UAE
Travel eSIM with mobile data
QR code by e-mail within a minute · Didn't install? Money back · Apple Pay · Google Pay
UAE: eSIM from $3.49 for 1 GB for 7 days; the popular plan is 5 GB for 30 days at $10.99. Networks: Du (5G). Starts on the first connection in the country. Prices checked Nov 15, 2026.
2 GB a day at full speed, then you stay online at up to 1 Mbps. The allowance renews daily.
Not sure how many GB? Work it out in 1 min →
How do I install the eSIM and when does it start?
Install the eSIM at home over Wi-Fi: the plan starts with the first connection on your trip.
- 1Choose a plan
Pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. The eSIM appears on the page and in your e-mail.
- 2Install with one tap
One button on iPhone (iOS 17.4+) or Android, no QR code.
- 3Turn on data roaming
After landing, turn it on for Tutu eSIM and you're online.
How much does an eSIM cost in United Arab Emirates?
| Provider | Plan | Price | per GB | checked | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tutu eSIM cheapest5 GB · 30 days | 5 GB · 30 days | $10.99≈ 504 ₴$2.20 per GB · ≈ 504 ₴ · checked 15.11.2026 | $2.20 per GB | checked 15.11.2026 | Buy |
| Nomad5 GB · 30 days | 5 GB · 30 days | $11.00≈ 504 ₴$2.20 per GB · ≈ 504 ₴ · checked 15.11.2026 | $2.20 per GB | checked 15.11.2026 | Website |
| Saily5 GB · 30 days | 5 GB · 30 days | $11.99≈ 549 ₴$2.40 per GB · ≈ 549 ₴ · checked 15.11.2026 | $2.40 per GB | checked 15.11.2026 | Website |
| Airalo5 GB · 30 days | 5 GB · 30 days | $12.00≈ 550 ₴$2.40 per GB · ≈ 550 ₴ · checked 15.11.2026 | $2.40 per GB | checked 15.11.2026 | Website |
What you get with Tutu eSIM
| Networks | Du (5G) |
|---|---|
| What's included | Data only, no phone number. Calls via WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber |
| Hotspot | Yes, tethering works on most plans |
| Top-up | Yes, on the same eSIM, no new install |
| Validity starts | At the first connection in the country: buy in advance |
| Install within | 180 days after purchase |
| ID check | None: no passport, no verification |
| Delivery | QR code and link by e-mail a minute after payment |
| Payment | Prices in dollars or euros, Apple Pay and Google Pay. No subscription: you pay once for each plan |
| Support | Support every day in the chat on the site |
| Guarantee | Money back if the eSIM doesn't install |
Before your trip: UAE
Which network and what speed in United Arab Emirates?
10 plans for 1–60 days
Mobile data in the UAE without roaming charges
Why roaming in the Emirates gets expensive
The UAE is outside the EU's «roam like at home» zone, and for most EU and UK operators it is one of the pricier roaming zones. Vodafone Germany, for example, charges 34.99 € for its ReisePaket World with 4 GB. Without a pass, a few days of maps and taxi apps can cost more than a desert safari.
Read more
A travel eSIM for the UAE is bought at home and installs in a minute, so your phone is online on the du network with 5G as soon as you land in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Your own SIM stays in the phone for calls and bank texts.
How much data do you need
- A week in Dubai (maps, taxis, messaging, photos): 3–5 GB. 5 GB for 30 days costs $10.99.
- Lots of video and stories, a hotspot for a laptop: 10 GB or unlimited (a week of unlimited is $27.99).
- A 1–2 day stopover in Dubai: 1 GB for 7 days from $3.49.
- Not sure? Work it out in 30 seconds with the data calculator.
WhatsApp and FaceTime calls in the Emirates
In the UAE, voice and video calls over WhatsApp, FaceTime and similar apps are blocked on local networks and on most Wi-Fi. Messages, photos and voice notes work as usual. With a travel eSIM calls often go through, because the data is routed via a foreign operator, but nobody can guarantee it: the rules and technical restrictions change. For important calls keep a backup, such as a normal call from your own SIM.
Taxis and transport in Dubai
- Taxis from the airport start at 25 AED, in town the flag fall is lower. Taxis are official and metered.
- Careem and Uber work at the airport and all over the city, and you see the price in advance.
- The metro links the airport (Terminals 1 and 3) with the centre. A ride costs 4–8.5 AED and you need a Nol card, sold at every station.
- For all of this you need data straight after landing.
The free airport SIM: is it worth it
At Dubai airport tourists are handed a free SIM card, but it comes with a small daily allowance, and after that you have to buy a package. A local SIM also needs your passport. An eSIM is easier: it's ready before you leave home, and your own SIM stays in the phone.
Good to know
- Heat and Wi-Fi: malls and hotels have Wi-Fi, but it won't help you on the beach, in the desert or in a taxi.
- Desert safari: far from the city the signal can be weak. Download offline maps.
- Planning the trip? Read Dubai in 3 days and our guide to Dubai airport.
How to install and switch it on
- Buy the eSIM on this site and pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. The QR code arrives by e-mail and on the order page.
- Install it with one tap («Install on iPhone / Android») or by scanning the QR code, ideally at home over Wi-Fi.
- After landing, set the eSIM as your mobile data line and turn on data roaming on it (that's free, the price is in the plan).
- Keep your own SIM for calls and texts and turn off mobile data on it.
Step by step: installation guide. Check that your phone supports eSIM: device list.
Guarantee
The eSIM didn't install? We refund you. Support answers in the chat on this site every day.
FAQ
Does EU roaming work in the UAE?
No. The Emirates are not in the «roam like at home» zone, so EU and UK operators charge them as a separate, usually expensive zone.
How much is an eSIM for the UAE?
From $3.49 for 1 GB / 7 days. 5 GB for 30 days costs $10.99, a week of unlimited $27.99.
Which network does the UAE eSIM use?
du, with 5G in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the other emirates.
Will WhatsApp and FaceTime calls work?
Messages always work. Calls are restricted in the Emirates; with a travel eSIM they often go through, but this can't be guaranteed.
How much data do I need for a week in Dubai?
3–5 GB covers maps, taxis and messaging. For video or sharing data, take 10 GB or unlimited.
Do I need a passport to buy the eSIM?
No. A passport is only needed for a local SIM card.
More questions (6)
When should I install the eSIM?
At home, a few days before the flight, over Wi-Fi. After landing you only switch it on for mobile data.
Will I still get bank texts?
Yes. Your own SIM stays in the phone and receives calls and texts.
Can I share data as a hotspot?
Yes, tethering works on most plans.
What if I run out of data?
Top up on your order page: you don't need a new eSIM.
Does the eSIM come with a phone number?
No, it's mobile data only. Messages in WhatsApp and other apps work on your usual account.
What if the eSIM won't install?
Write to us in the chat: we'll help, and if it still doesn't work, we refund you.
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