Dubai
The modern city
Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Mall and a metro that works well in the cooler months. Nearly everything is a timed, pre-booked ticket.
United Arab Emirates eSIM
Land in Dubai already connected
One of the busiest stopovers on the planet, and one of the worst places to land without data. Scan the QR code before you leave and your phone finds an Emirati network the moment you touch down.
Built for the stopover
Dubai is where a huge number of long-haul routes break, and a day in the city is almost entirely app-driven — metro cards, timed attraction tickets, taxis, desert tours. The single-day plan covers exactly that, and the longer ones cover a proper stay. Note that these prices sit above our other bundles; UAE wholesale roaming is genuinely expensive.
United Arab EmiratesEtisalatdu
United Arab Emirates plans
Pick the length of your trip
Every plan below covers United Arab Emirates. Choose the number of days you're away — the price is fixed, you pay once, and nothing renews afterwards.
Where to go
Seven emirates, mostly visited as two
Dubai and Abu Dhabi take the bulk of the visitors. The northern emirates are quieter and considerably cheaper.
Dubai
Old Dubai & the creek
The gold and spice souks, abra crossings and the Al Fahidi historical district. The half of the city people skip and shouldn't.
Abu Dhabi
The capital
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Corniche. The mosque has a strict dress code and timed entry, both worth reading before you go.
The desert
Liwa & the Empty Quarter
Dune driving, overnight camps and the largest sand sea in the world starting a couple of hours inland.
Sharjah
Museums & heritage
The most serious arts and heritage offering in the Emirates, and considerably cheaper than Dubai next door.
Ras Al Khaimah
Mountains & the north
Jebel Jais, the longest zip line in the world, and a coastline that stays much quieter than the south.
On the ground
What you'll actually use it for
Getting around
Careem and Uber both operate, the metro runs on a stored-value card, and desert tour pickups are coordinated by WhatsApp. All of it needs data.
Booking as you go
Burj Khalifa slots, the Louvre and the better restaurants are timed and pre-booked. Turning up is usually the expensive way in, when it works at all.
Staying in touch
WhatsApp, FaceTime and Signal all run over data, so calls home cost nothing beyond the plan you've already paid for.
Backing up photos
Let a fortnight of pictures sync as you travel rather than praying your phone survives the trip home. This is the one that eats data, so save it for the evening.
When plans go wrong
A cancelled train, a closed road or a hotel that can't find your booking. All of it is easier to fix with a working connection than without one.
How it works
Set it up before you leave home
The whole thing takes about as long as printing a boarding pass, and it's far easier done on your own Wi-Fi than in an airport queue.
1
Choose your dates
Pick the plan that matches how long you're in the UAE.
2
Scan the QR code
It arrives by email as soon as you pay. Open your phone's mobile settings, add an eSIM, scan — done in under a minute, over Wi-Fi at home.
3
Switch it on in the UAE
Your plan starts when the eSIM first finds a network in the UAE, not when you bought it. Turn roaming off on your UK line and you're set.
FAQs
Before you book
Which networks does a UAE eSIM use?
Our UAE plans roam onto Etisalat and du, the country's two operators. Coverage across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the main roads between the emirates is excellent.
Is it worth it for a stopover?
If you're leaving the airport, yes — there's a single-day plan for exactly that, and a day in Dubai is almost entirely app-driven. If you're staying airside between flights, the airport Wi-Fi will do.
What does “unlimited” actually mean?
You get 1GB of full-speed data every day. After that the connection carries on at a reduced 384kbps for the rest of that day, then resets the next morning. There's no hard cut-off and no overage charge, so you can't run up a bill.
Why is the UAE more expensive than your other plans?
Because wholesale roaming into the UAE costs more than most markets, and we'd rather show you the real price than bury it. It's still usually well below UK network roaming rates for the Gulf — worth checking your own tariff to compare.
Will WhatsApp and FaceTime calls work?
Data itself works normally, but the UAE has historically restricted voice and video calling over some apps, and what's blocked has changed over time. Messaging is generally fine. Don't plan on VoIP calls home being reliable, whichever SIM or eSIM you use.
Isn't roaming with my UK network easier?
Easier, sometimes. Cheaper, almost never. The UAE sits outside most UK networks' inclusive roaming zones, so you're usually looking at a daily charge or per-megabyte rates that add up fast. Check your provider's rate for The UAE before you travel and compare it with a fixed one-off price.
Can I keep my UK number?
Yes. The eSIM runs alongside your existing SIM, so calls and texts still arrive on your UK number while your data goes over the local networks. Turn data roaming off on your UK line so nothing lands on your normal bill.
Do I get a Emirati phone number?
No, these are data-only plans. That covers maps, email, messaging and calls through WhatsApp, FaceTime or Signal. If you need a number that takes ordinary calls and texts, keep your UK SIM active alongside the eSIM.
Will my phone take an eSIM?
Most handsets released since 2018 will, including iPhone XR/XS and newer, Google Pixel 3 and newer, and Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer — as long as it isn't network locked. Look for “Add eSIM” or “Add data plan” in your mobile settings to check.
More destinations
Where else are you going?
Other destinations travellers pair with this one.
Safe travels
Sort your connection tonight and forget about it. One scan now, and the Emirates are just somewhere your phone already works.