Mobily network coverage across Saudi Arabia as of 2026

Mobily Review: Coverage, Speed & Performance In Saudi Arabia 2026

Etihad Etisalat Company (Mobily) serves 12.8 million subscribers across Saudi Arabia with 97.9% network availability, best-in-class 5G video experience scoring 73.5/100, and an average download speed of 53.6 Mbps nationally — making it Saudi Arabia's second-largest mobile network operator as of Q2 2025.

Introduction

Etihad Etisalat Company — commercially known as Mobily — operates as Saudi Arabia's second-largest mobile network operator, serving 12.8 million subscribers with a comprehensive 4G and 5G network achieving 97.9% signal availability, listed on the Saudi Exchange under the ticker 7020, and majority-owned by UAE-based e& (formerly Etisalat) with a 27.99% stake, according to Forbes Middle East published June 2025.

Mobily delivers the leading 5G video and gaming experience in Saudi Arabia, wins the Consistent Quality award with a 61.7% score — three percentage points above stc — and achieves the highest network availability of any Saudi operator at 97.9% of measured time, according to the Opensignal Saudi Arabia Mobile Network Experience Report published February 2025. The operator's 5G network provides users with an average 5G upload speed of 27.6 Mbps, the highest nationally, and a 5G download speed of 228.7 Mbps.

This review covers Mobily's network coverage across Saudi Arabia's major cities, speed test results from Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Mecca, and Medina, customer service channels, app features, eSIM availability, international roaming, loyalty program details, and a full competitive comparison against stc and Zain. Established in 2004, Mobily has grown into a SAR 5 billion+ annual revenue business investing SAR 5,828 million in network infrastructure CAPEX in 2025 alone, according to Argaam Financial Report published February 2026.

Compare stc's full carrier review and Zain Saudi Arabia review for additional mobile operator options in Saudi Arabia.

Network Coverage And Performance

Mobily maintains 97.9% network availability — the highest of any Saudi mobile operator — covering users with 4G or 5G signal 97.9% of the time across the Kingdom's major populated areas. The operator achieves a Coverage Experience score of 5.6 out of 10 across all geographic areas, placing it second in Saudi Arabia behind stc, according to the Opensignal Saudi Arabia Mobile Network Experience Report published February 2025.

Mobily's network is available to users 93% of the time when combining 4G and 5G coverage metrics, ranking second behind stc's 94%, while both operators substantially outperform Zain's 89% availability, according to the WePlan Analytics Mobile Network Benchmark Report Saudi Arabia published October 2025. The operator secured new spectrum licenses in the 700 MHz and 3.8 GHz bands during the November 2024 CST spectrum auction — the first EMEA market to license the 600 MHz band — increasing total licensed mobile frequencies across Saudi operators by 27%.

4G And 5G Availability

Mobily provides 4G LTE coverage operating on the 700 MHz band (acquired November 2024) alongside existing LTE frequencies, while 5G Non-Standalone (NSA) and Standalone (SA) networks deploy on the 3.8 GHz band across urban centers including Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca, Medina, and Dammam. The operator first launched 5G commercially in 2019 and conducted 5G SA trials using carrier aggregation between 2022 and 2023 to improve speed and capacity, according to WePlan Analytics October 2025.

27% of Mobily's subscriber base uses 5G-capable devices, and Mobily users spend 65% of their connected time actively on the 5G network — the highest active 5G usage rate among all three Saudi operators — compared to STC's 38% and Zain's 26%, according to the WePlan Analytics Saudi Arabia Report published October 2025. 5G coverage availability reaches users 37% of the time on Mobily's network, behind Zain's 88% and stc's 55% in terms of geographic 5G spread, as the operator continues expanding its 5G footprint into secondary cities.

Mobily's 4G and 5G networks cover all 13 of Saudi Arabia's administrative regions, with strongest indoor and outdoor performance confirmed in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Mecca, and Medina. The operator achieves the highest Availability score in seven of the nine benchmarked cities — Abha, Al Hofuf, Dammam, Hail, Jeddah, Khamis Mushayt, Madina, Mecca, and Riyadh — outperforming stc and Zain in consistent signal presence, according to Opensignal February 2025.

Speed Test Results

Mobily delivers an average national download speed of 53.6 Mbps and upload speed of 12.2 Mbps across all network types, ranking second nationally behind stc's 55.2 Mbps and ahead of Zain's 41.3 Mbps, according to the Opensignal Saudi Arabia Mobile Network Experience Report published February 2025. On 5G connections specifically, Mobily achieves 228.7 Mbps download and 27.6 Mbps upload — with the 5G upload speed the fastest nationally.

Learn more about 5G network performance in Saudi Arabia for detailed technical comparisons across all three operators.

Customer Service And Support

Mobily operates five primary customer service channels available to subscribers across Saudi Arabia, including 24/7 phone support, live chat, an in-app support system, physical retail stores nationwide, and dedicated email support. The Mobily app is rated 4.7 out of 5 stars from 104+ iOS ratings on the Apple App Store Saudi Arabia, according to Apple App Store data published August 2025.

