Saudi Arabia Temporarily Limits Mobile SIM Card Ownership
- Foreign residents can own only two SIM cards across operators
- Rules are meant to limit SIM card abuse, regulator says
This article is for subscribers only.
Saudi Arabia has imposed limits on the ownership of prepaid SIM cards for citizens and foreigners, restrictions that the regulator said aim to prevent the use of cards in carrying out militant attacks in the kingdom.
Foreign residents, who make up more than a third of the population, are now limited to two prepaid SIM cards across all operators, according to two people familiar with the matter. The limit applies to both voice and data lines in a country where many rely on data SIMs for Internet. Saudis are restricted to as many as 10 prepaid SIM cards, one person said.