UAE & Dubai eSIM
Prepaid mobile data for United Arab Emirates, from $2.64. One payment, no subscription, installed straight onto your phone.
Prefer the app? Voyafi is on the App Store and Google Play.
Plans for United Arab Emirates
Every plan below is a single payment. Most give a set amount of data over a set number of days; plans marked “per day” give a daily data allowance instead.
Short answer: United Arab Emirates eSIM, 1 GB for 7 days: $2.64; 3 GB for 30 days: $5.59. Final prices in US dollars; you can install it before you fly. Daily plans from $3.66 for 1 GB per day. Networks: Du; network type: 5G. Validity starts when the eSIM first connects in United Arab Emirates. Data only: no phone number, calls or SMS.
Prices and networks checked: 12 November 2026
“Per day” plans have a daily data allowance, and the price shown is for 1 day of use. Some slow down to a lower speed once the day’s data is used.
Validity starts when the eSIM first connects to a network in United Arab Emirates.
Buy your United Arab Emirates eSIM
Prefer the app? Voyafi is on the App Store and Google Play.
Good to know in United Arab Emirates
Facts from official sources and the press, each with the date we last checked it.
Internet calls are regulated in the UAE
The UAE regulator TDRA treats voice and video calls over the internet as a regulated activity. Its FAQ says using third-party calling software is very likely illegal unless the service comes from a licensed operator, is provided in collaboration with one, or is approved by TDRA, which keeps a list of approved apps. A data-only eSIM does not change these rules.
Source: TDRA (UAE telecoms regulator) · checked 12 November 2026
Calling apps reported as allowed
Gulf News, in an article last updated in September 2024, listed 15 voice and video apps it described as currently allowed in the UAE, including BOTIM, GoChat Messenger, Voico, Comera, Microsoft Teams, Zoom and Google Meet. Approvals can change, so check TDRA’s current list before you rely on an app for calls.
5G covers over 99.5% of populated areas
In November 2025, a TDRA official said 5G in the UAE covers more than 99.5% of populated areas, with more than 23,000 5G sites serving over 10 million subscribers, as reported by Gulf News. The network table on this page shows which networks our UAE plans use; you also need a 5G-capable phone.
Free du tourist SIM at Dubai International
Dubai Airports says du offers free tourist SIM cards at the immigration counters of Dubai International (DXB), and du has shops in Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 arrivals and in Terminal 2. A local SIM gives you a UAE number; a Voyafi eSIM is data-only and can be installed before departure.
UAE & Dubai eSIM at a glance
Voyafi has 13 prepaid eSIM plans for United Arab Emirates, with 1–50 GB of data valid for 1–30 days. The cheapest is 1 GB for 7 days at $2.64. In United Arab Emirates the plans run on Du. 5G is listed for all of them, where the local network supports it and your iPhone does too.
- Compare prices across destinations
- Can you get 5G with a travel eSIM?
- Can you make calls with a travel eSIM?
- How to turn on data roaming for a travel eSIM
- eSIM vs roaming vs local SIM card
- What your home operator charges abroad
- Plans
- 13
- Data
- 1–50 GB
- Validity
- 1–30 days
- Starting price
- $2.64
- Networks
- Du
- Network type
- 5G
Arriving in United Arab Emirates: city and airport guides
Airport Wi-Fi, the local SIM option and what to do when you land, from official sources.
Networks in United Arab Emirates
Your phone connects to one of these partner networks. Which one it picks depends on where you are and on signal strength.
| Operator | Network |
|---|---|
| Du | 5G |
5G is available on some of these networks, where the local network supports it and your phone does too.
United Arab Emirates eSIM: common questions
- How much does an eSIM for United Arab Emirates cost?
- Plans for United Arab Emirates start at $2.64 for 1 GB valid for 7 days. The largest gives you 50 GB for 30 days at $82.13. Prices are in US dollars and are the final amount you pay.
- Which mobile networks does the United Arab Emirates eSIM use?
- In United Arab Emirates the plans run on Du. Your phone connects to whichever is available where you are.
- Does the United Arab Emirates eSIM support 5G?
- Yes. 5G is listed for Du. You get it where the local network has 5G coverage and your iPhone supports 5G; elsewhere the eSIM uses the fastest network available.
- Can I use the same eSIM in other countries?
- The plans on this page work in United Arab Emirates only. If your trip continues, the Middle East plan covers United Arab Emirates and 11 other countries on one eSIM, from $15.05.
- When does my United Arab Emirates plan start?
- When the eSIM first connects to a network in United Arab Emirates, not when you buy it — so you can install it at home before you travel.
- Does the United Arab Emirates eSIM give me a local phone number?
- No. These plans are data-only: mobile internet, not a local phone number, and no calls or SMS. Your usual number stays on your iPhone.
- How do I buy a United Arab Emirates eSIM?
- On this website or in the Voyafi app: pick United Arab Emirates, choose a plan and pay once. You confirm your phone supports eSIM before you pay, then install the plan with one tap.
- Can I make WhatsApp or FaceTime calls in the UAE with a data eSIM?
- The eSIM gives you mobile data; whether an app’s calls work depends on UAE rules, not on the eSIM. TDRA treats internet voice and video calls as a regulated activity and allows services provided by or with licensed operators, or approved by TDRA. Its FAQ does not name WhatsApp or FaceTime, so check TDRA’s current list of approved apps before you travel.
- What do I need to get a local SIM in the UAE?
- The UAE government portal says visitors need a copy of their passport and UAE visa to obtain a local SIM. Etisalat and du offer special visitor packages, sold at their shops, including at UAE airports. A Voyafi eSIM is bought online without these documents and adds data only, with no UAE number.
- Is there free Wi-Fi in the UAE?
- Often, yes. The UAE government portal says most hotels offer free Wi-Fi to their guests, and most malls and many public places provide free Wi-Fi as well. Mobile data is still useful between those places, for example for maps and ride-hailing apps.
Regional plans that also cover United Arab Emirates
Travelling on to other countries? One of these may suit the whole trip better.
More destinations on the Middle East plan
These countries share a regional plan with United Arab Emirates. Each also has its own single-country plans.
Before you go
Check that your phone supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked. You confirm this before you pay.
Install the eSIM at home over Wi-Fi. Downloading an eSIM needs an internet connection.
After you land, turn on data roaming for the travel line and select it for mobile data.
These plans are data-only: mobile internet, not a local phone number.