Calling abroad in Saudi Arabia with your everyday SIM card can get really expensive. To save money while keeping in contact with friends and family abroad, use an international calling card or an online calling app (if you can).
Online calling apps, such as Skype and Whatsapp, let people make international calls through wifi or data. They are easy to use and the calls are free for both the sender and receiver, but unfortunately they are not always an option in Saudi Arabia. Although the ban on these VoIP calls was officially lifted in 2017, they are still frequently blocked.
You can always try to use these apps to make an international call (they might work!) but don’t be surprised if you are unable to do so. An international calling card is a much more reliable means of making an international call in Saudi Arabia.
International calling cards are prepaid cards that let you make an international call without paying excessively high calling rates. They also don’t charge whoever you are calling for taking the call. They are practical and easy to use; you can use them from any phone (mobile, landline, public phone) simply by dialling the card’s access PIN code (written on the card) before the phone number.
You can buy a card in most supermarkets and phone stores across the country. Remember that the card with the lowest rate per minute might not necessarily be the best card for you. When choosing a card, you should consider: