Umrah SIM package: Jazz, Zong or Ufone roaming, a Saudi SIM, or an eSIM?

Three routes at a glance

A traveller from Pakistan has three ways to get online for Umrah, and all three work. They differ in price, in convenience, and in whether your Pakistani number keeps working.

Jazz, Zong and Ufone Saudi roaming bundles — official prices

These are the prices on each operator's own website, read on 25 September 2026. Where it says "+ tax", tax is added on top; Zong's online shop lists its prices as a "consumer price". Bundles change, so confirm with your operator before you activate one.

• Jazz — Saudi roaming bundle
• Zong — international roaming bundles
• Ufone — UAE and Saudi Arabia data roaming

The eJurs Saudi eSIM — prices

It runs on STC, which covers Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah and Riyadh. Validity starts when the eSIM first connects to a Saudi network, so installing it in Pakistan beforehand wastes nothing.

• Saudi Arabia eSIM — plans and the full guide

Which is cheapest for whom — the straight answer

There is no single answer. The cheapest route depends on which operator your SIM belongs to:

• A Zong prepaid customer: Zong's Umrah offers are currently the cheapest — Super Umrah gives 5 GB and 20 minutes for Rs. 3,000, against Rs. 3,970 for the eJurs 5 GB. Check the validity with Zong, because the shop does not show it.
• A Jazz customer: here the eSIM is cheaper. The eJurs 3 GB is Rs. 2,540, against Rs. 2,749 for Jazz's 2 GB. For more data, the eJurs 10 GB is Rs. 6,290 — less than Jazz's 6 GB at Rs. 6,872.
• A Ufone customer: Ufone's 4 GB is Rs. 2,499 plus tax, for 30 days. Add the tax and compare it with the eJurs 3 GB (Rs. 2,540) or 5 GB (Rs. 3,970).
• A Telenor customer: we could not check Telenor's Saudi roaming price on its site — ask your operator.

Two things hold for everyone. Do not roam without a bundle — data is then charged per megabyte, and a single video call can get expensive. And if three or four of the family are travelling, every phone needs its own bundle or eSIM.

Beyond price, the eSIM's advantage is that it is the same for any operator's customer, nothing has to be activated on the Pakistani SIM, and if the data runs out you top up the same eSIM.

A Saudi SIM — STC, Mobily or Zain at the airport

STC, Mobily and Zain have counters at Jeddah and Madinah airports and sell visitor SIMs. Prices are in riyals and the packages change.

• You need your passport, and some outlets take fingerprints
• In Umrah season the queue can be long — just when your group is moving on
• A Saudi SIM usually means taking the Pakistani SIM out, and then calls from home and bank OTPs stop arriving

The advantage is a Saudi number and ordinary calls. If you are staying in Saudi Arabia a long time, or need to call people there, it is a good route.

How much data Umrah needs

Most of the data goes on:

• WhatsApp video calls — about 5 MB a minute, so roughly 300 MB an hour
• Google Maps — about 5 MB for every 30 minutes of navigation
• Sending photos — 2 to 3 MB each
• Nusuk and Careem/Uber — little data, but they do not work without it

For a 10 to 15 day Umrah, 3 GB is enough for most people. Take 5 GB if you video call home every day. For Hajj, at least 5 GB, and 10 GB if you call home daily.

• What to set up on your phone before Umrah
• Internet on Hajj — Mina and Arafat

How to activate a roaming bundle

• Jazz: dial *ROAM# or *7626#
• Ufone: dial *506#
• Zong: through Zong's online shop or helpline

Activate it before you leave Pakistan and wait for the confirmation SMS. Once in Saudi Arabia, turn Data Roaming on, or the bundle's data will not be used.

What is the cheapest Umrah SIM package?

It depends on your operator. For a Zong prepaid customer, Zong's Umrah offers are cheapest — Mini Umrah gives 2 GB for Rs. 1,500. For a Jazz customer the eJurs eSIM is cheaper: 3 GB for Rs. 2,540, against Rs. 2,749 for Jazz's 2 GB. Prices as of 25 September 2026.

How much is Jazz's Umrah package?

Jazz's site lists its Saudi Roaming Bundle at 2 GB for Rs. 2,749 (30 days) and 6 GB for Rs. 6,872 (45 days), both including tax. Dial *ROAM# or *7626# to activate.

What does Zong's Umrah package cost?

In Zong's online shop: Mini Umrah Rs. 1,500 (2 GB, 10 minutes, 10 SMS), Super Umrah Rs. 3,000 (5 GB, 20 minutes, 50 SMS), and Saudi Mega Rs. 5,500 (10 GB + 2 GB WhatsApp, 60 minutes, 60 SMS).

How much is Ufone's Saudi roaming package?

Ufone's site lists 1 GB for Rs. 999 plus tax and 4 GB for Rs. 2,499 plus tax, both for 30 days, on Mobily, STC and Zain. Dial *506# to activate.

Do WhatsApp calls work on a roaming package?

Jazz's site says WhatsApp audio and video calls work on its Saudi bundle. WhatsApp calls run on data, so on a data bundle they generally work.

Will an eSIM stop my Pakistani number?

No. The eSIM goes in as a second line; the Pakistani SIM stays in the phone and SMS and OTPs keep arriving.

Is a SIM from the Saudi airport better?

If you need a Saudi number or a long stay, yes. Otherwise a roaming bundle or an eSIM spares you the passport, the queue and taking out your Pakistani SIM.