STC Tourist SIM vs Mobily, Zain and eSIM: 2026 Prices

Pakistani families planning Umrah usually weigh three options: a Jazz, Zong or Ufone roaming bundle, a travel eSIM bought before the flight, or a Saudi SIM from stc, Mobily or Zain after landing. We compared roaming in Jazz, Zong & Ufone Umrah packages vs eSIM. This guide covers the third option: on 3 November 2026 we opened each Saudi operator's visitor page, noted every pack, and converted the prices to rupees.

The short version is that Saudi visitor SIMs cost much less per GB than our eSIM. What you give up is time and paperwork on arrival. Our eSIM is data only, with no Saudi number, and it works on local Saudi networks; it isn't sold by stc, Mobily or Zain. Prices change often, so treat every figure below as a dated snapshot.

How much does an stc, Mobily or Zain tourist SIM cost in 2026?

On 3 November 2026 stc's visitor packs ran from 31 riyals (6 GB, two weeks) to 190 riyals (100 GB, four weeks), Mobily's from 34.50 to 173 riyals, and Zain's from about 30 to 172.50 riyals, VAT included or already applied. That is roughly Rs 2,200 to Rs 14,000 at the State Bank's reference rate, before card or exchange charges.

STC, Mobily and Zain were the three operators in CST's 2024 mobile spectrum auction (CST). Each sells visitor packages with data and minutes.

How we converted riyals to rupees

The State Bank of Pakistan's US dollar reference (M2M revaluation) rate on 2 November 2026 was Rs 276.7219 (SBP), and the riyal has been pegged at 3.75 to the dollar since 1986 (SAMA). That gives about Rs 73.79 per riyal. Buying riyals from an exchange company or paying by card costs a little more than this reference rate, and we couldn't cite a figure for those charges, so read the rupee prices as a floor. PKR per GB counts general data only; social-media-only data isn't counted, the same rule as in our roaming comparison.

stc Sawa Visitor

stc says its prices include 15% VAT, the offers expire on 27 December 2026, and you must visit a branch on arrival to activate the number. The minutes cover local and international calls, and Pakistan is on the list of countries for every package. On 3 November 2026, data after the package cost 2 riyals per MB (stc).

Mobily Visitors

Mobily says VAT is applied when you recharge, so none is added to the package fee (Mobily). Mobily's main website didn't load for us on 3 November, so these figures come from the same page on another Mobily server; check them in the Mobily app or at the counter. Mobily's page doesn't say where to buy the SIM or which documents you need.

Zain Visitor

Zain says its prices include 15% VAT and that the social data covers apps such as YouTube, WhatsApp and Facebook (Zain). Visitor 26 appears only on Zain's online visitor portal (Zain).

Can I buy a Saudi tourist SIM or eSIM before I fly from Pakistan?

Partly. stc lets you reserve a visitor number online but says you must activate it at a branch after you arrive. Zain's visitor portal lets you choose an eSIM, enter passport details and pay online, but a line-verification step follows. Mobily's page doesn't say. None of them is clearly set up and working before you land.

• stc: the Sawa Visitor page has a form to book a number, held for 30 days, and you can also subscribe in the mystc app or at sales offices; activation still needs a branch visit on arrival (stc).
• Zain: the portal starts with "Buy New Visitor Line", asks you to pick eSIM or physical SIM and a package, then asks for your name, date of birth, email, passport number and nationality, followed by payment and line verification (Zain). We stopped before entering any details, so we can't say whether the last step can be done from Pakistan.
• Absher verification: in May 2025 Zain said its Yaqoot app lets visitors arriving in Saudi Arabia get a SIM or eSIM and verify it through the Absher app, without fingerprinting at a branch (Zain). The same month, CST said international pilgrims could request an eSIM in an operator's app and verify it with a biometric check in the Absher app (CST). CST's announcement was about that year's Hajj pilgrims and doesn't mention Umrah.

What do I need to get a Saudi visitor SIM?

