Airalo Discover eSIM in Saudi Arabia Review (+5G Speedtests)

Many people visit Saudi Arabia for religious reasons (Hajj and Umrah).

And as of 2019, the Kingdom opened up to tourism (which was surprisingly close to impossible before that time).

Being in the top 15 largest countries worldwide (rank 13), staying connected while exploring the country is crucial.

So, while trying to find the best way to stay in Saudi Arabia, I tried out seven travel eSIMs from various eSIM providers, including Airalo's Discover (global) eSIM, and three Saudi SIM cards.

I spent more than 250 USD for my Saudi Arabia SIM card and travel eSIM review series – I went all out 😎.

In most countries, getting a local SIM card is the cheapest way to stay connected (and you will have a local phone number, something you often do not get with a travel eSIM).

But installing an eSIM is quick, easy & convenient, as you do not have to queue up upon landing (after a long flight) or deal with SIM card registration requirements (such as getting your passport details and fingerprints captured in Saudi Arabia – mandated by law).

And travel eSIMs, like Airalo's Discover, are affordable (especially when you plan to visit multiple Middle Eastern countries or other ones globally).

But what matters is how the eSIM performed in Saudi Arabia (and neighboring countries) – especially compared to the local mobile operators (and the network Discover uses in the Kingdom).

Let's get started.

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Airalo Discover eSIM in Saudi Arabia Review by Phone Travel Wiz

Original publication: 12^thof January 2024. Last updated: 29^th of February 2024.

In This Review Show

Airalo's List of Compatible eSIM-Supported Phones

Before I even focus on Airalo's Discover (global) eSIM, does your phone support Airalo eSIMs?

If you have an eSIM-compatible smartphone, it is almost guaranteed that you can use an Airalo eSIM.

While Airalo had to certify phones in the past, almost all are supported nowadays.

As of December 2023, the phones shown in the infographic below are compatible with Airalo eSIMs:

Airalo eSIM Compatible Devices List Infographic (December 2023 Edition) by Phone Travel Wiz

Now we can actually focus on the Discover eSIM (in Saudi Arabia).

Airalo Discover(+) eSIM Prices

You can get the Airalo Discover(+) eSIM for between 9 USD (1 GB for 7 days) and 89 USD (20 GB with 200 international minutes and 200 international SMS for 365 days).

You should know that Airalo's Discover eSIM has two variants: Discover and Discover+.

The Discover eSIMs are your standard data-only Airalo eSIMs – but they can be used in 125+ countries globally.

The Discover+ eSIMs, the ones I always get, can also be used in the same 125+ countries. Still, you also get an Austrian (+43) phone number, an international call allowance (up to 200 minutes) & an international SMS allowance (up to 200 SMS).

And you can call and text to any country you want. It does not have to be one of the 125+ supported countries. I confirmed this by calling a random airport in Russia (you cannot use the allowance from the Discover+ eSIM in Russia) from Australia, and it went through.

The eSIM has been a lifesaver in case I need to contact a foreign-based airline or hotel before arrival.

Or even calling back to Australia or the Netherlands while overseas (both my Australian and Dutch mobile operators would charge me an arm and a leg for calling back home!).

The price difference between the two variants is up to 20 USD, and the data allowances will stay the same.

This is an incredible deal, especially when you remember that the previous global offering by Airalo, Discover Global, charged about the same prices as the new one.

But you only got data (up to 20 GB), validity was up to 180 days (instead of 365 days/1 year) & was restricted to 4G/LTE (compared to up to 5G NR access).

Here is a list of all the 12 Airalo Discover(+) eSIM options:

Discover 1 GB eSIM for 7 days, costing 9 USD
Discover+ 1 GB (with 10 minutes and 10 SMS) eSIM for 7 days, costing 15 USD
Discover 2 GB eSIM for 15 days, costing 17 USD
Discover+ 2 GB (with 20 minutes and 20 SMS) eSIM for 15 days, costing 27 USD
Discover 3 GB eSIM for 30 days, costing 24 USD
Discover+ 3 GB (with 30 minutes and 30 SMS) eSIM for 30 days, costing 36 USD – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
Discover 5 GB eSIM for 60 days, costing 35 USD – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
Discover+ 5 GB (with 50 minutes and 50 SMS) eSIM for 60 days, costing 50 USD
Discover 10 GB eSIM for 180 days, costing 59 USD
Discover+ 10 GB (with 100 minutes and 100 SMS) eSIM for 180 days, costing 79 USD
Discover 20 GB eSIM for 365 days, costing 69 USD – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
Discover+ 20 GB (with 200 minutes and 200 SMS) eSIM for 365 days, costing 89 USD

>>> Get your Airalo Discover(+) eSIM now! <<<

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in December based on data up to the 30^th of December (2023 data only).

