The best eSIM for the UAE is a data plan sized to your days there and installed before you fly. A SimOptions United Arab Emirates eSIM does that. It runs on the du and e& networks, supports 5G, activates when you land in Dubai or Abu Dhabi and comes in sizes from 1 GB to 20 GB. It has no UAE phone number. Calling apps are regulated in the UAE, so if you need to make calls, a local line from du or e& may suit you better.
Which is the best eSIM for the UAE?
Short on time? These United Arab Emirates plans are 5G and data only. Pick the size from the days you stay.
United Arab Emirates 5GB (7 days) · 10GB (7 days) · 20GB (15 days) · data only · 5G · See all eSIMs for the UAE · All destinations
What to look for in an eSIM for the UAE
- Coverage: check that the United Arab Emirates is on the country list. A UAE-only plan suits a trip to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah or Ajman. A regional plan suits a trip that also takes in Oman, Saudi Arabia or Qatar.
- Data and days: both are on the plan page. A small plan fits a stopover. For a week with maps, ride-hailing and photos, look at a bigger one.
- Speed: the plan details say whether you get 4G/LTE or 5G.
- Calls: most travel eSIMs are data only. In the UAE, voice and video calls over the internet are regulated, so check this before you count on calling apps (more below).
- Setup before you fly: you get a QR code by email and install it on Wi-Fi at home. Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked (see how to check eSIM compatibility).
Our eSIMs for the UAE: the details
Here is what the plan details on our United Arab Emirates eSIM page say:
- Sizes: 1 GB or 3 GB for 3 days, 5 GB or 10 GB for 7 days, and 20 GB for 15 days.
- Networks and speed: the plans run on du and e&, at 4G or 5G speed.
- Phone number: no. The plans are data only, with no calls or SMS.
- Activation: once installed, the eSIM activates automatically when you arrive in the UAE. Your days start then.
- Top-ups: available, so you can add data instead of buying a new eSIM.
- Expiry: if you don't use the eSIM within a year, it becomes invalid.
Every plan is prepaid with no contract.
How much data do you need in the UAE?
It depends on how long you stay and how you use your phone. As a rough guide:
- A stopover or 1 to 3 days: United Arab Emirates 1GB or 3GB, both for 3 days. Enough for maps, messages and a ride to your hotel.
- Up to a week: United Arab Emirates 5GB or 10GB, both for 7 days. Maps, ride-hailing, social media and photos in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
- Two weeks: United Arab Emirates 20GB, for 15 days. Room for some video and sharing your connection.
- Longer than two weeks: a Middle East plan lasts 30 days (see below), or top up your UAE eSIM.
Not sure how much you need? Pick the bigger size. Our guide to eSIM data plans shows how to estimate it, and how to reduce data usage abroad helps you stretch it.
Is there an eSIM for a Dubai stopover?
Yes. Many people only spend a day or two in Dubai or Abu Dhabi between flights. The smallest UAE plans last 3 days, so you get data for a city tour, maps and ride-hailing without paying for a week.
Can you make calls with a travel eSIM in the UAE?
Our UAE plans are data only, so you don't get a UAE number or call minutes. Many travellers plan to call over apps instead, but in the UAE that needs care. The telecom regulator TDRA treats voice and video calls over the internet as regulated telecom services. It says that unless an app is provided by a licensed operator, works with one, or is approved by TDRA, it is very likely illegal to use it for voice and video calls. It keeps a list of approved apps and advises you to ask your provider (TDRA: FAQs).
So check TDRA's list before you rely on calling apps. Data still covers messages, maps, email, tickets and booking apps. Your home SIM can stay on your phone next to the travel eSIM, so you keep getting texts and bank codes on your usual number, see how to set up a dual eSIM. More on how calls work with a data-only plan: phone calls with a data-only eSIM.
Local eSIM from du or e&, or a travel eSIM?
You have two kinds of choices in the UAE. We explain the local operators in detail in eSIM providers in the UAE. Here is the short version, from their own pages.
- du and e& both offer eSIM, and Apple lists them, with Virgin Mobile, among UAE carriers with prepaid plans for international travellers (Apple: carriers that offer eSIM on iPhone).
- du says all new and existing customers can get an eSIM, including tourists. For a new line you visit a du store or go to shop.du.ae with valid ID (du: eSIM). Its tourist manual describes a free tourist eSIM you activate by scanning a QR code, with 10 GB of free data for 24 hours, then tourist bundles with data and call minutes (du: Tourist Manual). Bundles and prices change, so check them with du.
