Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia SIM card for Indians — visitor SIM vs. roaming
Saudi Arabia is India's second-most-visited country by volume (3.42M visitors in 2025), driven heavily by work travel, Umrah and Hajj — yet there's almost no India-specific pricing comparison for it. Here's STC's official visitor SIM pricing against Indian operator roaming.
Local visitor SIMs — STC Sawa Ziyara, Mobily, Zain
| Provider | Plan | Price | Data | Validity | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STC Sawa Ziyara | Visitor 26 — entry tier | SAR 31 ≈ ₹705 | 6GB | 2 weeks | 1 hour |
| STC Sawa Ziyara | Visitor 165 — top tier | SAR 190 ≈ ₹4,320 | 100GB | 4 weeks | 10 hours (flexible) |
| Mobily Visitor | Visitor packages | Check Mobily site | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Zain Visitor | Visitor packages | Check Zain site | Varies | Varies | Varies |
Prices last checked October 2026, from each provider's own published rates. Operators change plans often — confirm the exact price on the provider's site or app before you buy. Pardes SIM never processes payments; you always buy directly from the provider.
Indian operator roaming packs (valid in Saudi Arabia)
These are Airtel's general international roaming packs, valid across Saudi Arabia and other Gulf destinations — not Saudi-exclusive pricing. We're still confirming Jio's and Vi's exact Saudi roaming rates; check their apps for current pricing in the meantime.
| Provider | Plan | Price | Data | Validity | Calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airtel IR | Short-trip roaming pack | ₹698 | 1GB | 1 day | 100 min incoming+outgoing (India+local), 10 SMS |
| Airtel IR | Short-trip roaming pack | ₹998 | 4GB | 5 days | 150 min incoming+outgoing, 20 SMS |
| Airtel IR | Short-trip roaming pack | ₹1,298 | 6GB | 10 days | 200 min incoming+outgoing, 20 SMS |
| Airtel IR | Long-trip roaming pack | ₹2,998 | 10GB | 30 days | 300 min incoming+outgoing, 20 SMS |
Prices last checked October 2026, from each provider's own published rates. Operators change plans often — confirm the exact price on the provider's site or app before you buy. Pardes SIM never processes payments; you always buy directly from the provider.
The real trade-off
STC's Sawa Ziyara beats Indian roaming on price per GB by a wide margin for any stay longer than a couple of days. The friction is Saudi Arabia's strict passport-based SIM registration — plan to buy on arrival at the airport, where staff handle registration for you.
Saudi Arabia SIM — common questions
What is STC Sawa Ziyara and who is it for?
Sawa Ziyara is STC's (Saudi Telecom Company) official visitor SIM line, built for tourists, Umrah and Hajj pilgrims, and short-term visitors — not residents. Its entry tier is SAR 31 (≈ ₹705) for 6GB over 2 weeks, scaling up to SAR 190 (≈ ₹4,320) for 100GB over 4 weeks.
Do I need a Saudi SIM for Umrah or Hajj?
Most pilgrims buy a local visitor SIM on arrival (available at the airport and in Mecca/Medina) because it's cheaper than roaming and gives better network coverage during the Hajj/Umrah rush when networks are busiest. Keep your Indian SIM in a second slot if you need to stay reachable on your usual number.
Are Saudi SIM registration rules strict for tourists?
Yes — Saudi Arabia requires passport-based registration (Absher/Iqama details for residents, passport and visa details for visitors) for any SIM purchase, local or visitor. Carry your passport and visa/Umrah permit when buying.
Is an Indian roaming pack ever better than a local Saudi SIM?
Only for very short stays (a day or two) where the convenience of not registering a new SIM outweighs the cost — Airtel's 1-day/1GB pack is ₹698, versus STC's 2-week/6GB Sawa Ziyara at roughly ₹705 for vastly more data and validity. For anything beyond a couple of days, the local visitor SIM is the better deal.