Airalo Discover+ eSIM with Prices — See the list above for up-to-date prices and allowances. The figures in this image may be outdated.

In general, purchasing a Discover(+) eSIM does not make sense if you plan to visit only one country (only Saudi Arabia, for example).

For example, 3 GB of data for Airalo's Saudi Arabia eSIM, Red Sand (review), costs 11 USD.

Airalo Red Sand eSIM in Saudi Arabia Review by Phone Travel Wiz

This would be 24 USD (Discover) or 36 USD (Discover+).

However, the eSIM becomes interesting if you visit multiple countries within the same region during your trip or numerous globally within a year.

If you stay within the same region, regional eSIMs will be much more exciting and cheaper (in the case of the Middle East, Airalo's Menalink eSIM (KSA review) covers Saudi Arabia and 14 other countries).

Airalo Menalink eSIM in Saudi Arabia Review by Phone Travel Wiz

But none of them give you a phone number for global use.

If that is important for you, the Discover+ eSIM is for you.

Anyway, the links from earlier will bring you to the product page of the Discover(+) eSIM.

And if you already have the Airalo app installed on your phone, the links will open the respective app (Android or iOS).

Regardless of the currency used in your country, Airalo will always charge you in USD (US Dollar).

If your credit/debit card charges you foreign exchange fees, get yourself a Wise Borderless Account and Debit Card.

Their fees are MUCH lower than banks and credit card companies charge you (and Wise is transparent about their fees, unlike banks).

I have saved THOUSANDS of Australian Dollars and Euros, my main currencies, when using Wise abroad when traveling compared to my debit and credit cards.

Open a Wise account for FREE!

What if you buy the 20 GB Discover+ eSIM, as I did, and realize you need another 10 GB of data close to exhausting your data allowance or need more minutes/SMS?

Would you need to purchase a new eSIM? Not at all.

Airalo Discover Global Usage by Adu from Phone Travel Wiz

You can top up your Airalo Discover eSIM for the same amount of data and prices as listed earlier.

The 10 GB top-up would still cost 50 USD (or 35 USD for Discover) as if you bought the 10 GB eSIM from the start.

And you can purchase as many top-ups as you wish/need.

Airalo Discover Global Purchases by Adu from Phone Travel Wiz — I sometimes get insanely fast download speeds in countries with 5G NR access. Those tests take up a lot of data, which is why I have to top-up again, even though I have plenty of minutes and SMS left 🫠

That way, you will never run out of data.

A handful of Airalo eSIMs do not allow for top-ups. But that does not apply to the Discover(+) eSIM – so worry not.

You can top-up on the Airalo website or its apps.

And if you buy a top-up before you have fully exhausted your data, call, or text allowance, Airalo will not use your top-up yet.

As a result, the validity of the top-up will not start until you start using the top-up (which is not the case with all travel eSIMs).

But if you run out of data, the top-up will start, regardless of whether you still have enough minutes or SMS left if you have the Discover+ eSIM, like in my case. Just be mindful of this, though.

>>> Get your Airalo Discover(+) eSIM now! <<<

Airalo Discover(+) eSIM Country List

The Airalo Discover(+) eSIM can be used in 125+ countries worldwide, including Saudi Arabia.

Airalo Discover Global Eligible Countries Map Infographic by Phone Travel Wiz (October 2023 Version)

The eSIM can also be used in almost all of Saudi Arabia's direct neighboring countries (Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar & the United Arab Emirates – not in Iraq and Yemen (anymore)).

Below is a complete overview of countries where the Airalo Discover(+) eSIM works:

Åland Islands ³
Albania
Argentina
Armenia (new)
Australia ⁵
Austria ³
Azerbaijan
Bahrain (new) ³
Bangladesh (new)
~~Belarus~~ ¹
Belgium ³
Bolivia (new)
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Botswana (new) ²
Brazil ⁵
Brunei (new) ¹
Bulgaria ⁵
~~Cambodia~~
Canada ⁵
Central African Republic (new) ¹
Chad (new)
Chile
China ³
Colombia
Congo, Democratic Republic of (new)
Congo, Republic of (new)
Costa Rica (new)
Croatia ³
Cyprus ⁵
Czech Republic ³
Denmark ⁵
~~Dominican Republic~~ ¹
Ecuador
Egypt (new)
El Salvador (new) ¹
Estonia⁵
Eswatini (new) ¹
Finland ⁵
France ³
French West Indies (new) ³
Gabon (new)
Georgia
Germany ³
Ghana (new)
Gibraltar ¹
Greece ³
~~Greenland (new)~~ ¹
Guatemala (new) ¹
Guernsey (new)
Guinea-Bissau (new) ¹
Honduras (new) ¹
Hong Kong ³
Hungary ⁵
Iceland ³
India
Indonesia ³
Ireland ³
Isle of Man (new)
~~Iraq~~ ¹
Israel ⁵
Italy ⁵
Ivory Coast
Japan ³
Jersey
Jordan (new)
Kazakhstan (new)
Kenya (new)
Kosovo

