeks.

Install eSIM at Home and Activate After Landing

Install the eSIM at home on stable Wi-Fi. Validity may start when you install it or when you first connect to a Saudi network. Check your plan's terms before you scan the QR code. Then set the travel eSIM as your data line, turn off data roaming on your home SIM, and save offline maps of Makkah and Madinah.

Keep Your Home SIM for Texts and Bank Codes

A data-only eSIM has no phone number, so texts and bank codes still go to your home SIM. On a dual SIM phone you can keep both active, though calls and texts on the home line may cost extra. Some apps send their sign-in codes by SMS, which a data-only eSIM cannot receive.

Signal Around the Haram and at the Airport

CST said in February 2026 that it expanded 5G around the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, including their courtyards, so test your signal at the hotel and near the Haram on your first day.

Because the whole booking sits in WhatsApp, a pilgrim who lands with data can message the driver at once. Without data, you are left searching a busy arrivals hall for a name board. Switch your eSIM on as soon as you land. A Jeddah airport arrival for Umrah pilgrims runs from passport control through baggage claim and customs to the arrivals hall, so your data should be on well before the last step.

Land With Data and a Driver Waiting With Hujjaj Umrah Taxi

At Hujjaj Umrah Taxi, we send the driver's name, photo and phone number on WhatsApp the day before you travel. We also track your flight and let you wait for free after landing. Your driver meets you inside arrivals, past baggage claim, holding a name board, so you never hunt for a meeting point on a weak signal.

We charge one fixed fare per vehicle, and nothing is charged online. You pay the driver in cash or by card after the ride, and cancellation is free up to 12 hours before pickup. We are registered with Nusuk.

JEDDAH AIRPORT · MADINAH AIRPORT · NAME BOARD · FIXED FARE · PER CAR

Book your airport pickup before you fly

Hujjaj Umrah Taxi meets you inside the arrivals hall with a name board and drives door to door to your hotel, with Jeddah airport to Makkah and Madinah airport to your hotel covered. Fixed fare agreed on WhatsApp before pickup, driver details sent the day before, free waiting after landing, nothing charged online, free cancellation up to 12 hours before.

Send your flight number, hotel and group size on WhatsApp and we reply with one fixed price.

Get a quote on WhatsApp

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an eSIM compulsory for Umrah?: No rule makes an eSIM compulsory for Umrah. You can use a travel eSIM, a Saudi SIM or roaming, whichever suits you. What you do need is a valid visa and an Umrah permit from Nusuk, so check the app for the current rules. An eSIM simply makes the trip easier, because maps, WhatsApp and rides all need data.
Which phones support eSIM?: Older Android phones and iPhones from before 2018 may not support eSIM, since Apple added it with the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR in 2018. Check Settings and Cellular on your phone. Make sure it is not locked to a carrier, because a locked phone may reject an eSIM from another provider.
Do WhatsApp calls work in Saudi Arabia?: WhatsApp messages work in Saudi Arabia, and calls usually work too but can be unreliable at times. Test a call on your first day, and use messages as the main way to reach your driver and your family. A message also stays in the chat, so you can find your pickup details again.
Can my family share one eSIM?: Each eSIM is tied to one device, so every phone needs its own eSIM or a hotspot from one phone. Hotspot rules differ between plans, so ask the seller if tethering is allowed and how much data a hotspot can use before you buy.