Dubai & UAE Travel eSIM
Plans
Prepaid Dubai and UAE eSIM data plans on the local Etisalat network, 1GB to 5GB for 3 to 7 days, with hotspot and no ID required.
Planes disponibles
A prepaid Dubai eSIM has you online before you reach the taxi rank at DXB, with no kiosk queue and no passport registration at a counter. Our UAE travel eSIM runs on the local Etisalat network with 1GB, 2GB or 5GB of high-speed data for 3, 5 or 7 days from A$11.90, hotspot sharing included and no ID required. The QR code is sent by email after purchase, so you can install it on Wi-Fi at home and connect when you land in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or any other emirate.
Compare Dubai & UAE eSIM Plans
| Plan | Network | Data | Validity | Calls & number | ID needed | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai (UAE) Prepaid Travel eSIM | Etisalat (local network) | 1GB / 2GB / 5GB high-speed, then unlimited at 128kbps | 3 / 5 / 7 days | Data only, no phone number, hotspot included | None | A$11.90 |
| Orange Global Explorer eSIM | Orange / partner networks | Only 50MB in the UAE (Zone 6); up to 20GB in other countries | 30 days | French +33 number, free incoming calls and texts, 10 minutes of international calls in Zone 6, 50 SMS | Not listed, see product page | A$43.90 |
Prices are in Australian dollars and convert automatically if you shop in another currency. The Global Explorer appears here because it covers the countries around the UAE; with a 50MB allowance inside the Emirates it is not a substitute for the dedicated plan.
Which Dubai & UAE eSIM Should I Choose?
Stopover or long layover in Dubai: 1GB for 3 days
Dubai is one of the world's busiest transit hubs, and plenty of travellers break a long flight with a night or two in the city. The 1GB (3 Days) option of the Dubai (UAE) Prepaid Travel eSIM costs A$11.90 and covers the essentials: booking a ride from the airport, finding your hotel, messaging family and looking up opening hours for the Burj Khalifa or the Dubai Mall.
Long weekend or short business trip: 2GB for 5 days
For a city break, a conference at the Dubai World Trade Centre or a few days of meetings in Abu Dhabi, the 2GB (5 Days) option at A$22.90 gives you steady maps, email and messaging, with a little room for social media. If you reach the 2GB limit, the plan continues at 128kbps, which keeps text messages and basic email moving until the five days end.
A week across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the desert: 5GB for 7 days
A full week usually means more ground covered: old Dubai and the creek, the Marina and Palm Jumeirah, a day trip to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Louvre Abu Dhabi, perhaps a desert safari or a drive to Hatta. The 5GB (7 Days) option at A$29.90 is the largest plan, and the one to choose if you will share data through a hotspot, upload photos daily or navigate by car.
Staying longer than a week, or travelling on through the Gulf
The dedicated plan cannot be recharged or extended, and its longest option is seven days. For a longer stay you can buy a second plan and install it when the first one ends, or contact our customer service team to ask about more data options. If the UAE is only one stop on a wider route through Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman or beyond, pair the Dubai eSIM with the Orange Global Explorer eSIM at A$43.90 for 20GB (30 Days), and use each plan in the countries where it works well.
Dubai & UAE Network Coverage: Etisalat, du and Our Plan
The UAE has two national network operators: e&, which most travellers still know as Etisalat, and du. Virgin Mobile UAE is a third brand that runs on du's network. Our Dubai (UAE) eSIM connects to Etisalat as a local network plan. It is not a du or Virgin Mobile plan. The product is listed with 4G/LTE data, and its network details note 5G/4G support.
Although the product is named for Dubai, it is listed for Dubai and the UAE, and Etisalat is a nationwide network, so the same eSIM serves you in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah as well. The populated coastal strip from Abu Dhabi through Dubai to the northern emirates is densely covered, including the main airports, malls, hotel districts and the highways that link the cities.
Signal becomes less dependable once you leave the built-up areas. Expect gaps deep in the dunes on a desert safari, in the Empty Quarter around Liwa, and on mountain roads in the Hajar range around Hatta and Jebel Jais. Near the border with Oman, phones sometimes try to pick up a network from the other side, which this plan does not cover, so keep an eye on which network your phone has selected.
Travelling Beyond the UAE?
The Dubai (UAE) eSIM works in the United Arab Emirates only. For the rest of the region, the Global Explorer eSIM is a single 30-day plan with a French +33 number that includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt and Turkey in its full 20GB zone, and Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait in its 15GB zone. Its data stops when the allowance is used, and its 30 days begin once the eSIM is installed and connects to a network, so install it just before you travel or after you arrive.
Be clear about its limits in the Emirates, though. The United Arab Emirates sits in the plan's 50MB zone, and the product page itself recommends a dedicated eSIM for a trip that includes the UAE. Treat the two plans as a pair for a Gulf itinerary rather than as alternatives. You can also browse our Middle East eSIM plans, Turkey eSIM plans and the full Global eSIM collection for other routes.
How It Works
- Buy online. Pick 1GB, 2GB or 5GB to suit your stay. The QR code is sent by email after purchase. Orders placed after 1 AM AEST are sent from 9 AM AEST onwards, so order at least a day before you fly.
- Install on Wi-Fi before you fly. Scan the QR code in your phone's mobile settings. You can install any time before your travel date, provided the eSIM is installed and used within 90 days of purchase. After 90 days the QR code expires and cannot be reissued.
- Land and connect. Set the eSIM as your mobile data line and turn on data roaming for it. Service starts on the first network connection in the UAE, and your 3, 5 or 7 days count from that activation date.