Kuwait ³
Kyrgyzstan (new)
Latvia ³
~~Liberia~~ ¹
Liechtenstein ⁴
Lithuania ⁵
Luxembourg ³
Macau
Madagascar (new)
Malawi (new)
Malaysia
Mali
Malta ³
Mexico ⁵
Moldova
Monaco (new)
Montenegro ⁵
Morocco (new)
Netherlands ⁵
New Zealand
Nicaragua (new)
Niger (new) ¹
Nigeria (new) ²
North Macedonia
Norway ⁵
Oman (new)
Pakistan (new)
Panama
Paraguay ¹
Peru
Philippines ³
Poland ³
Portugal ³
Puerto Rico
Qatar ⁵
Réunion (new)
Romania ⁵
~~Russia~~
Saudi Arabia ⁵
Senegal (new) ¹
Serbia
Seychelles (new)
Singapore
Slovakia ³
Slovenia ⁵
South Africa
South Korea ³
Spain ⁵
Sri Lanka
~~Sudan~~
Sweden ⁵
Switzerland ³
Taiwan ³
Tanzania (new)
~~Tajikistan~~ ¹
Thailand ⁵
Tunisia (new)
Turkey ³
Uganda (new)
Ukraine (new)
United Arab Emirates (new) ³
United Kingdom ⁵
United States ⁵
Uruguay (new)
Uzbekistan (new)
~~U.S. Virgin Islands~~
Vietnam
~~Yemen (new)~~ ¹
Zambia (new) ¹

* “(new)” is compared to the previous Discover Global eSIM (discontinued) or recently added countries
¹ on 3G only
² check the networks section on the Airalo website or app because at least one of the available networks is on 3G only (while the others are up to 4G/LTE)
³ 5G NR access for all available networks
⁴ even if your phone does not support 5G NR, select FL1 Telecom/Telecom Liechtenstein for 4G/LTE access because Salt Liechtenstein is restricted to 3G only
⁵ check the networks section on the Airalo website or app because at least one of the available networks is up to 4G/LTE (while the others are up to 5G NR)

As I mentioned, you can save a lot of money by skipping the initial SIM card costs per country you visit, especially if you explore several countries on multiple continents during your trip or within a year.

Moreover, you will save a lot of time and do not have to deal with each country's individual SIM card registration requirements.

SIM Card Registration Worldwide Tool by Phone Travel Wiz

>>> Get your Airalo Discover(+) eSIM now! <<<

My Airalo Discover(+) eSIM in Saudi Arabia Experience

During this trip, I used my Airalo Discover (global) eSIM only in Jeddah.

Although I plan on testing the eSIM in various other Saudi cities in the (near) future.

Travel eSIMs, including the Discover(+) eSIM, roam on the networks of local mobile operators.

Airalo itself is not a mobile (network) operator (MNO), so it partners with various MNOs, which roam on local MNOs' networks.

Okay, that may sound a bit confusing – all you need to know is that you will be treated as a guest on one of the Saudi mobile networks while using another network to make this system work.

Airalo's global eSIM uses the STC Saudi Arabia (review) and Zain Saudi Arabia (review) network while being powered by Drei Austria (so your phone, some apps, or sites you visit may claim you are on Drei instead of Airalo – that is correct).

In my case, my phone chose the Zain Saudi Arabia network by default, so all my tests were on that network.

You can manually switch to STC Saudi Arabia if you want because the eSIM supports that network too.

So, is Zain Saudi Arabia any good? Kind of.

Regarding 4G/LTE availability in Saudi Arabia, the three mobile operators cover almost all populated areas of the country, with an availability of more than 95.7%.

If we focus on 5G NR availability, Zain Saudi Arabia is behind (19.9%) but not by much (20.8% for Mobily (review) and 22% for STC Saudi Arabia).

If we look at speeds, Zain Saudi Arabia is supposed to be the slowest in all categories (4G/5G download/upload speed).

