United Arab Emirates eSIM
Mobile data for your trip to the United Arab Emirates. Install at home, switch it on when you land.
Network: Etisalat (5G)
- Hotspot works. As it should.
- QR code in your inbox within minutes of paying.
- Your days start when the eSIM first connects at your destination.
- Full refund as long as the eSIM is not installed.
- Data only. Your own number keeps working for calls and texts if you leave it on. Not sure your phone works with eSIM? Check it first
Details
- Coverage
- United Arab Emirates. Networks: Etisalat (5G).
- Validity
- 7 to 30 days, depending on the plan. The days start when the eSIM first connects at your destination.
- Hotspot
- Allowed. Share your data with a laptop, tablet or travel partner.
- Top-up
- Need more? Top up on the same eSIM.
- How it works
- Buy, install at home on wifi and switch on after landing. Read the guide
How much data do you need?
Set your trip length and how many hours a day you use each type of app. We suggest a plan that fits.
These numbers are estimates. Video quality, app settings and background updates change how much you use.
Travelling in Dubai and the UAE: the quick facts
The UAE is the skyline of Dubai, the white mosque of Abu Dhabi, the desert and the mountains of Ras Al Khaimah. Below you find what helps to know before you land, and how our UAE eSIM with hotspot keeps you and your laptop online in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the rest of the country.
- CurrencyUAE dirham (AED)
- PlugsType G, 230 VSame as the UK
- LanguageArabic, and English is spoken almost everywhere
- Emergency999 police, 998 ambulance, 997 fire
- Taxi appsCareem, Uber and RTA taxis
- NetworksEtisalat by e& (5G where available)
- Time zoneUTC+4 all year, no summer time
Most visited places in Dubai and the UAE
Most trips centre on Dubai, with a day trip to Abu Dhabi or into the desert. Many travellers come for a stopover of a few days on the way to Asia.
Downtown Dubai and Burj Khalifa
The world's tallest building, the Dubai Mall and the fountain show at the foot of the tower every evening. Book Burj Khalifa tickets online for sunset.
Palm Jumeirah
The palm-shaped island with beach resorts, Atlantis and the View at The Palm observation deck.
Dubai Marina
A walk along the water between skyscrapers and yachts, with JBR beach a few minutes away.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Abu Dhabi's white marble mosque, about 90 minutes from Dubai. Entry is free, but book a time slot online and cover arms and legs.
Dubai Desert
Red dunes just outside the city. A sunset desert trip with dune driving and dinner is the classic way to see it.
Jebel Jais
The highest mountain in the UAE, in Ras Al Khaimah, with a scenic mountain road and one of the world's longest zip lines. Cooler than the coast.
How do we compare?
Hotspot on every plan, top-ups on the same eSIM and help from a real person when you need it.
| Feature | Best choiceArrivalSIM | Airalo | Holafly |
|---|---|---|---|
Hotspot on every planChecked per country before a plan goes online | Yes | Depends on network | Max 1 GB/day |
Personal contactHelp from a real person when you need it | Yes | 24/7 chat | 24/7 chat |
Money-back guaranteeFull refund as long as the eSIM is not installed | Within 14 days if not installed | Within 14 days if unused | Within 6 months if unused |
Top up the same eSIMAdd data when you run low | Yes | Yes | Days only |
Fixed GB plansPay only for the data you need | Yes | Yes | No |
Checked on each provider's own website.
eSIM vs UAE SIM card
You can also buy a tourist SIM from du or e& at the kiosks in the arrivals hall at Dubai airport, or in a store. You register it with your passport.
| Topic | ArrivalSIM eSIM | Local SIM card |
|---|---|---|
| Where you get it | Online, install at home | Kiosk at Dubai airport or a store |
| Online when you land | Straight away | After the queue and setup |
| Price | Plan price incl. VAT | Tourist plans, paid in dirham |
| Passport | Not needed | Needed for registration |
| Keeps your own SIM | Yes | Comes out (unless dual SIM) |
| Local number for calls | Data only | Calls included |
Need a UAE number for local calls, or staying for weeks? Then a tourist SIM can make sense. For a stopover or a holiday, the eSIM saves you the kiosk queue and you are online as soon as you land.
Money in the UAE: dirham, cards and cash
The UAE uses the UAE dirham (AED). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere, so you only need a little cash.
- Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere. Keep some cash for the souks, small shops and the abra boats across the Creek.
- When a card terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your own currency, choose dirham.
- In Dubai, a Nol card pays for the metro, tram and buses. Buy and top it up at the machines in the stations.
- Tipping is not required. Leaving about 10% in restaurants is common if no service charge is added.
Weather and best time to visit Dubai and the UAE
Dubai is sunny and dry for most of the year, with very little rain. The difference is the heat: pleasant in winter and extreme in summer.
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Winter
November to MarchSunny and around 24 to 28 °C in the afternoon. The best time for the beach, the desert and walking outside, so also the busiest.
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Spring and autumn
April and OctoberHot, often above 35 °C, but still fine for the beach early or late in the day.
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Summer
May to SeptemberVery hot, often above 40 °C and humid on the coast. Plan indoor days in the malls and lower hotel prices.
Careem vs Uber: which taxi app to use in Dubai
In Dubai, Careem and Uber both book cars and official taxis, and you see the price before you book. Careem's Hala taxis are often the cheapest option. For trips along the Red and Green lines, the metro is fast and cheap.
Careem
The local favourite, for cars and official Hala taxis. You see the price before you book and pay by card in the app.
Uber
Works in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and also books official taxis. Compare it with Careem for each ride.
RTA taxis
Dubai's official taxis have a meter and take cards. Find them at taxi ranks or hail them on the street.
From Dubai International Airport
At Terminal 3, Uber and Careem riders wait in a cooled lounge next to the pick-up area, with a PIN queue. Official taxis wait outside arrivals, and the Red Line metro stops at Terminals 1 and 3.
Internet rules in the UAE: calls, VPN and SIM registration
WhatsApp and FaceTime calls
Voice and video calls on WhatsApp, FaceTime and most other apps are blocked on UAE networks and wifi. Messages and voice notes work normally. For video calls, Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet work, and the licensed app BOTIM offers calling plans.
VPN
A VPN is allowed for normal use, but using one to reach blocked services can be penalised. Many VPN websites are blocked, so install your VPN at home if you need one for work.
Local SIM: passport registration
A tourist SIM from du or e& is registered with your passport at the airport kiosk or in a store. Our eSIM needs no kiosk visit: you buy it online and install it at home.
Rules change, so check before you travel.
Internet in Dubai for tourists: coverage and hotspot
With our eSIM you have mobile data in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and across the UAE. It uses Etisalat by e&, with 5G where available. Coverage is very good in the cities and along the main roads. In the open desert and in the mountains, expect gaps.
Using hotspot in the UAE
- Install the eSIM at home on wifi before departure and leave the line off.
- After landing in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, switch it on, set it for mobile data and turn on data roaming.
- Turn on Personal Hotspot (iPhone) or Hotspot and tethering (Android). Hotspot data counts towards your plan.
Step by step: iPhone install guide, Android install guide. Need more data later? Top up the same eSIM.
A note from our founder
Dubai. A city that has always made me curious. I made a stopover on purpose in 2017, and came back twice for Expo 2020. From the top of the skyscrapers, you can still see how this city has been built out of nothing. There aren't many old buildings, but it's a place where the future is being written. But don't only look up. Take an abra across the Creek, get lost in the souks of Deira and watch the sunset in the desert. If you're coming in the summer months, you'll want to stay inside the air-conditioned malls, but during the European winter months, the climate is very, very pleasant. Enjoy Dubai!
Peter, founder of ArrivalSIM
Dubai and UAE eSIM FAQ
Should I buy and install the eSIM before I travel to Dubai?
That is the easiest way. Install it at home on wifi and switch it on after landing, so you can book a Careem or Uber straight away. Installing in the UAE also works, as long as you have wifi to download it.
Can I make WhatsApp calls in Dubai?
WhatsApp and FaceTime calls are blocked in the UAE, while messages and voice notes work. For calls home, use Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet or the licensed app BOTIM.
Does the eSIM work in Abu Dhabi and the other emirates?
Yes. It works across the UAE, including Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah. In the open desert and in the mountains, expect weaker signal.
Does hotspot work with the UAE eSIM?
Yes. Hotspot is included on every plan, so you can share your data with a laptop, tablet or travel partner. Hotspot data counts towards your plan.
When do my days start?
When the eSIM first connects in the UAE. Installing at home does not start your plan.
Which plan fits a week in Dubai?
Maps, taxi apps, messaging and some social media: the 5 or 10 GB plan. More video, or hotspot for a laptop: the 20 GB plan. The data calculator above helps you choose.
Is the eSIM useful for a stopover in Dubai?
Yes. The 1 GB plan lasts 7 days, which is enough for maps, taxi apps and messaging during a stopover of a day or two.
Can I get a refund?
Yes, you get a full refund as long as the eSIM is not installed. Questions first? Reach us through our contact page.
Ready for Dubai?
Plans from €3,99 including VAT
Pick your plan, install it at home before you fly and you are online when you land. Travelling on? We cover 190+ countries.
Questions first? Reach us through our contact page.