UAE & Dubai eSIM guide: local networks, airport SIM costs & setup

Why roaming and airport SIMs cost more in UAE & Dubai

The United Arab Emirates sits in the highest international roaming tier (Zone 3) for most European carriers, where unbundled data or daily passes quickly add 10 € to 15 € per day.

At Dubai International (DXB) and Abu Dhabi (AUH), tourist SIM counters verify your passport and visa stamp; paid multi-week tourist bundles typically cost 25 € to 50 €.

With a prepaid UAE & Dubai eSIM from 11.99 € incl. VAT (custom & group plans — price negotiable), you receive the QR code and iPhone direct-install link right after payment.

Local networks, 4G/5G speed & coverage in UAE & Dubai

High-density 5G and 4G LTE across Dubai Marina, Downtown, Palm Jumeirah, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and desert highway routes. WhatsApp text and voice notes work normally; local UAE regulations restrict carrier VoIP calls.

Our UAE & Dubai plans connect to Du with 5G / 4G LTE speeds where available. Personal hotspot (tethering) is enabled so you can share data with a laptop or a travel companion’s phone.

• Partner networks: Du (5G / 4G LTE)
• Main arrival airports covered: DXB, AUH, SHJ, DWC
• Hotspot / tethering included at no extra cost
• Top up more data onto the same eSIM anytime via My eSIM

How much data do you need for UAE & Dubai?

For a 1-to-2-week trip, 3 GB (15 days, from 11.99 € incl. VAT; custom & group plans — price negotiable) covers daily Google Maps navigation, ride-hailing apps, restaurant lookups, boarding passes and WhatsApp calls.

If you work remotely, upload travel videos or share a hotspot between two phones, pick the 10 GB plan (30 days, from 30.49 € incl. VAT; custom & group plans — price negotiable).

• Google Maps + transit + ride apps: ~150 MB per day
• WhatsApp messages, voice notes & 20 min voice calls: ~80 MB per day
• Social media browsing & photo uploads: ~300–500 MB per day

4-step setup on iPhone and Android before you fly

Check that your phone is unlocked and supports eSIM by dialling *#06# — if an EID number appears on screen, your phone has an eSIM chip.

Install the profile over home Wi-Fi the day before departure. Keep the travel eSIM line switched off until you land, then enable it for Mobile Data with Data Roaming turned on for the travel eSIM (and Data Roaming turned off on your home SIM).