eSIM for the UAE
A prepaid travel eSIM that gets you online the moment you land in the UAE. You install it from a QR code we email you, in about five minutes, with no SIM shop to find at Dubai or Abu Dhabi airport.
- 50 data plans work in the UAE, from $3.49. Prices checked November 3, 2026.
- 17 plans cover the UAE only. 33 more cover it along with nearby countries such as Oman and Saudi Arabia.
- Most plans start when you first use data, so you can install at home before you fly. A few start at install, and the tables mark them.
- Data only, with no local phone number. Your home number stays on your regular SIM.
Prices by data and trip length
Prices in US dollars, checked November 3, 2026. The plan page shows the current price before you pay.
| Data | 7 days | 15 days | 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | $3.491 GB, 7 days | $5.992 GB, 15 days | $7.993 GB, 30 days |
| 3 GB | $7.993 GB, 30 days | $7.993 GB, 30 days | $7.993 GB, 30 days |
| 5 GB | $9.995 GB, 30 days | $9.995 GB, 30 days | $9.995 GB, 30 days |
| 10 GB | $12.9912 GB, 30 daysRegional plan, 51 destinationsStarts at install | $12.9912 GB, 30 daysRegional plan, 51 destinationsStarts at install | $12.9912 GB, 30 daysRegional plan, 51 destinationsStarts at install |
| 20 GB | $21.9924 GB, 30 daysRegional plan, 51 destinationsStarts at install | $21.9924 GB, 30 daysRegional plan, 51 destinationsStarts at install | $21.9924 GB, 30 daysRegional plan, 51 destinationsStarts at install |
Plans for the UAE only
Every size and length sold for the UAE alone, without other countries:
| Data | Length | Price | Network | Starts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | 7 days | $3.49 | 5G where available | On first use |
| 2 GB | 15 days | $5.99 | 5G where available | On first use |
| 3 GB | 30 days | $7.99 | 5G where available | On first use |
| 5 GB | 30 days | $9.99 | 5G where available | On first use |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $17.99 | 5G where available | On first use |
| 20 GB | 30 days | $33.99 | 5G where available | On first use |
| 50 GB | 30 days | $89.99 | 5G where available | On first use |
| 100 GB | 30 days | $121.99 | 5G where available | On first use |
Unlimited data plans
3 unlimited plans work in the UAE. Unlimited plans give a set amount of full speed data, then slow down. The cheapest for each length:
| Length | Price | Full speed | Covers | Starts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 days | $29.99 | 30 GB in total at full speed, then 2 Mbps | UAE only | On first use |
| 10 days | $49.99 | 60 GB in total at full speed, then 2 Mbps | UAE only | On first use |
| 15 days | $64.99 | 90 GB in total at full speed, then 2 Mbps | UAE only | On first use |
Plans for the UAE and nearby countries
- The UAE and Saudi Arabia: 1 plan, from $9.99 for 3 GB over 90 days.
- Middle East plan, 13 destinations, including Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain: from $3.99 for 1 GB over 7 days.
- Regional plan, 51 destinations, including Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia: from $12.99 for 12 GB over 30 days.
- Regional plan, 98 destinations, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait: from $41.99 for 13 GB over 365 days.
- Global plan, 132 destinations, including Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain: from $7.49 for 1 GB over 7 days.
- Global plan, 153 destinations, including Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain: from $9.00 for 1 GB over 7 days.
Network and plan details
- 18 of the 50 plans connect at 5G where the local network and your phone support it. The rest use 4G LTE.
- Of the 50 plans for the UAE, 41 start when you first use data and 9 start when you install the eSIM.
- Your data goes out to the internet from Western Europe on 12 plans, the UK or Ireland on 11 and Hong Kong on 9. 6 use other places. 12 do not say. Websites usually see that place as your location.
- None of the 38 plans that name a place send your data to the internet from the UAE.
- Hotspot sharing works on every plan here.
- The catalog does not name the local network for these plans.
