Staying in touch with family during Hajj and Umrah: a guide for Ethiopian pilgrims

The easiest way to stay in touch during Hajj or Umrah is to sort out mobile data before you leave Ethiopia. Your main choices are roaming, a Saudi SIM bought on arrival, or an eSIM installed at home. A family member can arrange an eSIM for you and pay in Birr, so you land already connected.

Why does mobile data matter so much on Hajj and Umrah?

Your family wants to hear that you arrived safely, and you want to share how the journey is going. Beyond that, a working connection helps with practical things: reaching your group leader, finding your way, using any official apps your agent or group asks you to install, and agreeing on a meeting point if you get separated in a crowd.

Arranging this before you travel is far easier than solving it after a long flight, in a busy arrivals hall, when you are tired.

What are my options for mobile data in Saudi Arabia?

There are three realistic routes, and each has trade-offs.

1. Roaming on your Ethiopian SIM. Nothing new to buy or install, which makes it the simplest option. Check with your provider before you leave and activate roaming at home. The downside is that roaming is usually the most expensive way to use data, and it is easy to run through your balance without realising.

2. A Saudi SIM bought after you arrive. SIMs are sold at airports and shops, and registration usually needs your passport. It can work well, but you may face queues when you are tired, and you will have a new phone number. Family and friends will not reach you on your usual number for calls or SMS unless you also keep your Ethiopian SIM in the phone.

3. An eSIM installed before you fly. You set it up at home on wifi, and it starts working when you connect to a network in Saudi Arabia. Your Ethiopian SIM stays in the phone, so you keep your normal number. You can see what is available on our Saudi Arabia plans page.

Can my family arrange it for me from Ethiopia?

Yes, and for many pilgrims this is the best part. Your son, daughter or another relative can choose a plan and pay in Birr with telebirr. They receive the QR code, and the two of you can install it together at home before departure. If the card question is what has stopped you before, our guide to getting mobile data abroad without an international card covers every route in detail.

This helps most when the pilgrim is a parent or grandparent who is not comfortable setting up a phone alone. Having a family member do it in person, with time to practise, removes most of the stress.

Will my phone work with an eSIM?

Check this early, weeks before you travel, not the night before. An eSIM needs a phone that supports it, and not every phone does. Phones bought in Ethiopia can be regional versions where eSIM is disabled or missing, even when the same model supports it elsewhere.

On an iPhone, dial *#06#. If you see an EID number (a long string of digits), your phone has an eSIM.

On an Android phone, the check varies by brand and model, so look up your exact model on our compatibility list before you buy, or read which phones sold in Ethiopia actually support eSIM.

If your phone does not support eSIM, options 1 and 2 above are still open to you. Many pilgrims travel with older or basic phones, so it is worth knowing early which route you will be taking.

How do I keep my Ethiopian number for calls and WhatsApp?

Keep your Ethiopian SIM in the phone and let the eSIM handle mobile data only. Your number stays active, and messaging apps tied to it keep working as normal. If you want a refresher on how this works, read what is an eSIM.

With a Saudi SIM alone, you would be using a different number, which can confuse family who are trying to reach you. This is one of the main reasons people choose an eSIM for a trip like this.

Will the network be slow when the crowds are huge?

Any mobile network can slow down when very large numbers of people are in the same place, and Hajj is one of the largest gatherings in the world. We cannot promise speeds, and nobody honestly can. What you can do is plan around it:

• Agree on a meeting point with your group before you head into a crowded area, so you do not depend on a call.
• Download offline maps of the areas you will visit while you have wifi.
• Send short messages rather than starting video calls when the network is busy.
• Carry a power bank, because a flat phone is the most common reason people lose contact.

When should I set everything up?

Aim for at least a week before departure, with enough time to fix anything that goes wrong:

• Check that your phone supports eSIM, or choose another option if it does not.
• Choose your plan and install the eSIM at home on wifi.
• Remember that the plan starts counting on your first connection to a network in Saudi Arabia, not at purchase — so installing early costs you nothing.
• Make sure data roaming is switched on for the eSIM line, which is the most common reason an installed eSIM seems not to work.
• Tell your family which number to use for calls and messages.

The short version

For Hajj or Umrah, decide how you will stay connected before you leave, check your phone early, and involve your family. If you want to pay in Birr and arrive ready, see our Saudi Arabia plans.