A local line gives you a UAE number and local calls, but you need ID and you set it up after you land. A travel eSIM is different: you buy it online, scan a QR code at home and don't visit a shop.
Choose a local eSIM if you need a UAE number or call minutes. Choose a travel eSIM if you want data the moment you land, and a plan you can compare and pay for before the trip.
Which eSIM for Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Ajman?
You don't need a different eSIM for each emirate. A United Arab Emirates plan works across the country, from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to Sharjah and Ajman. In the cities, the usual data uses are maps, ride-hailing, translation, tickets and booking apps. These need little data, so a 5 GB or 10 GB plan may be enough for a week. Video calls and streaming use much more.
Heading into the desert? The UK Foreign Office says desert trips can be dangerous unless you're in a properly equipped 4-wheel-drive vehicle. It advises travelling with other cars, taking water and a mobile phone, and leaving a copy of your travel plans with someone (FCDO: UAE safety and security). Signal can drop far from the roads, so download offline maps before you go.
The same FCDO page says it is illegal to photograph some government buildings and military installations, and that you shouldn't photograph people without their permission. Keep that in mind before you post your trip online.
Before you travel: regional tensions
As of November 2026, the UK Foreign Office warns that the situation in the Middle East is unpredictable, with strikes and retaliatory attacks across the region since early 2026. It tells travellers to be ready for flight cancellations, airspace closures and travel disruption, to follow local authorities and media, and to sign up for its email alerts (FCDO: UAE warnings and insurance). Check your own government's advice before you book, and again before you fly. A working data connection the moment you land helps you check flight updates and messages from your airline.
Going to more than one country in the Gulf?
If the UAE is one stop, a Middle East plan can be simpler than a new eSIM at every border. Our Middle East eSIM covers 12 countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates. The plans are 4G/LTE and data only, with 1 GB for 7 days, or 3 GB, 5 GB, 10 GB or 20 GB for 30 days. When we checked, from 5 GB up the Middle East plans cost the same as or less than the UAE plan of the same size and last longer, while the UAE plans give you 5G on du and e&. For a stay of more than two weeks, the Middle East plan is worth a look even if you stay in the UAE.
Driving on to Oman or stopping in Doha? See our guides to the best eSIM for Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
Middle East plans · 12 countries including the UAE · 30 days · 4G/LTE · data only · See the Middle East eSIMs
How do you get an eSIM for the UAE?
- Check your phone: it must support eSIM and be carrier unlocked. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > About and look for "No SIM restrictions" next to Carrier Lock (Apple: Unlock your iPhone).
- Buy and install on Wi-Fi: you get a QR code by email (Apple: Set up eSIM on iPhone). Our install guide walks you through it on iPhone and Android.
- When you land, use the travel eSIM for data: Apple notes that you might still pay roaming fees on your home line, so turn off data roaming on it (Apple: Use eSIM while traveling).
No signal after you land? Our guide on what to do when your eSIM is not activating covers the usual causes. Not sure what an eSIM is? See what is an eSIM.
FAQ
What is the best eSIM for the UAE?
It depends on your trip. For data only, a United Arab Emirates eSIM sized to your days is a simple choice: 3 GB for a stopover, 5 GB or 10 GB for a week, 20 GB for two weeks. If you need a UAE number or call minutes, a local line from du or e& fits better. For several countries or a month, look at a Middle East plan.
What is the best eSIM for Dubai?
The same UAE plan works in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the rest of the country. Choose the size from your days and how much video you use.
Can I get an eSIM for the UAE before I travel?
Yes. Buy it online, install the QR code on Wi-Fi at home, and it activates when you arrive in the UAE.
Does a travel eSIM for the UAE include a phone number?
No. Our United Arab Emirates and Middle East plans are data only. For a UAE number, get a line from a local operator such as du or e&.
Can I use WhatsApp calls in the UAE?
Messaging works over data, but voice and video calls over the internet are regulated. TDRA says calling apps that are not licensed, run with a licensed operator or approved by TDRA are very likely illegal to use for calls. Check TDRA's list of approved apps or ask your provider.
Which networks does the UAE eSIM use?
Our United Arab Emirates plans run on du and e&, at 4G or 5G speed.
Does my phone need to be unlocked?
Yes. A carrier-locked phone may not accept an eSIM from another provider. Ask your carrier to unlock it before you travel.
Is there an eSIM for the UAE and Oman or Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Our Middle East plan covers 12 countries, including the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain. Check the country list for the places you visit.
