eSIM for Dubai and the UAE: prices, networks, unlimited plans and calls compared

Which UAE eSIM fits your trip?

Start with the kind of trip rather than the lowest headline price:

• A layover at Dubai or Abu Dhabi airport: a few hundred megabytes are enough for messages, maps and a ride to the city. A short plan or a regional plan you already use for the rest of your journey works; the airport Wi-Fi is the free fallback.
• A city break of up to a week: 3 to 5 GB covers maps, ride-hailing and delivery apps, messaging and photos. Hotels, malls and the metro have Wi-Fi, so you use less mobile data than you might expect.
• A longer stay or remote work: 10 to 20 GB, or an unlimited plan with at least 2 GB a day at full speed if you join video meetings or share the connection with a laptop.
• The UAE plus Oman, Qatar or Saudi Arabia: a Gulf or Middle East plan, but only one whose country list includes every country on your route.

The figures in the boxes and tables are loaded from our database every time the page opens, so they show today's market rather than the day this guide was written.

UAE eSIM prices: the cheapest plan for every data amount

Each row shows the cheapest plan we track for that amount of data with at least a week of validity. Compare the price per GB, not only the total: in the UAE the step from a small to a medium package is often cheap, and a bigger package saves you a top-up in the middle of the trip.

• Country or regional plan: some of the cheapest rows can be Gulf, Middle East or global plans. They work in the UAE like a country plan, but check the network they use and the country list if you travel on.
• Validity: with most providers the days start with the first connection in the UAE, not on the day you buy. Read the plan page if you buy weeks in advance.
• Currency: many providers charge in US dollars. We convert those prices at the daily ECB rate and mark them; your bank may add a foreign currency fee.

Unlimited data in the UAE: look at the daily allowance first

Nearly every unlimited plan for the UAE has a daily allowance at full speed, after which the speed drops until the next day. In our data the allowance ranges from 500 MB to several gigabytes a day, and the reduced speed from 128 kbps to around 2 Mbps. That range makes a big difference in practice:

The very cheapest unlimited plans for the UAE in our database often allow only 500 MB a day at full speed and then 128 kbps. For a tourist who spends the day outside, using maps and uploading photos, that allowance can run out by lunchtime. The table therefore shows two prices for each validity: the cheapest unlimited plan of any kind and the cheapest with at least 2 GB a day at full speed. If the gap is small, the second is usually the better buy. Our guide Unlimited eSIM plans: how unlimited are they really? explains the different models.

e& or du: which network does your eSIM use?

The UAE has two mobile network operators, e& and du. Both cover the cities, the motorways between the emirates and the main tourist areas with 4G and widespread 5G. Plans use different spellings for the same networks, so this table helps when you read a plan page:

The Etisalat group rebranded as e& in 2022, but many plans still use the old name.

In Dubai, Abu Dhabi and along the coast either network is fine for a normal trip. Differences show up in the mountains around Hatta and in Ras Al Khaimah, on desert trips far from the main roads and on the smaller islands. A plan that lists both networks lets your phone switch to the stronger one; if a plan names only one, it is not worse in the cities, it just has no fallback.

WhatsApp calls and other internet calls in the UAE

The UAE restricts internet voice and video calls through many apps. Messaging in WhatsApp and similar apps works normally, but voice and video calls through some popular apps are often blocked on UAE connections, while selected services, mainly business and video conferencing apps, are permitted. Which apps are affected has changed over the years, so check the current situation shortly before you travel.

On a travel eSIM, whether an internet call connects can depend on how the provider routes your data. Many travel eSIMs connect as roaming guests and pass your traffic through another country, others hand it over to the local network. Providers rarely say which method a plan uses, and the result can differ from one plan to the next, so do not rely on internet calls for anything important.

• Keep your home SIM active for normal calls and texts, with data roaming switched off. You can still be reached on your usual number; check what your carrier charges for calls abroad.
• Need a UAE number? Most travel eSIMs for the UAE are data only. Only a small share of the plans we track includes calls or a number. For a local number, a prepaid SIM from e& or du is the usual route; it requires registration with your passport.
• Using a VPN is a legal question rather than a technical one, and the rules are strict. We do not give legal advice; read the official guidance before you travel.

Changing planes in Dubai or Abu Dhabi: an eSIM for a layover

Dubai International is one of the busiest transfer airports in the world, and many travellers only spend a few hours in the UAE. Whether a separate eSIM is worth it depends on your journey:

• A short connection inside the airport: the free airport Wi-Fi is usually enough. You do not need a plan just for the transfer.
• A stopover of a day or two: a short UAE plan or a small data package covers maps, taxis and messages in the city. Some providers sell plans for one to three days.
• A layover on the way to Asia, Africa or Europe: check whether the regional or global plan you are buying for your destination also includes the UAE. Then one eSIM covers both, and you do not install a second one for a single day.

If the layover falls at the start of your trip, install the eSIM at home before you fly and switch it on when you land. Activating a plan for your final destination during the layover is not a problem either: with most providers the validity only starts when the eSIM first connects in a country it covers.

Dubai plus Oman, Qatar or Saudi Arabia: Gulf and Middle East plans

Many trips combine the UAE with a neighbouring country: a drive to Oman, a few days in Doha, or a visit to Saudi Arabia. A UAE plan stops working at the border, so for these trips a regional plan is usually simpler than several country plans.

• Read the country list. “Gulf”, “GCC”, “Middle East” and “MENA” plans cover different sets of countries. Look for every country on your route, not just the UAE.
• Compare with two country plans. If you spend most of the time in the UAE and only one day abroad, a UAE plan plus a short plan for the other country can be cheaper.
• Watch the border areas. Near the border with Oman, for example around Hatta or on the way to the Musandam peninsula, your phone can pick up an Omani network. With a UAE-only plan you have no data there; with a regional plan that includes Oman, you do.

Compare regional plans on our Middle East page, or the country plans for Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. For longer journeys across several regions, our global plans are worth a look.

How to set up your UAE eSIM

1. Check that your phone supports eSIM and is not locked to your carrier; our guide How to check if your phone supports eSIM shows how.
2. Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi a day or two before you fly. Step-by-step help for iPhone and Android.
3. After landing, select the eSIM for mobile data and turn on data roaming for that line; most travel eSIMs connect as roaming guests.
4. Turn off data roaming on your home SIM, so it cannot use expensive roaming data in the background.

No connection after a few minutes? Restart the phone and try selecting e& or du manually in the network settings. Our checklist eSIM not working abroad? 10 fixes covers the usual causes, and How much data do you need for travel? helps you size the plan.