by 05 Oct 2023
It’s highly recommended to get a local Sim card while in Makkah or Madinah, as it allows you to easily book an Uber or Careem rides, order food deliveries, stay connected with your family and friends, and access the Nusuk mobile application. Alternatively, you could also use the data roaming services of your home country’s telecoms services.
You can purchase a Sim card as soon as you arrive at the airport, if you get a chance, otherwise there are many shops in Makkah and Madinah too! To purchase a Sim card, you can follow these steps.
1. Find a mobile phone operator store
Look for stores of major mobile phone operators like Zain, STC, or Mobily, which are widely available there.
2. Choose a plan
To determine which plan is the most suitable for you, it’s important to factor in considerations like the amount of data, minutes, and SMS included. However, we recommend prioritising data plans, as having data alone should suffice to get in touch with your family and friends.
3. Provide identification
You will need to provide your passport and Visa to purchase and activate the Sim card.
4. Pay for the Sim card and plan
The total costs vary between operators and can depend on the length of your stay in Makkah and Madinah.
5. Wait for activation
Activation will take a few minutes or hours before it is ready for use, and you’re good to go!
