Iqama, visas, Absher and SIM codes, explained

KSA Guides covers the everyday paperwork and phone services that expats and residents deal with in Saudi Arabia. Every fee, code and portal link is checked against the official source before it goes live, and rechecked when the rules change.

81 guides Verified against official portals Written by one named author

Work it out yourself

Two calculators built from the same verified figures as the guides, so you can get a number without reading a whole article.

ToolEnd of service calculatorWork out your Article 84 gratuity from your salary, years of service and how the contract ended.ToolSaudi postal code finderLook up the five-digit postal code for any Saudi city or district, with the additional four-digit extension.

Every balance and number code, in one table

The codes people actually search for, for all nine Saudi networks. Each operator links to the guide where the code was last verified, along with the app and SMS alternatives.

Balance and number check codes by Saudi operator
OperatorBalanceYour number
STC*8885# data, *166# credit*150#
Zain*142# credit, *405# data*144#
Mobily*1411#*222#
Lebara*110#*000#
Friendi*102#*110#
Virgin Mobile*102#Same code
Salam Mobile*103#*107#
Red Bull Mobile*588#*580#
JawwyApp only, no USSD*150#

Dial from the operator’s own SIM. Every code is free and works with zero credit unless the guide says otherwise. Operators change codes without notice, so each one links to the guide where it was last verified.

Which official portal answers your question?

Most wasted time in Saudi admin comes from opening the wrong platform. Each one below holds a different record, and these guides cover what it can and cannot tell you.

Absherabsher.saIqama status, traffic fines, dependents, travel permits and most Ministry of Interior services.Nafathiam.gov.saThe national login that now sits in front of Absher and hundreds of other platforms.Muqeemmuqeem.saVisa validity and how many exits remain, with no account needed.MOFAvisa.mofa.gov.saVisit, family and work visa applications, and the status check that replaced Enjaz.Qiwaqiwa.saEmployment contracts, sponsorship transfers and profession changes.CST Mutasilmutasil.cst.gov.saEvery SIM card registered against your Iqama, across all operators.Nusuknusuk.saUmrah permits, which every pilgrim now needs whatever visa they hold.Tawakkalnata.sdaia.gov.saDigital documents and status in one app, useful when Absher access fails.

Browse by topic

Four clusters, each built so the guides answer in sequence rather than repeating one another.

Telecom & SIM cards

Balance and number codes, data packages and recharge routes for every network operating in the Kingdom.

All 34 Telecom and SIM cards guides

Iqama & Residency

The residency permit itself, the checks that run against it, and the labour rules attached to it.

All 21 Iqama & Residency guides

Visa Services

Entry routes from tourist eVisa to work visa, plus the checks, extensions and what happens after a refusal.

All 16 Visa Services guides

Absher & Government

The platforms behind the paperwork: registration, recovery, kiosks and the apps that sit alongside them.

All 10 Absher & Government Platforms guides

Recently updated

Guides are revisited when a fee, code or procedure changes, so the date below is the last verification, not the first publication.

How these guides are checked

Saudi fees, USSD codes and portal names change often, and most of the confusion online comes from guides that were right once and never revisited.

  • Checked at the source. Fees, codes and procedures are verified against the official portal or operator that runs them, not against other guides.
  • Dated, not evergreen. Every guide carries the month it was last verified, because Saudi fees and USSD codes change without notice.
  • Disagreements are flagged. Where sources conflict, the guide says so instead of picking the tidiest number.

Roman Shah

Middle East content specialist

Writes and maintains every guide on KSA Guides, covering residency, visas, government platforms and telecom services across the Gulf. LinkedIn · Editorial policy