International Hajj pilgrims can now activate eSIMs remotely in Saudi Arabia

Dubai: International pilgrims arriving in Saudi Arabia can now activate eSIM cards remotely through mobile service provider apps, offering immediate digital connectivity without visiting a store or waiting to reach their accommodation.

The new service is part of a joint initiative by the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST), in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior and licensed telecom operators.

It allows pilgrims to request and activate eSIMs through a biometric verification process using the government’s Absher platform.

The move aims to make it easier for visitors to stay connected as soon as they arrive in the Kingdom, particularly during the busy Hajj and Umrah seasons.

As of now, nearly 666,000 overseas pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia to undertake the rites of the annual Hajj pilgrimage rites due early next month.

The Saudi Ministry of Hajj said the number of pilgrims arriving from abroad last Tuesday totalled 665,722.

Operations welcoming the faithful are proceeding smoothly amid cooperation and coordination among all relevant agencies in the kingdom, said the ministry, adding that the numbers of the pilgrims will peak in the coming days.

Around 1.8 million Muslims from outside and inside the kingdom last year performed Hajj, an obligatory Islamic duty.

-- Huda Ata is an independent writer based in the UAE