Saudi Arabia Opensignal 4G LTE Download Speed Experience 2023 — Source

Saudi Arabia Opensignal 4G LTE Upload Speed Experience 2023 — Source

Saudi Arabia Opensignal 5G NR Download Speed Experience 2023 — Source

Do not worry yet; these figures are worse than Zain's actual performance (in Jeddah) due to Opensignal not having as many data points as Speedtest typically has (but it has not made a recent report for the Kingdom at the time of writing).

I did speed tests with the Speedtest app throughout Jeddah.

For reference, I consider an average download speed of 25 Mbps and an average upload speed of 10 Mbps fast enough.

Why is that? A more than 25 Mbps download speed is enough to video stream content @ 4k resolution.

Social media sites that do live streaming, like Facebook Live, recommend an upload speed of at least 10 Mbps.

I have way higher standards, but not everyone demands a download speed of 500 Mbps 🤪.

In the section below, you will find various colors and formatting.

Results in dark green mean that the result was the fastest download or upload among all SIM cards and travel eSIMs I tested at that location.

Whereas results in light green were the fastest download or upload within the category (among all SIM cards OR all travel eSIMs) but not the fastest when considering the other category.

The same applies to dark red and light orange results – the slowest download or upload among all (dark red) or the slowest within a category (light orange).

Slowest Result (Light Orange) Within Category Example for Speed Test Results

All underlined results are on 5G NR, while results in italics are on 3G – results without additional formatting are on 4G/LTE.

That should clear up the colorful speed test results in the next section.

For now, let's see how the Airalo Discover eSIM performed in Jeddah.

>>> Get your Airalo Discover(+) eSIM now! <<<

Airalo Discover(+) eSIM in Jeddah Speed Test Results

I tried to test the Airalo Discover+ (global) eSIM as much as I could.

But as I mentioned before, getting into the city from the airport took thrice as long and the next day's flight was moved forward by hours, leaving me with little time to explore Jeddah (which in turn meant fewer test locations).

Worry not; I will revisit Jeddah/Saudi Arabia for sure and get more results for you in the (near) future.

The majority of travel eSIMs I tested used the Zain Saudi Arabia network (including the Discover eSIM).

So I will compare the Discover results with Zain Saudi Arabia and all the other travel eSIMs using the same network – but you can also select the Mobily network (review) if you want (but it defaulted to Zain in my case).

This includes Airalo (Red Sand), Airalo Menalink (Middle East), Alosim (can also use Mobily), Holafly (can also use Mobily), Nomad Saudi Arabia (can also use Mobily) & Nomad Middle East (can also use STC Saudi Arabia).

Below are the results:

Airalo Discover eSIM Speed Test Results in Saudi Arabia vs Zain Saudi Arabia, Airalo, Airalo Menalink, Alosim, Holafly, Nomad and Nomad Middle East

Decent speeds with the Airalo Discover+ eSIM.

I would have gotten the same/similar results if I used the Discover eSIM instead of the Discover+ eSIM. There is no difference between the two, except for the + variant having call and text features.

Surprisingly, the eSIM did not perform as well as I thought.

In fact, it was the worst-performing travel eSIM I tested in Jeddah – even all the Saudi SIM cards were faster.

Somehow, the eSIM is a hit or miss in the Middle East.

I visited Turkey, Egypt & Qatar before Saudi Arabia and Morocco afterward on this trip.

The eSIM was decent/fast in Turkey, Qatar (super fast) & Morocco but awful in Egypt.

Anyway, let's focus on Saudi Arabia.

Airalo's Discover+ eSIM had the slowest download speed of all the SIM cards and travel eSIMs I tested at four of the seven test locations.

These were at Albaik (Nahdat at Talif branch – 9.65 Mbps (4G)), the arrivals hall at Jeddah-King Abdulaziz International Airport (0.56 Mbps (4G)), Novotel Jeddah Tahlia (52.26 Mbps (4G)) & Prince Majid Park (22.71 Mbps (4G)).

Airalo Discover in Saudi Arabia Speed Test at Albaik Nahdat at Talif (9.65 Mbps) — Airalo Discover+ @ Albaik Nahdat at Talif

Airalo Discover in Saudi Arabia Speed Test at Novotel Jeddah Tahlia (52.26 Mbps) — Airalo Discover+ @ Novotel Jeddah Tahlia

Airalo Discover in Saudi Arabia Speed Test at King Abdulaziz International Airport Arrivals Hall (0.56 Mbps) — Airalo Discover+ @ King Abdulaziz International Airport Arrivals Hall

Airalo Discover in Saudi Arabia Speed Test at Prince Majid Park (22.71 Mbps) — Airalo Discover+ @ Prince Majid Park

It tells you a lot about download speeds in Saudi Arabia when even 52.26 Mbps is not fast enough 🗿.

