Dubai is easy to get around with a phone: ride-hailing, metro routes, restaurant bookings and desert-trip pickups all run on data. Roaming with a home SIM in the UAE is often expensive, so a travel eSIM is usually the cheaper and simpler choice.
Which networks does a Dubai eSIM use?
Our United Arab Emirates eSIM runs on the UAE’s local networks, such as du and Etisalat (e&), with 5G where available. One plan covers the whole country: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah. Coverage is strong across the cities and main highways, and patchier deep in the desert.
Your first eSIM is on us
The first 100 travellers get a free 100 MB eSIM for Thailand, Bali, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, Dubai and 10 more destinations. Test your phone before you fly and get online the moment you land.
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Your Roamingly gift card is on its way. Use it at checkout on any 100 MB plan to get your eSIM free.
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WhatsApp messages, photos and voice notes work normally. Voice and video calls on some internet calling apps have long been restricted in the UAE, and a travel eSIM that uses local networks follows the same rules. Check the current situation before you rely on app calls, and keep your home SIM on for regular phone calls if you need them.
How much data do you need in Dubai?
- Short stopover (1–3 days): 1–3 GB covers maps, rides and messaging.
- A week of sightseeing: 5–10 GB is comfortable.
- Heavy use or working remotely: pick a large plan or unlimited daily data.
There are 45 UAE plans, from 100 MB to 100 GB plus unlimited daily data, valid from 3 days up to 6 months.
Getting around Dubai with data
- Rides: Careem and Uber are widely used. Data lets you book and track your driver from hotels, malls and beaches.
- Metro: the Red Line links the airport with Downtown and Dubai Marina, and live journey planning helps at transfers.
- Day trips: share your live location on desert safaris and drives to Abu Dhabi or Hatta.
Visiting Qatar, Saudi Arabia or Jordan too? The Middle East eSIM covers the UAE and nine more countries on one plan.
Which UAE plan should I choose?
Match the plan to the length of your trip and how you use your phone. A few common setups for Dubai:
- Stopover of one to three days: 1–3 GB is plenty for rides, maps and messages.
- A week in Dubai and Abu Dhabi: 5–10 GB valid 7–15 days.
- Long stays or business trips: a large plan valid 30 days or more, or unlimited daily data.
Each plan page shows its data, how many days it lasts and when those days start, so you can compare before you buy. Fixed-data plans suit predictable use. Unlimited daily plans give you a full-speed allowance every day and slow down after it, which suits heavy users who don’t want to count gigabytes.
eSIM vs roaming: is it worth it?
Roaming with your home SIM is convenient but often charged per day or per megabyte, and the bill arrives after the trip. A travel eSIM is a one-time payment for a set allowance, with no contract or auto-renewal. You keep your home number on the same phone for calls and texts, while the eSIM handles data. For most visitors to Dubai, that means a lower cost and no surprises.
How to set up your eSIM
- Check your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked (most iPhones from the XS onwards and recent Pixel and Galaxy phones do).
- Choose your plan on the UAE eSIM page. We email you a QR code.
- Open the QR code on another screen or print it. In your phone’s mobile data (or SIM) settings, choose Add eSIM and scan it, ideally over Wi-Fi.
- Label the new line “Travel”. Keep your home SIM on for calls and texts if you like, with its data roaming off.
- When you land, set mobile data to the travel line and turn on data roaming for it.
When do the days start? It depends on the plan, and each plan shows it. Some start when the eSIM first connects in the country, others as soon as you install it. If yours starts on install, add it a day or two before you fly.
Dubai eSIM FAQ
Does the eSIM work in Abu Dhabi and the other emirates?
Yes. The plan covers the whole UAE, not just Dubai.
Do I get a UAE phone number?
No, it’s data only. Keep your home SIM on if you need to receive calls or texts.
Is airport Wi-Fi enough?
Free Wi-Fi at the airport and in malls is useful, but it won’t follow you into a taxi, onto the metro or out into the desert. That’s when you need mobile data.
Planning your trip? Choose your UAE eSIM plan and land connected.