Your passport. Zain's online portal asks for your passport number. At a counter, visitors have needed a passport copy, a visa or border number and fingerprints, according to a 2023 report. Zain says its Yaqoot app replaces the counter fingerprint with Absher verification after you arrive, and CST offered the same route for 2025 Hajj pilgrims.

• At a counter: Gulf News described a passport copy, visa or border number and fingerprint registration, with stc, Zain and Mobily kiosks in the arrivals hall at Jeddah airport (Gulf News). That article was last updated in 2023, so check on arrival.
• An unlocked phone: any SIM from another network, physical or eSIM, needs a phone that isn't carrier-locked. Apple says only your current carrier can unlock an iPhone (Apple Support).
• SIM limits: we found no official rule on how many SIMs a visitor can hold, so we don't give a number.

Is a Saudi tourist SIM cheaper than a travel eSIM?

Yes, per GB, by a wide margin. On 3 November 2026 stc's four-week 51 GB pack came to about Rs 145 per GB at the reference rate, while our 30-day 50 GB eSIM was Rs 374 per GB. Saudi visitor packs also include minutes. The travel eSIM's case is convenience, not price.

Side by side, at about the same amount of data:

The roaming figures and the cash-basis method are explained in our roaming comparison. One thing the table hides is validity: many visitor packs last two weeks, while our packs for longer trips last 30 days. A 14-day pack ends before a 15-day Umrah does. Our current packs:

When is a local stc, Mobily or Zain SIM the better buy?

When price per GB matters most, when you want a Saudi number and minutes, and when you'll be in Saudi Arabia long enough for a counter visit or app verification to be worth it. It also suits a phone that can't take an eSIM, as long as the phone is unlocked and has a SIM slot.

• Lower price per GB, especially for 20 GB or more (see the table above).
• A Saudi number that drivers, hotels and group leaders can call, plus minutes that can call Pakistan: stc lists Pakistan for every visitor pack (stc).
• Nusuk without using data. In August 2025 the Hajj ministry made Nusuk work without a data plan for local SIM users, including visitors, covering Rawdah permits, Haramain train tickets and Nusuk maps (Pilgrim Experience Program). The announcement doesn't cover travel eSIMs or roaming, so expect Nusuk to use your data on those. More on Nusuk is in our Umrah eSIM guide.
• No eSIM on your phone. A physical Saudi SIM works in an unlocked phone with a SIM slot. eSIM needs an iPhone XS or XR or later (Apple Support), or an Android phone that supports it; our compatible phones guide shows the check.

When does a travel eSIM make more sense?

When you want data the moment the plane lands, no counter or verification step after a long flight, and everything paid in rupees from Pakistan. It suits parents and older relatives whose phones you can set up at home, short trips, and anyone who'd rather not depend on a registration working on the day.

• Data on landing. You install the eSIM at home before the flight, and its validity starts only when it first connects in Saudi Arabia. You can message the driver and open Nusuk in the arrivals hall.
• Nothing to do on arrival. No queue, no fingerprints, no app verification. That matters most with elderly parents at the end of a long journey.
• Paid in rupees. JazzCash, Easypaisa or bank transfer, and the QR code arrives on WhatsApp and email within 6 hours of the payment being confirmed.
• Buying for someone else. You can buy for your parents from anywhere and install the eSIM on their phones before they leave.
• Short trips. On 3 November 2026 our smallest Saudi pack was 1 GB for 7 days at Rs 1,090, below the cheapest visitor SIM in our tables (about Rs 2,217).

Some families do both: a small eSIM for the first days, then a Saudi visitor SIM once they've settled in. Use our guide to how much data you need abroad to size either one.

Which network is best in Makkah and Madinah?

We can't name one. We found no official, independent comparison of stc, Mobily and Zain coverage in Makkah, Madinah or on the Haramain train, and operators' own claims can't be compared fairly. Ask your group leader or hotel which network works well where you're staying.

Our Saudi eSIM connects to local Saudi networks, so in the cities your signal is a local network's signal. We don't name it and can't promise coverage everywhere. Whichever you choose, download Makkah and Madinah in Google Maps and screenshot your permits before you leave, in case the signal drops. Every current pack is on our Saudi Arabia eSIM page.