Kornelijus
Affordable and reliable. Traveled to the US for a trip and used blikst. It was much more affordable than other companies and was very
Saudi Arabia
Trust score 4.5
Features
- Coverage: Saudi Arabia
- Network Provider: MTC
- Speed: 4G / 5G
- Tethering / Hotspot: Yes
Plan Details
Device Compatibility: Most modern smartphones are fully compatible with Blikst eSIMs. However, a few exceptions exist. Check our detailed compatibility list to confirm your device works flawlessly with our service..
Activation Policy: Enjoy automatic activation by simply scanning the QR code provided after purchase. Your eSIM will instantly activate upon your arrival at Saudi Arabia, ensuring immediate connectivity.
Delivery Time: Receive a confirmation email with your eSIM details right after completing your purchase. Quick and seamless delivery ensures you’re ready to go in minutes.
Description
Saudi Arabia has opened rapidly to tourism since the e-visa launched in 2019, and travellers are arriving for AlUla, Diriyah, Red Sea diving, and the Riyadh and Jeddah urban scenes that didn't exist on the tourist map a decade ago. A Blikst Saudi Arabia eSIM runs on MTC (Mobile Telecommunications Company — stc is the common consumer brand in-country) at 4G / 5G speeds. stc has the widest 5G footprint in the Kingdom, particularly in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and the NEOM / AlUla development corridors.
Coverage across the Kingdom
Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Mecca, Medina, Taif, and Khobar all have extensive 5G. Highway 15 south to Taif and Abha holds steady 4G / 5G. The AlUla area — including Hegra, Elephant Rock, and the Old Town — has good 4G, with 5G pockets around the Maraya concert hall and the visitor centre. The Empty Quarter (Rub' al Khali) south of Shaybah is largely offline once you leave the main road. The Farasan Islands and Red Sea coast coverage is concentrated at the main towns; diving boats from Yanbu or Umluj hold signal near shore and lose it quickly offshore. The coastal road to NEOM and Tabuk has been upgraded significantly but still has dead zones between service areas.
Cost vs. an stc, Mobily, or Zain SIM
Local SIMs are easy to buy at King Khalid International (RUH) and King Abdulaziz (JED) with a passport and visa, and Absher-linked registration takes a few minutes at a kiosk. Tourist packs are competitive. The advantage of the Blikst eSIM is simply time — you clear immigration, walk to the taxi, and the data line is already on. International roaming on most Western carriers runs $12–$15 per day.
Arrival at RUH, JED, MED, or DMM
Install the profile on home Wi-Fi before you fly. Saudi security at immigration is generally quick now — the biometric e-visa lanes move fast. The MTC / stc line registers before you reach baggage claim. If you're arriving by land from the UAE at Batha / Al Ghuwaifat or from Bahrain via the King Fahd Causeway, the eSIM picks up the tower at the border compound. Hajj and Umrah travellers flying into Jeddah or Medina have the same seamless experience; data is genuinely important here because most Nusuk permit checks, Tawakkalna-linked services, and ride-hailing happen in-app.
Local apps and data habits
- Careem and Uber: Both operate widely. Careem is the default in Riyadh and Jeddah and often has better driver availability at odd hours. Cash payments have largely disappeared — app-linked cards rule.
- Absher and Tawakkalna: Government services and residency-linked apps; most tourists won't need them, but Umrah and Hajj travellers interact with Nusuk for permits. All of it needs live data.
- HungerStation, Jahez, Noon Food: Dominant food-delivery apps. Hotel room-service has largely been replaced by these in the big cities.
- Google Maps and Apple Maps: Both work. Apple Maps has been improved significantly for the Kingdom; Google remains the tourist default. For AlUla and the Hegra UNESCO site, follow the official Experience AlUla app for timed-entry bookings.
- Prayer times: Many shops and restaurants still close for 20–30 minutes during salah. Muslim Pro or the Absher prayer-times widget helps you plan errands around them.
Plan sizing by trip length
A four-day Riyadh or Jeddah weekend works on 3–5 GB. A one-week trip that adds AlUla and a Red Sea day wants 10 GB. Two-week itineraries covering Riyadh, AlUla, Jeddah, and Abha in the south fit 20 GB. Hajj and Umrah pilgrims staying 2–3 weeks should budget 10–20 GB depending on how much video and voice-note sharing they do with family. Business travellers on month-long project rotations in Riyadh benefit from 50 GB if they're tethering.
