How to unlock carrier lock phone?

​The main reason why a Philippine SIM card is not working on a phone bought in Saudi Arabia is that the phone is either "Region Locked" or "Carrier Locked" (locked by a specific mobile operator).

​Phones from Samsung or other brands bought in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, often have a sticker on the box that says "Middle Eastern SIM Cards Only."

​To solve this issue, you can try the following steps one by one:

​1. Make a 10-minute call using a Middle Eastern SIM (The Easiest Solution)

​If the phone has a Region Lock (from Samsung or another brand), the most official way to unlock it is:

​Insert an active SIM card from Saudi Arabia or any other Middle Eastern country into the phone (if you can borrow one from someone you know).

​Make calls to any number using that SIM for a total of at least 10 to 15 minutes.

​This will automatically and permanently remove the region lock from the phone. After that, you will be able to use a SIM card from the Philippines or any other country in the world.

​2. Contact the Mobile Operator (If it is Carrier Locked)

​If the phone was purchased under a contract from a specific Saudi Arabian operator (such as STC, Mobily, or Zain), they lock the phone to their network.

​Contact the customer care of the respective operator (via their website or app).

​Request a Network Unlock Code (NUC) or a network unlock. If you are the legal owner of the phone and the contract terms are met, they will unlock it for free.

​3. Contact the Brand's Official Customer Service

​If it is a Samsung phone and you do not have access to a Saudi Arabian SIM card:

​Go to a local Samsung service center in the Philippines or contact their online support.

​Provide your phone's IMEI number and the purchase receipt. They can unlock the phone directly from their server.

​4. Local Mobile Repair Shop or Third-Party Unlocking

​If none of the above methods work, you can take the phone to a reputable local mobile repair shop in the Philippines (such as Greenhills in Manila or similar gadget markets).

​They can unlock the phone's network using various software or third-party tools for a certain fee.

​Tip for you: First, make sure whether the phone is region-locked or carrier-locked. If the phone box has a "Middle Eastern SIM Cards Only" sticker, method number 1 will work best.