Step-by-step screens are in our UAE Dubai eSIM user guide, and you can confirm your handset on the eSIM compatibility list. Our Melbourne-based support team is available 16 hours a day by live chat and email through the contact page.
Dubai & UAE eSIM vs Roaming on Your Home Plan
Roaming on your home plan needs no setup, but it is normally billed as a fee for every day you are away, and the cost keeps growing for as long as you stay. A prepaid Dubai eSIM is one upfront price for a set allowance and a set number of days, with nothing further to pay unless you choose to buy another plan.
You keep your own number as well. On a dual-SIM phone, leave your home SIM in place with data roaming switched off and use the travel eSIM for mobile data. Calls and verification texts can still reach your home number, subject to your provider's own charges. The alternative is a visitor SIM from an operator shop in the terminal, which gives you a UAE phone number but means queueing and showing your passport after a long flight.
Tips for Using an eSIM in Dubai and the UAE
- The plans are compact, so manage background data. Switch off automatic app updates and cloud photo backup on mobile data, and download films, playlists and podcasts on Wi-Fi.
- Free Wi-Fi is common in malls, hotels and airports across the UAE. Use it for the heavy lifting and keep your eSIM data for maps, messages and bookings on the move.
- Ride-hailing apps such as Careem and Uber are the easy way to get around Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and they need a live data connection at pick-up.
- Download offline maps of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates before you fly. They are invaluable on desert and mountain drives where signal comes and goes.
- Contactless card and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere, from taxis to souk cafes. Keep your home SIM active so your bank's verification codes still reach you.
- Hotspot and tethering are included, which is handy for a laptop in a cafe or a companion's phone, but sharing empties a small allowance quickly. Choose the 5GB option if you plan to tether.
- The eSIM is data only. To stay in touch, we recommend internet-based apps such as WhatsApp for messaging family, drivers and tour operators.
If your plans change before you travel, see our refund policy.
Dubai & UAE eSIM FAQs
What is the best eSIM for Dubai and the UAE?
It depends on how long you stay. Our Dubai (UAE) Prepaid Travel eSIM runs on the Etisalat network and comes as 1GB for 3 days at A$11.90, 2GB for 5 days at A$22.90 or 5GB for 7 days at A$29.90. Choose by the number of days first, then by how much data you use. For a stay longer than a week, you can buy a second plan.
Does the Dubai eSIM work in Abu Dhabi and the other emirates?
Yes. The plan is listed for Dubai and the United Arab Emirates and connects to Etisalat, a nationwide network, so it also works in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. It does not work outside the UAE.
Does the Dubai eSIM include calls or a UAE phone number?
No. The Dubai (UAE) Prepaid Travel eSIM is data only, with no phone number and no standard calls or SMS. Calls to and from your home country are not included. We recommend internet-based apps such as WhatsApp to stay in touch, and you can keep your home SIM active to receive calls and texts on your usual number.
Can I use my Dubai eSIM as a hotspot?
Yes. Hotspot and tethering are supported and use your data allowance. Because the plans are 1GB, 2GB or 5GB, sharing with a laptop uses the allowance quickly, so pick the 5GB option if you intend to tether.
When should I install my Dubai eSIM?
Install it on Wi-Fi any time before your travel date. The QR code must be installed and used within 90 days of purchase, and it cannot be reissued once it expires. Installing in advance means you are connected as soon as you land.
When does the validity period start?
Service starts on the first network connection in the UAE, and the 3, 5 or 7 days are counted from that activation date. Installing the eSIM at home does not start the plan.
Which phones work with a Dubai eSIM?
You need an unlocked, eSIM-compatible device. To check, dial *#06# and look for a 32-digit EID number, which shows that the device supports eSIM. The plan is designed mainly for smartphones, and we cannot guarantee compatibility on every tablet or other non-phone device.
What happens if I run out of data in Dubai?
Once the 1GB, 2GB or 5GB of high-speed data is used, the plan continues with unlimited data at 128kbps until it expires. That is enough for text messaging but slow for maps and browsing. The plan cannot be recharged or extended, but you can buy another plan at any time.
Is there an unlimited data eSIM for Dubai?
We do not sell a Dubai or UAE plan with unlimited high-speed data. The largest option is 5GB for 7 days at A$29.90, after which data continues at 128kbps. For more data plan options, contact our customer service team.
Can I use the eSIM in neighbouring countries such as Oman, Qatar or Saudi Arabia?
No, the Dubai (UAE) eSIM covers the United Arab Emirates only. For the wider region, the Orange Global Explorer eSIM at A$43.90 includes Saudi Arabia and Qatar in its 20GB zone and Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait in its 15GB zone for 30 days. It provides only 50MB in the UAE itself, so use it alongside the Dubai eSIM, not instead of it.
Does the Dubai eSIM support 5G?
The plan is listed with 4G/LTE data, and its network details note 5G/4G support on Etisalat. Plan on 4G/LTE for everyday use, and treat 5G as a bonus where your phone and location support it.
Do I need a passport or ID registration for a Dubai eSIM?
No ID is required for the Dubai (UAE) Prepaid Travel eSIM. You buy online, receive the QR code by email and install it yourself, with no registration at an airport counter.
How quickly will I receive my Dubai eSIM?
The QR code is sent by email after purchase. Orders placed after 1 AM AEST are sent from 9 AM AEST onwards. We recommend ordering at least a day before departure so you can install the eSIM on Wi-Fi before you fly.
Is the eSIM suitable for a Dubai stopover or layover?
Yes. The 1GB plan for 3 days at A$11.90 is sized for a stopover: enough for rides, maps and messaging during a night or two in the city. The days only start counting when the eSIM first connects to the network in the UAE, so you can install it before you leave home.
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