DriftAsia Reference

Saudi Arabia
mobile operators

Which operators power our eSIM plans for Saudi Arabia, the local network to lean on, and what a tourist SIM costs on the ground.

The DriftAsia eSIM plans for Saudi Arabia shown on this page use Mobily, Zain SA, STC and offer 5G depending on the plan. Check each plan for its exact network, data allowance, validity and price before choosing. Available plans are fully refundable within 30 days as long as the eSIM has not been used on a network at the destination.

Main operatorMobily
Local SIM$12-20
Operators in our plans3

Strong 5G in cities and along major highways.

88 MSI89 NQI

Plan share by operator

Share of the eSIM plans we sell for Saudi Arabia, by underlying operator.

Mobily: 55% (46 plans) Zain SA: 29% (24 plans) STC: 17% (14 plans) 3 OPERATORS
  • Mobily55%
  • Zain SA29%
  • STC17%

Network at a glance

Mobily is the network most travellers lean on in Saudi Arabia. 5G is live on at least one operator we carry, so newer phones can reach top speeds in covered areas. On our Mobile Speed Index it scores 88, placing it among the stronger networks in the region. Median data price has risen from $1.07 per GB in April 2026 to $2.68 in August 2026.

The operators behind our plans

Each network we carry in Saudi Arabia, with who runs it and what generation it reaches.

Mobily#2
Owner
Etihad Etisalat
Network
5G
5G
5G since September 2019
Plans we carry
46
Zain SA#3
Owner
Zain Group
Network
5G
5G
5G since October 2019
Plans we carry
24
STC#1
Owner
Saudi Telecom Company
Network
5G
5G
5G since June 2019
Plans we carry
14

Common questions

Which operator is best in Saudi Arabia?

Mobily offers the widest reach for most travellers. Strong 5G in cities and along major highways. Our eSIM plans run on the strongest available network, so you do not have to choose a SIM at the counter.

Does Saudi Arabia have 5G?

Yes. At least one operator we carry runs 5G, available mainly in larger cities and along major corridors. Older devices fall back to 4G automatically.

How much is a local SIM in Saudi Arabia?

A tourist SIM bought on arrival typically runs $12-20. An eSIM skips the queue and the passport scan, and activates by QR code before you land.

How many operators power Saudi Arabia eSIM plans?

We carry plans across 3 operators in Saudi Arabia. The donut above shows how our catalogue splits between them.

How we read this

Plan share counts how many of the eSIM plans we sell for Saudi Arabia run on each operator. It reflects catalogue depth, not subscriber market share. The top operator is the network we would hand a traveller who can pick only one.