How to Activate 5G on Mobily in Saudi Arabia: Phone Settings, Coverage and Speeds
There is no code to send and no extra charge to activate 5G on Mobily. If your phone supports 5G, you are in a 5G coverage area, and you have an active data package, your phone connects to 5G automatically — you only need to make sure 5G is turned on in your phone’s settings. This guide shows you exactly where that setting is on iPhone and Android, which cities have Mobily 5G coverage, what speeds to expect, and what to do if your phone stays on 4G.
Note that this guide is about 5G on your mobile phone. Mobily Home 5G is a different product — a 5G router for home internet. If you are looking for that, see Mobily Home 5G packages instead.
Do You Need to Activate 5G on Mobily?
No. Mobily does not ask you to send an SMS code or dial a USSD code for 5G, and there is no separate 5G package to buy. 5G works with your normal data bundle or mobile plan. All you need is the following:
| What you need | How to check it |
|---|---|
| A 5G phone | Check your phone’s specifications — most phones launched since 2021 support 5G, but older models do not |
| 5G coverage where you are | 5G is strongest in Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah and Dammam — see the coverage section below |
| An active data package | Dial *1411# to check your balance and remaining data; any current Mobily data bundle works on 5G |
| 5G turned on in your phone settings | Follow the iPhone or Android steps below — some phones ship with 5G set to “Auto”, which is fine |
If all four are in place and you still see 4G on your screen, your phone is simply outside 5G coverage at that spot. Move to a different area — outdoors, or near a window — and the 5G icon usually appears.
How to Turn On 5G on iPhone
On an iPhone 12 or newer, go to Settings, then Mobile Data (or Cellular), then Mobile Data Options, then Voice & Data. You will see two 5G choices:
5G On: your iPhone uses 5G whenever it is available. This gives you the fastest speed, but it uses more battery.
5G Auto: your iPhone uses 5G only when it will make a real difference, and drops back to 4G the rest of the time to save battery. This is the setting most people should use.
Choose 5G Auto for everyday use, or 5G On if you want the fastest speed and do not mind the extra battery use. If you do not see a 5G option at all, your iPhone model may not support 5G, or your carrier settings may need updating — go to Settings, then General, then About, and accept any carrier settings update that appears.
How to Turn On 5G on Android and Samsung
On most Android phones, go to Settings, then Connections, then Mobile Networks, then Network Mode, and select 5G/LTE/3G/2G (auto connect) or a similar option that includes 5G. The exact menu names vary slightly by phone brand — on some phones it is under Settings, then Network & Internet, then Mobile Network, then Preferred Network Type.
Make sure the option you pick includes 5G. If you select “LTE only” or “4G only” by mistake, your phone will never switch to 5G. After changing the setting, restart your phone once so it registers on the 5G network cleanly.
If your phone is a dual-SIM model, check that the Mobily SIM is the one set for mobile data. Go to your SIM settings and set Mobily as the data SIM — 5G only works on the SIM that is actually carrying your data connection.
Mobily 5G Coverage in Saudi Arabia
Mobily’s 5G network covers the Kingdom’s major cities first, and it is still expanding into smaller cities. According to Mobily’s own results, the company now has more than 7,600 5G sites across 61 cities, reaching over 96% of residents in the Kingdom’s seven main cities. Independent testing in the 2026 nPerf barometer also placed Mobily first nationally for 5G coverage, with 75.99% population coverage.
| City | Average 5G download speed |
|---|---|
| Riyadh | 243.3 Mbps |
| Jeddah | 217.8 Mbps |
| Dammam | 205.9 Mbps |
| Makkah | 213.2 Mbps |
| Madinah | 252.6 Mbps |
These city speeds come from the Opensignal Mobile Network Experience Report published in February 2025. Your real speed will vary by location, signal strength and how busy the network is at that moment.
To check coverage at your exact address, use the Coverage Maps service on the website of the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST), the Saudi telecom regulator. Enter your national address on the map and it shows which networks cover that spot. Mobily’s own coverage maps and the Mobily app can also confirm whether 5G is available where you live or work.
What Speed Can You Expect on Mobily 5G?
Across the Kingdom, Mobily’s average 5G download speed is 228.7 Mbps, with an average 5G upload speed of 27.6 Mbps, according to the same Opensignal report from February 2025. In practice, that means a full HD film downloads in a few minutes, video calls stay smooth, and online games respond quickly.
Remember that 5G uses your data bundle the same way 4G does — it does not give you extra data. A faster connection can actually use your allowance more quickly, because videos load in higher quality and downloads finish faster. If you use a lot of data, a larger bundle makes more sense: for example, the 100GB bundle costs SAR 184 for 30 days (send 7080 to 1100), and the unlimited bundle costs SAR 373.75 for 30 days (send 4930 to 1100). See Mobily data bundles compared for the full list and the best-value options.
5G Not Working on Mobily? Fix It With These Steps
| Problem | What to try |
|---|---|
| Phone shows 4G, not 5G | Check the network mode setting above, move outdoors or near a window, and check coverage at your location |
| 5G icon appears but internet is slow | Run a speed test in a different spot; a weak 5G signal is often slower than a strong 4G signal |
| No internet at all on 5G | Check your APN settings: prepaid SIMs use APN web2, postpaid use web1 — see the full Mobily APN settings guide |
| 5G worked before, now it is gone | Restart your phone, check your balance with *1411#, and make sure your data package has not expired |
| Nothing works after a SIM change | If you recently moved to eSIM, the old physical SIM is deactivated — see how to activate Mobily eSIM; if the problem continues, call customer care on 1100 |
One more thing to check: if your phone is in power-saving mode, some models turn 5G off to save battery. Turn power saving off and check whether the 5G icon returns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a code to activate 5G on Mobily?
No. There is no SMS or USSD code for 5G on Mobily. 5G activates automatically when you have a 5G phone, 5G coverage, and an active data package — you only need to turn 5G on in your phone’s network settings.
Does Mobily 5G cost extra?
No. 5G is included with your normal data bundle or mobile plan at no extra charge. You only pay for the data you use, at your bundle’s normal price — for example, the 100GB bundle is SAR 184 for 30 days and the unlimited bundle is SAR 373.75 for 30 days.
Why does my phone show 4G instead of 5G on Mobily?
The most common reasons are: you are outside 5G coverage, your phone’s network mode is set to 4G only, or power-saving mode has turned 5G off. Check the network mode setting, move to a place with stronger coverage, and turn power saving off.
Which Mobily packages work on 5G?
All current Mobily data bundles and mobile plans work on 5G — there is no separate 5G package. Your phone simply uses the faster network when it is available, and the data comes out of your existing bundle allowance.
How do I check 5G coverage in my area?
Use the Coverage Maps service on the CST regulator’s website and enter your national address, or check in the Mobily app. Mobily 5G is strongest in Riyadh, Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah and Dammam, with more than 7,600 5G sites across 61 cities.
Last updated: 7 November 2026
Edited by Ali.