In comparison, Airalo's Saudi Arabia eSIM, Red Sand (review), had the fastest results (among travel eSIMs I tested) at Albaik (218.53 Mbps (5G)) and Novotel Jeddah Tahlia (403.03 Mbps (5G)).

Airalo Saudi Arabia Speed Test at Albaik Nahdat at Talif (218.53 Mbps) — Airalo Red Sand @ Albaik Nahdat at Talif

Airalo Saudi Arabia Speed Test at Novotel Jeddah Tahlia (403.03 Mbps) — Airalo Red Sand @ Novotel Jeddah Tahlia

Does this necessarily mean the eSIM sucks? No, not at all.

But in terms of speed performance, better Airalo options are available (cheaper than the Discover+ eSIM if you only plan on visiting Saudi Arabia).

If you visit two countries on multiple continents, the Discover+ eSIM will be cheaper than buying various country-specific Airalo eSIMs or even two regional Airalo eSIMs.

But your expectations in terms of speed should be lowered for Saudi Arabia.

>>> Get your Airalo Discover(+) eSIM now! <<<

My Overall Experience with the Airalo Discover+ eSIM in Saudi Arabia – Is It Worth Your Money?

I would recommend the Airalo Discover(+) eSIM, and it would be one of my top recommendations for anyone wanting to buy a global travel eSIM (but not if you only visit Saudi Arabia).

Getting the Airalo Discover(+) eSIM or any other Airalo eSIM is extremely easy.

Airalo is one of the few eSIM providers that allow you to install an eSIM directly to your phone (without the need to scan a QR code), which makes the installation process a piece of cake (hence, I did not spend any time on how to install in this review – it is easy!).

Moreover, you do not have to adjust the APN settings with the Airalo Discover(+) eSIM, making it more manageable.

Few eSIM providers have eSIMs that either adequately cover the world or are somewhat affordable.

Fortunately, Airalo nailed it with its pricing and allowances, making it my go-to global eSIM.

As I mentioned way earlier, Airalo's former global offering, Discover Global, was alright… but not great.

But even that one did its job – and the upgrade is even better.

The prices for the new Discover(+) eSIMs are competitive for global eSIMs.

So much so that I do not even bother recommending other global eSIMs out there because they are way too expensive.

However, the performance in Saudi Arabia was… disappointing.

The thing is, the Saudi mobile operators invest a lot in their networks.

Which resulted in the country being regarded as one with the best networks.

However, the Airalo Discover eSIM could not take advantage of this, for example.

With an average download speed of 41.59 Mbps, the eSIM had the worst figures.

Airalo Discover Global Overall Speed Test Results in Saudi Arabia

Now it becomes interesting – Drei Austria powers the Discover eSIM.

The same provider powers the Holafly Saudi Arabia eSIM (review), Nomad Saudi Arabia eSIM (review) & Nomad Middle East eSIM (KSA review).

Holafly eSIM in Saudi Arabia Review by Phone Travel Wiz

Nomad eSIM in Saudi Arabia Review by Phone Travel Wiz

Nomad Middle East eSIM in Saudi Arabia Review by Phone Travel Wiz

These eSIMs had average download speeds of 80.21 Mbps, 62.65 Mbps & 90.63 Mbps, respectively.

Holafly Saudi Arabia Overall Speed Test Results in Saudi Arabia

Nomad Saudi Arabia Overall Speed Test Results in Saudi Arabia

Nomad Middle East Overall Speed Test Results in Saudi Arabia

So either Airalo's global eSIM was unlucky, which I doubt because the other three were just fine, or it has been given a lower priority over the others.

What the actual answer is, I do not know.

But what I can say is that I have used the same eSIM in other (Middle Eastern) countries where it had above-average performance or was even the best.

So, you will have to deal with worse-than-ideal performance in Saudi Arabia, but you should be fine in neighboring countries.

While the eSIM uses a near-perfect 4G/LTE network, you do not get its full-speed benefits for some reason. However, the global eSIM is affordable and generous allowances are available. Therefore, you should have a decent browsing experience with the Airalo Discover eSIM in Saudi Arabia.

>>> Get your Airalo Discover(+) eSIM now! <<<

Saudi Arabia eSIM & SIM Card Reviews

Besides Airalo's Discover (global) eSIM, I also tried other Airalo eSIMs and other travel eSIMs in the Kingdom.

I encourage you to read those reviews to decide which eSIM suits your needs.

Alosim eSIM in Saudi Arabia Review by Phone Travel Wiz

Check out my eSIM reviews page if you want to read all the other eSIM reviews I have written, including those I tested in other Middle Eastern countries.