1 GB
Valid for 7 days
$6.99
$6.99 per GB
eSIM for United Arab Emirates
Dubai hands you a free tourist SIM at immigration, and then blocks WhatsApp, FaceTime and Messenger calls on it. That is the whole story of connectivity in the Emirates: the fastest mobile networks in the world, paired with VoIP rules that catch most visitors on day one.
A FairSIM eSIM for the UAE connects to e& or du at the wholesale rate. Because a foreign travel eSIM routes its traffic through the provider's home network, WhatsApp and FaceTime calls typically work as they do at home. Careem, the Burj Khalifa ticket app and 4K uploads from the Palm all get the 5G speeds the country is famous for.
United Arab Emirates eSIM plans
Wholesale rates in US dollars, with nothing added at checkout. Buy in the FairSIM app and the plan is on your phone in seconds.
How long is your trip?
All plans. Pick a trip length to narrow the list.
- Get it in the app for United Arab Emirates
3 GB
Valid for 30 days
Get it in the app for United Arab Emirates$14.99
$5.00 per GB
- Best value
10 GB
Valid for 30 days
Get it in the app for United Arab Emirates$29.99
$3.00 per GB
Unlimited
Valid for 15 days
Get it in the app for United Arab Emirates$66.99
Speed policy shown in the app
Coverage in United Arab Emirates
- 4G LTE
- 5G
- e& (Etisalat)The largest network and Opensignal's coverage winner, with 5G downloads around 276 Mbps.
- duVery strong in Dubai. Runs the free WiFi UAE hotspots and the airport tourist SIM.
Typical speed: Above 500 Mbps median download, the fastest of any country in Ookla's global index for 2025.
Near-total coverage across all seven emirates, on the E11 highway and up Jebel Jais. Only the deep desert around Liwa and some Hajar mountain wadis drop out.
How much data do you need in United Arab Emirates?
It depends on how you travel. Find your trip below, then pick the plan that matches. You can always top up in the app.
Dubai stopover
One to three days between Emirates or Etihad long-haul flights.
Why data matters: Careem or Uber from the airport, Burj Khalifa timed e-tickets, Nol metro top-ups, and WhatsApp calls home that only work reliably over a foreign eSIM.
- 7 days
- 3 GB
- 14 days
- 5 GB
- 30 days
- 10 GB
Luxury escape or honeymoon
Beach resorts on the Palm or Saadiyat, a night in a desert camp.
Why data matters: Restaurant bookings, concierge chats, high-resolution uploads and video calls home without the VoIP block.
- 7 days
- 5 GB
- 14 days
- 10 GB
- 30 days
- 20 GB
Family holiday around the theme parks
Atlantis Aquaventure, Yas Island, Global Village and IMG Worlds.
Why data matters: Park apps and queue times, ride-hailing with car seats, hotspot for the kids' tablets, and a plan per phone managed from one app.
- 7 days
- 8 GB
- 14 days
- 15 GB
- 30 days
- 30 GB
Business travel and conferences
DIFC, GITEX, Expo City and ADNEC trips.
Why data matters: Teams and Zoom over data, tethering between meetings, Careem across the city.
- 7 days
- 10 GB
- 14 days
- 20 GB
- 30 days
- Unlimited
Desert and road-trip explorer
A rental car across the emirates, Hatta, Liwa, the Jebel Jais zipline.
Why data matters: Live navigation, rental and toll apps, sandstorm alerts. Coverage only drops deep in the dunes.
- 7 days
- 8 GB
- 14 days
- 15 GB
- 30 days
- 30 GB
What your home carrier charges in United Arab Emirates
Daily roaming passes look small until you multiply them by the length of the trip. FairSIM plans for United Arab Emirates start at $6.99 and never bill per day.
| Carrier | Roaming charge | FairSIM |
|---|---|---|
| Verizon TravelPass (US) | $10 per day, 2 GB high-speed per day | from $6.99, no daily fee |
| AT&T International Day Pass (US) | $12 per day per line | from $6.99, no daily fee |
| T-Mobile International Pass (US) | $10 for 1 day and 2 GB, $50 for 10 days and 15 GB | from $6.99, no daily fee |
| EE Travel Data Pass (UK) | About £5 per day or £25 per week | from $6.99, no daily fee |
| Vodafone UK | £6 to £7.86 per day | from $6.99, no daily fee |
| Telstra Day Pass (Australia) | A$10 per day for 2 GB | from $6.99, no daily fee |
Carrier prices as published on their roaming pages at the time of writing. They change often; check your own plan before you fly.
How FairSIM works
- 1
Pick a destination and a plan
Choose the country or region and the data you need. The price you see is the price you pay.
- 2
Tap install
On iPhone (iOS 17.4+) the eSIM installs in one tap, no QR code. Do it at home while you still have Wi-Fi.
- 3
Land and connect
Turn on data roaming for the FairSIM line when you arrive. Your plan starts when it first connects.