- Capital: Abu Dhabi
- Country calling code: +971
- Plans: 50, from $3.49 to $121.99
The UAE has one feature travelers care about most: internet calling. The Emirates restricts WhatsApp, FaceTime, and similar voice and video calls on local networks. A roaming travel eSIM routes your data through a partner network abroad, so those calls usually work the way they do at home. That alone is the reason many visitors pick an eSIM here.
What you can use the data for
Calling apps. WhatsApp and FaceTime voice and video calls usually work on a roaming eSIM, which matters because the UAE restricts them on local SIMs. This is the main reason to choose this over a local card.
Ride-hailing. Careem is the dominant ride app in the UAE, with Uber alongside it. Both run on data and are the easy way around Dubai's spread-out districts.
Maps. Google Maps covers Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and the desert highways between the emirates. It needs a connection throughout.
Bookings. Burj Khalifa tickets, desert safaris, and restaurant tables are easiest to reserve over a live connection.
Where it works
Coverage roams on the UAE's national networks, which are fast and reach across the emirates:
- Dubai, served by Dubai International (DXB) and Al Maktoum (DWC)
- Abu Dhabi (AUH), the capital
- Sharjah and the northern emirates
- Al Ain and the desert interior
- The highways linking Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Coverage is excellent across the cities and the main highways, including the metro and the malls. It thins only in the deep desert away from the roads. Download an offline map before a dune trip off the main routes.
Common situations
Dubai stopover
Activate on the airport wifi, book a Careem into the city, and make WhatsApp calls home that a local SIM would block. Dubai is one of the world's busiest hubs, so this is a top pick for layovers.
Staying in touch on calling apps
If you need to reach family or colleagues by WhatsApp or FaceTime call, a roaming eSIM is the reliable way to do it in the UAE, since local networks restrict those services.
Business in Dubai or Abu Dhabi
Stay on email, maps, and calling apps between meetings across the business districts. The eSIM runs beside your home SIM, so your usual number still rings.
How to install your eSIM before you fly
- Buy the plan. The eSIM arrives by email, usually within a minute. Install it at home on Wi-Fi with the one-tap link or the QR code in the email. 9 plans start counting at install or purchase, and the tables mark them. Install those close to your flight.
- Name the line UAE and keep it off until you land. Do not delete it after setup, because an eSIM installs only once.
- On arrival, turn the line on, choose it for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it. Turn off data roaming on your home line.
Screen by screen steps for iPhone and Android are in our travel eSIM install guide.
Phones that work
Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked. Check your model on our compatibility page.
Common questions
How much does an eSIM for the UAE cost?
Plans start at $3.49 for 1 GB over 7 days. A plan with at least 10 GB for 30 days starts at $12.99. Prices checked November 3, 2026.
Is there an unlimited data eSIM for the UAE?
Yes. 3 unlimited plans work in the UAE, from $29.99 for 5 days. That plan gives 30 GB in total at full speed, then 2 Mbps.
Is there a plan for the UAE only?
Yes. 17 plans cover the UAE only, from $3.49. 33 more cover it together with other countries.
Can one eSIM cover the UAE and nearby countries?
Yes. 24 plans cover both the UAE and Oman, from $3.99. 27 cover the UAE and Saudi Arabia. 26 cover the UAE and Qatar. The section above lists the regional plans.
When does the plan start counting days?
It depends on the plan. Of the 50 plans for the UAE, 41 start when you first use data and 9 start when you install the eSIM. The plan page shows the rule before you pay.
Does the eSIM come with a phone number?
No. These plans are data only, and your home number stays on your regular SIM.
Will WhatsApp and FaceTime calls work in the UAE?
On a roaming travel eSIM, usually yes. The UAE restricts internet calling on local SIMs, but a roaming eSIM routes your data through a partner network abroad, so those calls typically work as they do at home. This is the main reason travelers pick an eSIM here.
Is it good for a Dubai stopover?
Yes. Dubai is one of the busiest air hubs in the world, so you can step off, get online, and even call home before your next flight.
Can I use Careem from the airport?
Yes. Careem and Uber run on the data, so you can book a ride into the city once you switch on roaming.