How to Activate Mobily eSIM in Saudi Arabia: QR Code, SIM Swap and Compatible Phones

An eSIM does the same job as a physical SIM, but there is nothing to insert into your phone. The SIM profile is downloaded to a chip already built into your device, and Mobily activates it with a QR code. That makes it handy if you want a second number on one phone, or if you simply do not want to carry a tiny plastic card around.

Getting one is straightforward, but there is one step people often get wrong: you do not activate a Mobily eSIM by typing a code into your phone. You get the eSIM from Mobily first — as a new number, or as a swap from your existing physical SIM — and then you scan its QR code on your phone. Here is the full process, in order.

Last updated: 28 October 2026.

Mobily eSIM at a glance

Mobily’s own eSIM page says no extra charges will be applied during the promotion period. If you are unsure whether that promotion is still running when you visit, ask in the outlet before you proceed — this post does not quote a separate eSIM fee, because Mobily does not list a fixed one outside that promotion wording.

Before you start: check these three things

First, check that your phone actually supports eSIM. Most recent phones from Apple, Samsung and Google do, but older or basic models do not, and a QR code will not help on a phone without the built-in eSIM chip. A quick check is to look in your phone settings for an “Add eSIM” or “Add mobile plan” option — if it is not there, your phone almost certainly does not support it.

Second, stay connected to Wi-Fi for the whole download. The eSIM profile downloads over the internet, so a stable Wi-Fi connection is the safest way to do it. Do not switch Wi-Fi off until the process is fully complete.

Third, decide what you want the eSIM to be. You can either take a brand-new Mobily number as an eSIM, or move your current Mobily number and package from a physical SIM to an eSIM. That second option is called a SIM swap, and Mobily confirms that all your existing services and tariffs move with it — you do not lose your package by switching to eSIM.

Step 1: Get your Mobily eSIM QR code

Visit any Mobily outlet and ask for an eSIM — either with a new Mobily number, or as a SIM swap for your existing number. Mobily will issue you a QR code for that line. Keep that QR code private. It is tied to your number, so do not photograph it and send it to anyone else, and do not share it online.

If you are choosing a package at the same time, you are not limited to a special “eSIM plan”. Mobily says you can use an eSIM with any postpaid or prepaid package, voice or data. Mobily Prepaid Packages Mobily Postpaid Packages Mobily Visitor Packages

Step 2: Scan the QR code on your phone

Connect to Wi-Fi first, then follow the path for your phone:

Point your camera at the QR code Mobily gave you and follow the on-screen prompts. Your phone will download the eSIM profile and register it on the Mobily network. Leave Wi-Fi on until that download finishes — switching it off halfway through is the most common cause of a failed activation.

Step 3: Turn the eSIM on and set it as your line

Once the profile is installed, make sure the Mobily eSIM line is switched on in your SIM settings, and choose it as your mobile data line if you want your internet to run on Mobily. If you have two lines on the phone — for example, a physical SIM from another operator and your Mobily eSIM — you can choose which line handles calls and which handles data. Mobily notes that you can store several eSIM profiles on a device (usually up to 10, depending on the device), but only one eSIM can be connected to the network at a time, so check the right line is active before you test it.

Then test it properly: turn mobile data on, open a web page, and make a test call. If data works but you expected a different package, check what is actually active on the line first — How to Check Mobily Balance and Data — before changing any settings. If the internet does not work at all after a successful activation, the APN settings are worth checking: Mobily APN Settings.

eSIM vs physical SIM

In short, the eSIM is not a different package — it is just a different way of holding the same Mobily line. Your package, minutes and data work the same way either way, and you can recharge in the usual ways: How to Recharge Mobily.

Changing phones, or going back to a physical SIM

Do not delete the eSIM profile from your old phone and assume it will appear on the new one. If you move to another eSIM phone, you need a new QR code for the same number — Mobily’s own guidance is to visit a Mobily outlet to get one after deleting the profile from the old phone. Get the new code first, or at least have the outlet visit planned, so you are not left without a working line in between.

Going back is also possible. Mobily says you can always replace an eSIM with a traditional physical SIM by visiting any Mobily outlet. And if you ever want to stop a package renewing, the steps are the same on eSIM as on a physical SIM: How to Cancel Mobily Package. Mobily Internet Package Codes.

If activation fails

Work through these in order: confirm you are on stable Wi-Fi and have not switched it off mid-download; check the eSIM line is switched on and selected as your data line; restart the phone and check again; then delete the failed profile only if Mobily advises it, and get a fresh QR code from an outlet. If none of that works, call Mobily customer care on 1100 from another phone. Do not keep scanning an old QR code again and again — once a profile has been used or deleted, a fresh code is usually what is needed.

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Edited by Ali.