eSIM For U

eSIM United Arab Emirates

5G · du

Good to know

Starts when you first connect

Top-up available

7 days

30 days

60 days

180 days

Good to know

Starts when you first connect

Top-up available

Before you go

United Arab Emirates eSIM: what to expect.

Plans for the United Arab Emirates range from 1 to 50 GB and 7 to 180 days, plus day plans with a fixed daily allowance. You pay once. No contract, no roaming bill.

Networks and speed

  • Networksdu
  • SpeedUp to 5G on this network. Where there is no 5G, you connect over 4G/LTE.

Which plan for your trip

Our pick · 1 week5 GB · 30 days$10.49About 0.7 GB a day: enough for maps, messages, social media and some video.Choose this planOur pick · 2 weeks10 GB · 30 days$17.49About 0.7 GB a day: enough for maps, messages, social media and some video.Choose this plan

Prefer a daily allowance? 1 GB per day · 7 days for $22.39: full speed up to 1 GB a day, then 1 Mbps until the next day.

Picked like in our shop: the cheapest plan with about 0.7 GB a day. Live prices for United Arab Emirates.

Tips for United Arab Emirates

  • Voice and video calls on some apps, including WhatsApp and FaceTime, have long been restricted in the UAE. Messages, photos and voice notes work.
  • Careem and Uber are the main ride apps in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Travel guideUAE eSIM guide: Dubai, Abu DhabiTravel guideDubai & UAE SIM card or eSIM for touristsTravel guideDubai eSIM or local SIM

Questions

Which networks does the United Arab Emirates eSIM use?

du (5G). Coverage and speed depend on where you are.

Does the United Arab Emirates eSIM work on 5G?

Yes, 5G on du. Your phone needs to support 5G; where there is no 5G signal, it uses 4G/LTE.

Will my phone work with the United Arab Emirates eSIM?

Yes, if your phone supports eSIM and is not locked to one carrier. Most iPhones from the XS and XR onwards do, as do recent Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel models. Check yours in our list of eSIM phones.

Does the United Arab Emirates eSIM come with a phone number?

No. It is data only: no phone number, no calls or SMS. Your own SIM stays in your phone, so WhatsApp and iMessage keep working with your usual number.

How much data do I need for a week in the United Arab Emirates?

About 0.7 GB a day covers maps, messages, social media and some video, so around 5 GB for a week. Our pick for one week: 5 GB · 30 days for $10.49.

What is the cheapest United Arab Emirates eSIM?

1 GB · 7 days for $3.69 is the lowest-priced plan. The lowest price per GB is 20 GB · 30 days at $1.49 per GB. A single day with 0.49 GB costs $2.79.

How long is the United Arab Emirates eSIM valid?

Plans run for 7, 30, 60 or 180 days. Day plans can be booked for 1 to 30 days.

When does my plan start?

When your phone first connects to a network in the United Arab Emirates, not when you buy or install the eSIM. So you can install it at home before you travel.

Is there an unlimited United Arab Emirates eSIM?

Not at full speed. Day plans come closest: up to 10 GB a day at full speed, then 512 Kbps until the next day.

Can I use the United Arab Emirates eSIM as a hotspot?

Yes, your phone can share the connection with a laptop or a second phone. Everything you share counts against your plan. Whether a network limits sharing depends on the plan, so ask us before you buy if it matters. More in our hotspot guide.

Can I top up my United Arab Emirates eSIM?

Yes, on plans marked “Top-up possible”: add data under My eSIMs while the plan is still valid. No new eSIM needed.

What happens when I use up my daily data?

On day plans you get full speed up to the daily allowance. After that, the speed drops to between 500 Kbps and 1 Mbps, depending on the plan, until the next day.

Can I get a refund?

eSIM purchases are final. If something isn’t right, write to us in Help and we’ll take care of it.

The UAE in detail: networks, speed and calls

Networks and 5G

1 network · 5G

Your eSIM uses du.

  • 5G where the network offers itOtherwise 4G/LTE on the same plan.
  • Older phonesConnect over 4G/LTE, nothing to change.

Updated 24 Oct 2026 · checked against our live catalogue

Speed in Abu Dhabi and Dubai

683 Mbps

The UAE ranks first of 100 countries in this index, so the amount of data in your plan matters more than speed.

DownloadGlobal rank
United Arab Emirates681 Mbps1 of 100
Abu Dhabi683 Mbps1 of 151
Dubai547 Mbps3 of 151

Sources: Ookla Speedtest Global Index (September 2026)

WhatsApp and internet calls

Calls restricted

Voice and video calls on some apps, including WhatsApp and FaceTime, have long been restricted in the UAE, on every network.

  • Messages, photos, voice notesWork as usual.
  • Voice and video callsCheck which apps work at the time of your trip.
  • Maps, rides, bankingThe data connection works as usual.

Updated 24 Oct 2026 · checked against our live catalogue

Local SIM card or travel eSIM

Online on landing

For a city break or a stopover the eSIM is ready when you land, so you can book your ride from the arrivals hall.

Local SIMTravel eSIM
WhereShop or counterOnline, at home
OnlineAfter setupOn landing
Home SIMUsually comes outStays in
NumberLocal numberData only

Updated 24 Oct 2026 · checked against our live catalogue

Stopovers and day trips

No second eSIM

One UAE plan covers Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates, so a stopover needs no second eSIM.

  • Stopover: a small plan or a day plan covers a night between two flights.
  • Desert trips: save the meeting point and the organiser contact before you leave the city.
  • Oman and the Gulf: need a plan that includes them, such as the Gulf States plan.

Updated 24 Oct 2026 · checked against our live catalogue

How much data for the UAE

0.7 GB a day

Our shop suggests about 0.7 GB a day, enough for maps, messages, social media and some video, and our data guide shows what each app uses.

1 week2 weeks
Maps, messagesabout 2 GBabout 4 GB
Plus social mediaabout 5 GBabout 10 GB
Plus videoabout 10 GBabout 20 GB
Plan for
Stopover, 2 daysabout 1.5 GB
Dubai, 1 weekabout 5 GB
Oman, 2 weeksabout 10 GB

Updated 24 Oct 2026 · checked against our live catalogue

Set up before you fly

4 steps

Four steps at home make sure you are online when you land.

  1. Check that your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked: list of eSIM phones.
  2. Install the eSIM at home over Wi‑Fi, on iPhone or Android.
  3. On arrival, use the eSIM for mobile data and turn on its data roaming.
  4. Keep data roaming off for your home line, so your operator does not charge you.

Updated 24 Oct 2026 · checked against our live catalogue

Plan types and more countries

Data only

The eSIM is data only, so WhatsApp messages keep reaching your usual number, as our WhatsApp guide explains.

  • Data plans: a total amount for a set number of days, unused data carries over to the next day.
  • Day plans: a fixed amount per day at full speed, after that as each plan states.
  • Top up: on plans marked “Top-up possible”, add data under My eSIMs without a new eSIM.
  • More countries: a regional plan covers several countries with one eSIM, see below.
RG-SAAEQAKWOMBH-6 eSIM200+ destinations, ready in minutesCharged only when your eSIM is ready
See eSIM plans

Updated 24 Oct 2026 · checked against our live catalogue

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