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Roaming in Saudi Arabia: Costs, plans, and alternatives
Roaming in Saudi Arabia can be costly. Compare roaming costs and see how to stay connected abroad for less with an unlimited data Holafly eSIM.
Using roaming in Saudi Arabia can cost you up to $12 daily, or $100 if you rely on pay-as-you-go rates, which means you can pay more for staying connected than for your trip.
However, with options like a travel eSIM, the cost of roaming in Saudi Arabia can be reduced.
This guide will walk you through pricing, plans, and alternatives to roaming, and money-saving tips, so you don’t have to worry about hefty roaming charges.
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Roaming costs in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s roaming charges will vary depending on your mobile carrier.
Some carriers have daily roaming passes that cost $12 daily to unlock your allowance abroad, while using pay-as-you-go plans can cost you over $1,000 for 1 GB.
Let’s break down the cost for the US and UK markets and see if mobile carrier roaming is really worth using.
Roaming costs in Saudi Arabia for US travelers
Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile are the primary carriers to consider for US travelers, and this is how their international roaming works:
| Provider | Roaming pass | Pay-as-you-go |
|---|---|---|
| AT&T roaming in Saudi Arabia | $12 daily with unlimited data, text, and calls | $3/minute, $1.30/text, $10.24/MB |
| T-Mobile roaming in Saudi Arabia | $5 to $50 for up to 30 days with up to 15 GB of data, unlimited text and calls | N/A |
| Verizon roaming in Saudi Arabia | $12 daily with unlimited data, text, and calls | $1.79/minute, $0.50/text, $2.05/MB |
Note: T-Mobile works in Saudi Arabia at no extra cost on Experience Plans with up to 15 GB of high-speed data and lower speeds per month.
Roaming costs in Saudi Arabia for UK travelers
EE, O2, Three, and Vodafone are the primary carriers to consider for UK travelers, and here’s how their international roaming works:
| Provider | Roaming pass | Pay-as-you-go |
|---|---|---|
| EE roaming in Saudi Arabia | 7-day Zone 2 Pass – £37.50 24-hour Zone 2 Pass – £7.50 | £2.34/minute, 0.93p/text |
| O2 roaming in Saudi Arabia | £7 daily with unlimited data, texts, and calls | £3/min, £1/text, up to £29 for 5 GB of data |
| Three roaming in Saudi Arabia | £7 daily on the Advanced and Lite plans with your local allowance Free roaming on Value and Complete plans 3 to 14 days roaming passes for up to £49 with your local allowance | £2/minute, 0.35p/text, £6/MB |
| Vodafone roaming in Saudi Arabia | £6 to £7.86 to unlock your local allowance for up to 25 GB a month | 0.60p/minute, 0.08p/text, 0.12/MB |
When using O2 and Three, you can use roaming for free, depending on which plan you’ve got.
- O2: International roaming in Saudi Arabia is free if you’re using any of the Ultimate Plans.
- Three: Value plans offer 28 days, and Complete plans offer 56 days of free roaming in Saudi Arabia.
Get unlimited data for less in Saudi Arabia with Holafly
International roaming is a go-to option for many travelers, but roaming rates aren’t budget-friendly.
A travel eSIM can be a cost-effective option, reducing roaming charges while still providing reliable internet access abroad. That’s the Holafly eSIM for Saudi Arabia.
With this travel eSIM, you get peace of mind even before traveling. You’ll land with unlimited data and plans that work for up to 90 days.
Data plans range from $7.90 to as little as $3.35 based on how long you stay, making them a great way to avoid extra charges when using data roaming.
The Holafly eSIM also includes 500 MB of hotspot data per day, up to 5G data speeds, 24/7 customer support, and an easy activation process on iOS and Android.
You only need an eSIM-compatible phone and you’ll be free from roaming fees.
An eSIM you can rely on
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How to avoid roaming charges in Saudi Arabia
International roaming is quite expensive for US and UK travelers, unless you’re on the most expensive plans.
With an eSIM, you can avoid roaming charges and still get a reliable internet connection, but it’s not the only tip to save money when traveling.
- Turn roaming off: Go to “Settings” and then “Mobile Data “ to turn off your phone’s international roaming option. This will prevent unexpected roaming charges even when using a Saudi Arabia eSIM or SIM.
- Use free WiFi: Thanks to government initiatives, free WiFi is common in Saudi Arabia. However, it’s not the safest option. Use it only to send messages or check something quickly, but avoid using it for working or accessing private info.
- Rent a pocket WiFi: If you’re traveling in groups, a pocket WiFi is a great option to stay connected. But a single week of usage can cost you over $100. You can use Holafly Plans instead, as you get unlimited international data, unlimited hotspot, and coverage in 170 destinations for only $64.90/month.
- Get an eSIM: An eSIM is the best option for staying connected in Saudi Arabia. You only need an eSIM-compatible phone. Choose your ideal eSIM for Saudi Arabia plan from Holafly to reduce unexpected costs.
- Use a local SIM card: A SIM card for Saudi Arabia can cost anywhere from $10 to $60 per month, but you’ll use limited data plans and might have restrictions on apps like WhatsApp on your mobile device.
Roaming Saudi Arabia vs. eSIM for Saudi Arabia
Roaming in Saudi Arabia is pretty expensive, unless you have international plans, like the Experience from T-Mobile or Complete from Three.
However, that’s not always the case, and you can end up paying over $100 for a week using roaming in Saudi Arabia, even on data bundles.
That’s why using an eSIM for Saudi Arabia is a better option, as you can connect to local operators without worrying about roaming charges.
Plus, you can pay as little as $3.35/day, or $2.16 if you’re using Holafly Plans, which is way cheaper than most roaming packages.
Avoid excessive roaming fees
Don't get caught out by data roaming charges in Saudi Arabia. Use local networks at local rates.
Traveling somewhere else in the Middle East or close to it? Learn how roaming works there:
FAQ
Yes. US and UK mobile carriers offer different roaming options. Yet, using an eSIM is the most cost-effective option for your trip.
stc is the best mobile network provider in Saudi Arabia, offering up to 5G data speeds and great coverage.
Yes, WhatsApp works in Saudi Arabia. However, there are some limitations related to voice and video calls.
Plans that may interest you
I first started my content creation journey as a freelancer in 2019, before connecting with Holafly in 2021. At Holafly, my travel and tech interests come together in one place as I craft high-quality articles about the eSIM and related markets. My content aims to help travelers stay connected, wherever they are.
