United Arab Emirates eSIM

Staying connected in the UAE

Whether you are staying in Dubai, touring Abu Dhabi or only changing planes, install a travel eSIM at home and switch it on when you land. AirOva sells UAE plans from $2.99, with a fixed amount of data or unlimited, all data only, with no call minutes, SMS or local phone number. A UAE plan covers all seven emirates.

Which UAE plan to choose

GB plans suit most trips, since maps, ride apps and messaging take little data. They run on du, and each plan card shows whether it is listed as 4G or 5G. Unlimited plans give unlimited data with no data cap and no fair-usage limit, priced by the number of days, and run on du and Etisalat. On either type, expect 4G, with 5G where available.

du, Etisalat and 5G

The UAE has two main telecom operators, du and Etisalat, and our plans use du and Etisalat. Etisalat traded as e& from 2022 and has since announced a return to its original name, so you may still see the e& name. The regulator TDRA, as cited by Opensignal, puts 5G coverage at more than 99.5% of populated areas.

Arriving at DXB, DWC or AUH

Dubai International (DXB), the world's busiest airport for international passengers, is 4.7 km east of the city centre. Some flights use Al Maktoum International (DWC), 37 km southwest of Dubai, and Abu Dhabi's Zayed International (AUH) lies about 30 km east of the city. After landing, switch the eSIM line on, choose it for mobile data and enable Data Roaming for that line. A local SIM, by contrast, is sold to visitors against a passport.

WhatsApp calls, the desert and EU roaming

Under TDRA rules, voice and video calls over the internet must come from a licensed operator or an approved app, and operators must block unlicensed services, so we cannot promise WhatsApp or FaceTime calls; messaging is not affected. Approved apps have included BOTIM, Zoom and Microsoft Teams. On desert safaris, our UAE guide finds the signal usable near the camps and on the tarmac but thinner deep in the dunes. On an EU SIM, Roam Like at Home does not apply here.

Tip: install the eSIM over Wi-Fi before you fly and keep your home SIM in for bank codes, with roaming off. Day trip to Musandam? It belongs to Oman and is reached by road only through the UAE, so add an Oman plan. More in our Dubai and UAE eSIM guide.