Install on home Wi-Fi, land at any major Saudi airport, and the stc line is already carrying before immigration.
Important Information
- This eSIM plan is only compatible with iPhone, Samsung and Google devices.
- To activate this plan, you will need to provide your IMEI, EID/ICCID and preferred eSim Activation Date.
- On the specified date your eSim will be activated automatically in the USA no QR code needed.
- The plan must be purchased at least 2 days before the activation date to allow time for processing.
Our plans
Couldn't load pickup availability
How to get your Bliskt eSIM data?
Check Device Compatibility
Confirm that your smartphone or device supports our Blikst eSIM functionality.
Learn More
Follow Installation Instructions
Use the provided step-by-step guide to set up and activate your eSIM in few minutes. Then enjoy your trip.
Learn MoreBlikst eSIM Reviews
Marius
Smooth, simple, just works. Use it again.
Elinga
Quick activation and stable connection. Super handy 🌟 Used it during my trip in Madeira.
James
Lovely support, got an esim for UK. Had no issues.
Capone
I used to have 3 mobile but the internet connection was not the best, that’s why I started to use Blikst and I find it very useful
eSIM FAQ
The Blikst Saudi Arabia eSIM runs on MTC, the Mobile Telecommunications Company, which most travellers will recognise in-country by its consumer brand stc. You get 4G and 5G speeds, and stc carries the widest 5G footprint in the Kingdom. That means strong 5G across Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and the NEOM and AlUla development corridors, with reliable 4G filling in everywhere else along the main routes.
Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Mecca, Medina, Taif and Khobar all have extensive 5G, and Highway 15 south to Taif and Abha holds steady. AlUla, including Hegra, Elephant Rock and the Old Town, has good 4G with 5G pockets near Maraya. Be honest with yourself about the gaps though: the Empty Quarter south of Shaybah is largely offline off the main road, diving boats lose signal offshore, and the coastal road to NEOM and Tabuk still has dead zones.
Right after purchase you get a confirmation email with your eSIM details, and delivery is quick. Install the profile by scanning the QR code while you are on home Wi-Fi before you fly. Activation is automatic: the eSIM switches on when you arrive in Saudi Arabia, so the stc line registers before you even reach baggage claim. If you arrive by land from the UAE or via the King Fahd Causeway from Bahrain, it picks up the tower at the border compound.
Most modern smartphones work fully with Blikst eSIMs, though a few exceptions exist, so it is worth checking our detailed compatibility list to confirm your device. Your phone also needs to be carrier-unlocked. On an iPhone you can check eSIM support under Settings, General, About and look for an EID number; on Android the option sits in your network or SIM settings. If those are present and the handset is unlocked, you are good to go.
It depends on your itinerary. A four-day Riyadh or Jeddah weekend works comfortably on 3 to 5 GB. A one-week trip that adds AlUla and a Red Sea day wants around 10 GB. A two-week loop through Riyadh, AlUla, Jeddah and Abha fits about 20 GB. Hajj and Umrah pilgrims staying two to three weeks should budget 10 to 20 GB, and business travellers on month-long Riyadh rotations who tether benefit from 50 GB.
Yes, tethering and hotspot are supported, so you can share the connection with a laptop, tablet or a travelling companion's phone. This is genuinely useful in the Kingdom, where so much runs in-app: Careem and Uber rides, Nusuk permit checks for Umrah and Hajj, food delivery through HungerStation or Jahez, and timed-entry bookings for Hegra. If you are on a long Riyadh project rotation and tethering a laptop, a larger 50 GB allowance keeps you comfortable.
This is a data-only plan, so it does not come with a Saudi phone number for traditional calls or SMS. In practice that is rarely a problem: you can call and message over the internet using apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime or voice notes, which is exactly how most travellers stay in touch with family. Because the eSIM is a separate digital line, your physical home SIM can stay in the phone so your usual number keeps receiving calls and texts.
International roaming on most Western carriers runs around 12 to 15 dollars per day, which adds up fast on a longer trip. Local stc, Mobily or Zain SIMs are easy to buy at RUH or JED with a passport and visa, and tourist packs are competitively priced. The real advantage of the Blikst eSIM is time: you install it on home Wi-Fi before flying, clear immigration, walk to the taxi, and the data line is already on, with no kiosk queue or registration.