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Post by trebbie on Jul 14, 2018 16:06:24 GMT
I have travelled to Saudi Arabia numerous times before and already have a Sim card (with Zain on a pay as you go contract - several have told me that they didn't think that this wasn't the best choice but what did I know at the time...). I only top it up when I am going to be in Saudi.
I think I have read that you can only have one Sim card when you arrive. Is this correct and if so does the above mean that I am restricted to the card, company and contract that I already have?
Also if it is true, I presume the way that this is tracked is through your passport (which is copied when you take out a contract). If you have multiple passports can you use a different passport (from the one you originally used) to obtain another sim? Are there legal problems doing this with another passport (or any problems with having multiple passports generally)?
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Post by trebbie on Sept 20, 2018 12:30:04 GMT
Bump... Any ideas anyone?
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Post by NoName on Sept 20, 2018 12:37:28 GMT
Once you get your iqama you are allowed 2 sims.
Also if you are on business visa. you are allowed one sim based on Passport which have Saudi Business visa and they write a "Border ID #" Sim is issued against it
just having multiple passport becuase you are dual citizen wont do you any good
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Post by BlueStaff on Sept 20, 2018 13:53:59 GMT
You should be able to get the Zain sim cancelled and removed from your passport.
Alternatively, live with your existing one until such time as you have the Iqama and then switch if you so desire.
STC is generally seen as the best overall covee, but that comes at a slight price premium.
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Post by trebbie on Sept 21, 2018 14:05:55 GMT
Many thanks guys - very helpful. Hope I can trouble you one step further. I caveat the below with the statement that I am not trying to find a way round the rules but would like to stay within the rules...
I have two British passports. The first one has my business visa in it (which was used to obtain the Zain sim) and is therefore registered as having a sim against it.
My one time entry visa is in my second UK passport (which has never been used to obtain a sim)...
> Can I obtain a second sim when I arrive in the country (from say STC) on the second passport (i.e. to live)?
> I am about to come for another business trip to Saudi (on the business visa in the first passport) - can I go to the STC desk and use the second passport with the one time entry visa in it and obtain a sim card (i.e. before I arrive in the country)?
Will either of these actions set off alarm bells and or be inappropriate/illegal? Not interested in bucking the system, just trying to find out what administrative tasks can be done before I arrive permanently.
If I can't do this is it a time consuming process to cancel a sim in Saudi Arabia (especially as some register somewhere perhaps needs to be updated in order to be able to get the new sim)? Perhaps I should just cancel the one that I have at the end of this business trip... It would be nice to have both though so I can test them out at my accommodation.
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Post by trebbie on Sept 29, 2018 10:35:20 GMT
If anyone is following this and is interested...
I have just arrived back in the Kingdom and have tried to recharge my number. No joy.
All of the routes that I have tried to use to recharge seem to require me to have an Iqama (even though I have already had the sim). So I have given up on that now.
Will have to obtain another one when I arrive permanently in a few weeks on the permanent visa (which won't have a number next to it - so should be all fine!)
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