Adil FahimOther Experiences –
General Medicines — Keep generic medicine with you like fever, cold etc and if you are travelling with kids then you must keep some others as well as per the requirement.
Immigration Check — In Europe (Before Boarding) — validate the Saudi Evisa, match the name on Visa and Passport and Validate RP.
In Saudi — Check Evisa and Passport and Stamp it.
CASH/Card — Cash is King, most of the shops only accepts cash except Hotels and some big shops, remember to carry cash/exchange it in Saudi airport, I used Revolut card to make the hotel payments and also withdraw cash in SAR currency, perfectly works without any issue. I already converted the EURO to SAR online in Revolut app and make payments via Revolut Card loaded on my IPhone.
Umrah Preparations — Most Important Part, please remember all duaas and ritual before proceeding for Umrah. Details shared on Umrah Rituals page.
Saudi eSIM — 40SAR (STC — 1GB Internet+ 1 hour calling National/International) sufficient for normal unless you start watching videos/YouTube/surfing. Free Wi-Fi is not available everywhere except Hotel, SAPTCO bus and some other places include Makkah Towers super market.
WhatsApp Calling — WhatsApp calling is blocked in KSA however and I can see people are using different VPN’s I have installed 1.1.1.1 VPN in my mobile to test and it works good working without much disconnection issue (Video/Voice)both.
Other Apps for Calling – if WhatsApp still not working after above VPN then you can try IMO or BOTIM app which is working perfectly fine without any VPN but there 1 one requirement, another person should have also IMO and BOTIM installed on his/her mobile to receive the call.
Food — Some things which I remember – Indian Tea-3SAR, Pakistani Food — Chicken Biryani 15 SAR, Haleem 15 SAR, Mutton Kadhai 25 SAR, Chicken Korma 15 SAR (All are having 3 breads by default except Biryani and Haleem), lot of options are available. Al-Baik (Near Masjid Al Haram, Makkah) — 23 SAR (only 1 option, Chicken Nuggets, cold drink, burger)
Super Market — if you are looking for any supermarket then carrefour is a good option in Clock Towers.