• Phone Support: 1100 (within Saudi Arabia) — Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

• Live Chat: Available through the official Mobily website at mobily.com.sa and mobile app during business hours 8:00 AM – 12:00 AM (AST, UTC+3)

• Physical Stores: Hundreds of Mobily retail locations across all 13 Saudi administrative regions, including flagship stores in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam

• Mobile App Support: In-app live chat, service ticketing, and self-service account management — rated 4.7 stars (iOS) and available on Google Play, according to App Store data August 2025

• Email and Online Support: Available via the Mobily website portal with structured form-based ticketing for billing, technical, and account inquiries

Compare customer service availability, response times, and store locations in our comprehensive Saudi Arabia carrier support comparison guide.

Additional Services And Features

Mobily provides these value-added services for subscribers, covering international connectivity, digital self-service, and device compatibility:

• International Roaming: Mobily supports voice, SMS, and data roaming in over 200 countries and territories across Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa, and Oceania — full country list available at mobily.com.sa

• Mobile App Features: The Mobily app provides data usage tracking in real time, bill payment and autopay setup, plan upgrades and add-on purchases, live chat customer support, store locator, and loyalty points tracking under the Mobily Rewards program

• eSIM Support: Mobily supports eSIM activation for compatible devices including the iPhone XS and later models, Samsung Galaxy S21 series and later, and Google Pixel 3 and later — activation is completed through the Mobily app or a physical store

• Rewards Program: Mobily Rewards allows subscribers to earn points on every recharge, bill payment, and app transaction, redeemable for data add-ons, device discounts, and partner offers across Saudi retail and entertainment brands

• Family And Shared Plans: Mobily offers multi-line family plans with shared data pools and discounted additional-line pricing for up to five lines under one account

• Mobily WiFi Hotspots: Subscribers access thousands of Mobily WiFi hotspots across Saudi Arabia at airports, malls, hotels, and public spaces at no additional cost on eligible plans

Discover more about eSIM technology and activation in Saudi Arabia for modern connectivity options across all three operators.

Mobily Pros And Cons

Mobily key strengths and limitations based on independent benchmarking data

Advantages

• Highest Network Availability In Saudi Arabia: Mobily users remain connected 97.9% of the time — the highest availability of any Saudi operator — winning the Availability award outright and leading in seven of nine benchmarked cities, according to Opensignal February 2025

• Best 5G Video And Gaming Experience: Mobily earns the sole winner award for 5G Video Experience (73.5/100) and 5G Games Experience (82.4/100), both achieving "Very Good" and "Good" ratings respectively — the top scores nationally, according to Opensignal February 2025

• Fastest 5G Upload Speed Nationally: Mobily's 5G upload speed of 27.6 Mbps leads Saudi Arabia, beating stc's 25.2 Mbps and Zain's 22.3 Mbps, with city-level 5G upload peaks reaching 32.5 Mbps in Medina, according to Opensignal February 2025

• Strongest Network Latency Performance: Mobily achieves the best latency quality nationally, with 76% of measurements rated as Good or Excellent — compared to stc's 66% and Zain's 36% — indicating the smoothest real-time application performance, according to WePlan Analytics October 2025

• Highest Active 5G Usage Rate: Mobily subscribers spend 65% of their connected time actively on 5G networks, the highest rate among Saudi operators, indicating strong real-world 5G utilization where coverage is available, according to WePlan Analytics October 2025

Disadvantages

• Lower 5G Geographic Coverage Availability: Mobily users are under 5G coverage only 37% of the time — significantly behind Zain's 88% and stc's 55% — reflecting a smaller 5G geographic footprint despite strong per-connection performance, according to WePlan Analytics October 2025

• Second-Place Overall Download Speed: Mobily's national average download speed of 53.6 Mbps trails stc's 55.2 Mbps, and in key cities like Riyadh (60.8 Mbps vs stc's 69.3 Mbps) and Dammam (61.7 Mbps vs stc's 69.0 Mbps), the speed gap is more pronounced, according to Opensignal February 2025

• Coverage Experience Score Behind stc: Mobily's Coverage Experience score of 5.6 out of 10 is substantially lower than stc's 8.7 — a three-point gap — indicating stc reaches a wider range of populated geographic areas, according to Opensignal February 2025

Mobily Vs Competitors In Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia's mobile market operates with three licensed MNOs — Etihad Etisalat (Mobily), stc (Saudi Telecom Company), and Zain Saudi Arabia — competing across coverage, 5G quality, pricing, and subscriber growth. stc holds the largest subscriber base and widest coverage footprint, while Mobily leads in network consistency and 5G multimedia experience, and Zain competes on 5G geographic availability and competitive pricing.

Mobily is the strongest choice for users who prioritize consistent network quality, low-latency connections, and the best 5G multimedia experience in cities. stc delivers the widest coverage footprint and highest download speeds, making it the preferred option for frequent travelers across Saudi Arabia's rural and remote regions. Zain leads in 5G geographic availability but trails both competitors in speed, consistency, and latency performance, according to Opensignal February 2025 and WePlan Analytics October 2025.