Connectivity tips for United Arab Emirates
Want WhatsApp or FaceTime calls to family? Use a foreign travel eSIM rather than the free airport SIM; the local SIM blocks them.
Set up Careem before you land. It covers taxis, metered cabs, food and groceries.
Book Burj Khalifa, Museum of the Future and Louvre Abu Dhabi slots online days ahead; walk-up tickets sell out.
Rental cars pass Salik toll gates automatically and the rental company bills you later. No app required.
During Ramadan, restaurants open later in the day; delivery apps run normally.
Speeds are the fastest in the world, so a large video downloads in seconds. Watch your allowance if you stream in HD.
Heading on to Oman, Qatar or Saudi Arabia? The Middle East plan keeps one eSIM working across the trip.
Apps you will actually use
- Careem the everything app: taxis, Hala metered cabs, food and groceries.
- Uber works across Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
- RTA Dubai and Nol metro, tram and bus top-ups.
- Google Maps or Waze navigation, including Salik toll gates.
- Timed e-tickets Burj Khalifa, Museum of the Future, Louvre Abu Dhabi and Ferrari World sell out days ahead.
- BOTIM the licensed VoIP app if you end up on a local SIM.
- Apple Pay and Google Pay accepted almost everywhere.
VoIP calls on WhatsApp, FaceTime and Messenger are blocked on UAE local SIMs and public Wi-Fi by the regulator. Messaging always works.
Can you rely on free Wi-Fi?
Very good. WiFi UAE from du is free in malls, every Dubai Metro station, RTA taxis, buses and public beaches in one-hour sessions after an SMS code, and the airports offer unlimited free Wi-Fi. VoIP calls are blocked on public Wi-Fi as well.
Local SIM card or eSIM in United Arab Emirates?
Visitors aged 18 and over get a free du tourist SIM at Dubai Airport immigration: 1 GB valid for 24 hours, against your passport. Stores in arrivals sell tourist bundles, for example about AED 304 for 14 days of unlimited Etisalat data. All of them sit under the UAE VoIP block, so WhatsApp and FaceTime calls will not connect.
Take the free SIM anyway if you want a UAE number for restaurant bookings and delivery codes, and run your data on a FairSIM eSIM so calls home work.
Good to know before you land in United Arab Emirates
- Currency
- UAE dirham (AED), pegged to the US dollar
- Plug type
- Type G (UK three-pin)
- Voltage
- 230 V, 50 Hz
- Emergency number
- 999 police · 998 ambulance · 997 fire
- Language
- Arabic; English is used everywhere
- Time zone
- UTC+4, no daylight saving
- Capital
- Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates eSIM questions
Does eSIM work in Dubai and the UAE?
Yes. Unlocked eSIM phones connect to e& (Etisalat) or du 5G and 4G networks with a travel eSIM.
Which network does a UAE eSIM use?
Either e& or du. Both have near-total 5G coverage across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates. The app shows the network for each plan.
Is 5G included?
Yes, on 5G phones. The UAE has the fastest mobile networks in the world, with median downloads above 500 Mbps.
Do WhatsApp and FaceTime calls work in the UAE?
They are blocked on local UAE SIMs and on public Wi-Fi. On a foreign travel eSIM the data usually routes through the provider's home network, so calls typically work, though no provider can officially guarantee it. Messaging always works.
Can I hotspot my laptop?
Most FairSIM plans support Personal Hotspot; the plan details in the app confirm it.
Install before or after landing?
Install at home on Wi-Fi and switch the line on after landing. Validity typically starts when the eSIM first connects in the UAE.
How much data for a three-day Dubai stopover?
About 3 GB covers Careem, maps, tickets and photos; 5 GB if you stream or make video calls.
Free airport SIM or travel eSIM?
The free du SIM gives 1 GB for 24 hours and a local number, but blocks VoIP calls. A travel eSIM works from the moment you land, lets you call home over WhatsApp, and tops up in the app.
What is an eSIM?
A SIM card built into your phone. Instead of a plastic chip, you download a profile. Every iPhone since the XS has one next to the physical SIM slot, so your home number stays put while FairSIM supplies the data.
Is my phone compatible?
FairSIM works with eSIM-compatible, carrier-unlocked iPhones: the XS, XR and everything newer. iOS 17.4 or later unlocks the one-tap install with no QR code. Check the full list on the How it works page.
When should I install my eSIM?
Before you travel, while you still have Wi-Fi. Installing does not start your plan; the validity typically starts when the eSIM first connects to a network at your destination.
Do FairSIM eSIMs come with a phone number?
No. FairSIM eSIMs are data-only by design, which keeps costs low. For calls and texts, your physical SIM stays active so you keep your existing number, and WhatsApp, FaceTime and iMessage work over data.
Traveling beyond United Arab Emirates?
Get your United Arab Emirates eSIM in the app
Plans from $6.99. Install before you fly, track your data live, and top up in seconds if you need more.
Download on theApp Store
iPhone XS or later · iOS 17.4+ for one-tap install