Read the detailed Mobily vs stc comparison or explore Zain Saudi Arabia's full carrier review for alternative operator analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mobily

Does Mobily Have 5G Coverage In Saudi Arabia?

Mobily operates an active 5G network in Saudi Arabia, with 27% of its subscribers using 5G-capable devices and users spending 65% of their active time connected to 5G — the highest active 5G usage rate among all Saudi operators. Mobily first launched 5G commercially in 2019 and conducted 5G Standalone (SA) trials using carrier aggregation between 2022 and 2023. Geographic 5G coverage is available 37% of the time across user locations, concentrated in Riyadh, Jeddah, Mecca, Medina, and Dammam, according to WePlan Analytics Saudi Arabia Report published October 2025.

How Fast Is Mobily's Mobile Internet Speed?

Mobily delivers an average national download speed of 53.6 Mbps and upload speed of 12.2 Mbps across all network types, and achieves 228.7 Mbps download and 27.6 Mbps upload on active 5G connections. City-level performance peaks in Dammam at 61.7 Mbps download and in Medina at 32.5 Mbps 5G upload. On 5G, Mobily leads Saudi Arabia in upload speed — beating stc (25.2 Mbps) and Zain (22.3 Mbps) — according to the Opensignal Saudi Arabia Mobile Network Experience Report published February 2025.

What Areas Does Mobily Cover In Saudi Arabia?

Mobily's network covers all 13 administrative regions of Saudi Arabia, maintaining 97.9% signal availability — the highest of any Saudi operator — with confirmed 4G and 5G service in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Mecca, Medina, Abha, Hail, Al Hofuf, and Khamis Mushayt. The operator achieves network availability leadership in seven of the nine cities benchmarked by Opensignal, demonstrating consistent indoor and outdoor signal presence across urban centers. Rural and remote coverage is supported by the newly acquired 700 MHz spectrum band secured in November 2024, according to Opensignal February 2025 and WePlan Analytics October 2025.

How Do I Contact Mobily Customer Service?

Mobily customer service is reachable by dialing 1100 from any Saudi number 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or through live chat on the Mobily app and website available from 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM AST (UTC+3). Subscribers also access support through hundreds of Mobily retail stores across Saudi Arabia's 13 regions, an in-app ticketing system, and the official contact form at mobily.com.sa.

Does Mobily Support eSIM?

Mobily supports eSIM activation for compatible devices, including the iPhone XS and later models, Samsung Galaxy S21 series and later, and Google Pixel 3 and later. Subscribers activate an eSIM through the Mobily app using a QR code download or by visiting a physical Mobily retail store with a valid Saudi national ID or Iqama. eSIM availability extends to both postpaid and prepaid plans on the Mobily network.

What Countries Does Mobily Roaming Cover?

Mobily international roaming covers over 200 countries and territories across six continents, including destinations in Europe, Asia Pacific, the Americas, Africa, and Oceania. Roaming services include voice calls, SMS, and mobile data, with dedicated roaming packages available for frequent travelers to high-demand destinations such as the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, the United Kingdom, the United States, and India. Full country availability and rates are listed at mobily.com.sa.

How Does Mobily Compare To stc?

Mobily leads stc in network availability (97.9% vs 97.3%), 5G video experience (73.5 vs 71.8 out of 100), consistent quality (61.7% vs 58.7%), and latency performance (76% vs 66% of measurements rated Good or Excellent), while stc leads in overall download speed (55.2 vs 53.6 Mbps), 5G download speed (252.4 vs 228.7 Mbps), and coverage experience (8.7 vs 5.6 out of 10). The two operators are Saudi Arabia's top-performing networks across all major benchmarks, with Mobily excelling at consistency and 5G multimedia quality and stc excelling at peak speeds and geographic reach, according to Opensignal February 2025 and WePlan Analytics October 2025.

What Is The Best Mobily Feature?

Mobily's best feature is its Consistent Quality performance — the network ensures 61.7% of measured connections meet the threshold for demanding mobile app tasks such as video calls, HD streaming, and real-time gaming, the highest score in Saudi Arabia. This is complemented by the highest network availability nationally at 97.9% and the leading 5G video experience score of 73.5 out of 100, meaning subscribers enjoy the most reliable and highest-quality multimedia experience of any Saudi operator, according to Opensignal Saudi Arabia Mobile Network Experience Report published February 2025.

Conclusion

Mobily is Saudi Arabia's best carrier for consistent quality, low latency, and 5G multimedia performance — ideal for heavy streamers, gamers, and business users who need reliable connections across urban centers.

Explore more mobile operator options through our complete Saudi Arabia carrier directory or learn how to choose the right carrier for your needs in Saudi Arabia.

Last Updated: April 20, 2026

Sources:

1. Opensignal, Saudi Arabia Mobile Network Experience Report, February 2025

2. WePlan Analytics, Mobile Network Benchmark Report Saudi Arabia, October 2025

3. Forbes Middle East, Top 100 Listed Companies 2025 — Etihad Etisalat Company (Mobily), June 2025

4. Argaam, Mobily Q4 2025 Financial Performance and Operational Overview, February 2026

5. Etihad Etisalat Company — Mobily Official Website

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