United Arab Emirates eSIM
Stay connected across United Arab Emirates. Install before you fly.
- 5G on Etisalat
- Instant on arrival
- Refund if it doesn’t activate
Choose your plan
All prices AUD7 days
15 days
30 days
Good to know
Calls and texts
United Arab Emirates plans are data only. Use WhatsApp or FaceTime for calls.
Your phone
It needs to support eSIM and be unlocked. Check your phone
Refunds
If your eSIM doesn't activate, we'll replace it free or refund you in full.
United Arab Emirates eSIM plans at a glance
Cheapest
1 GB for 7 days, $4.50
Best value
20 GB for 30 days, $34, about $1.70 a gigabyte
Unlimited
From $18.50. Cheapest per day is 7 days at $4.21 a day
Network coverage in the United Arab Emirates
The UAE has only two mobile networks — Etisalat (e&) and du — and both deliver some of the densest 5G coverage on earth. Your Travelren UAE eSIM connects to Etisalat.
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Etisalat reports 98%+ 5G population coverage with median download speeds around 680 Mbps; du covers 99% of the population on 5G. Dubai (DXB, Downtown, Marina, Palm Jumeirah, Deira), Abu Dhabi (Yas Island, Saadiyat, Corniche), Sharjah, and Ajman all have continuous 5G indoors and out. The Dubai Metro tunnels are fully covered. Coverage on the Sheikh Zayed Road, the E11 corridor to Abu Dhabi, and the Hatta mountain road is solid; signal only thins in the deep desert past Liwa or on remote Empty Quarter dune drives.
- Networks
- Etisalat
- Speeds
- 5G
- Telstra roaming
- $10 a day
What works in the United Arab Emirates
Works well
- Google Maps and Apple Maps navigation across all seven emirates
- Careem (the UAE's home-grown rideshare super-app) and Uber
- Talabat and Deliveroo for food delivery — both dominant in the UAE
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- RTA Dubai app and S'hail for Metro, bus, tram, and water bus journey planning
- Digital NOL card top-ups via Apple Pay or Google Pay in the NOL Pay app
- WhatsApp text and media messages, iMessage, Telegram, Signal
- Streaming on 5G — speeds in central Dubai routinely exceed 400 Mbps
- Apple Pay and contactless cards at virtually every restaurant, mall, and taxi
Watch out for
- WhatsApp, FaceTime, and Skype voice and video calls are blocked at the country level on UAE networks — UAE-licensed apps (BOTIM, C'ME) work natively, otherwise voice/video calling depends on routing
- Travel eSIMs sometimes carry WhatsApp/FaceTime calls successfully because data egresses via an international gateway — but this is not guaranteed and can change without notice; do not rely on it for essential calls
- Coverage thins in the deep desert past Liwa, on remote Empty Quarter routes, and inside some basement parking levels
- Many UAE government and banking apps (UAE Pass, Emirates ID services) require a local mobile number to register — none are needed for tourist activity
Arriving in the United Arab Emirates
Dubai International (DXB) and Zayed International (AUH, Abu Dhabi) both offer free unlimited WiFi — DXB runs on Boingo as "DXB Free WiFi" with over 6,000 access points across all terminals; AUH's "ADAC Free Wireless" needs no registration. Etisalat and du run 24-hour tourist SIM kiosks in the DXB and AUH arrivals halls, but UAE law requires passport scanning for any local SIM and prepaid tourist plans start around AED 49 (roughly AUD$20) for 2 GB over 28 days — a Travelren eSIM skips the queue and the paperwork.
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The Dubai Metro and tram do not accept contactless bank cards directly; you need an NOL card (sold at any station kiosk or added to Apple Wallet via the NOL Pay app). Careem is the local rideshare standard and accepts cards and Apple Pay. Apple Pay and contactless cards work nearly everywhere else — over 92% of UAE merchants now accept digital payments. Tipping 10-15% is customary at restaurants and is often suggested on the card terminal.
Installing your United Arab Emirates eSIM
Install your UAE eSIM at home on your own WiFi before you fly — it takes about two minutes. On iPhone: Settings → Mobile Data → Add eSIM, then scan the QR code from your email. On Android: Settings → Connections → SIM Manager → Add eSIM.
Keep reading
Leave your home SIM as the primary line for calls and SMS. Switch the UAE eSIM on for data only when you land. Your home number stays active throughout the trip. If you forget to install before departure, both DXB and AUH offer free unlimited WiFi in arrivals — connect to "DXB Free WiFi" or "ADAC Free Wireless" and install in under five minutes.
Common questions
Will WhatsApp voice and video calls work in the UAE with my Travelren eSIM?
WhatsApp, FaceTime, and Skype voice and video calls are blocked by UAE regulators on local networks — this is a country-level rule, not a carrier choice. Messaging, photos, and voice notes work normally. Travel eSIMs sometimes route call traffic via an international gateway and calls do connect, but the UAE does not guarantee this and behaviour can change. For reliable calling use BOTIM or C'ME (both UAE-licensed) or hotel WiFi.
Which carrier does Travelren use in the UAE?
Your eSIM connects to Etisalat (e&), one of the only two mobile operators in the UAE, which reports 98%+ 5G population coverage. Your phone selects the strongest signal automatically. No APN configuration or manual network selection is required.
Does the UAE have 5G everywhere a tourist would go?
Effectively yes. Both Etisalat and du have continuous 5G across Dubai (Downtown, Marina, Palm Jumeirah, JBR, Deira, Bur Dubai), Abu Dhabi (Yas Island, Saadiyat, Corniche, Liwa town), Sharjah, Ajman, and Ras Al Khaimah. The Dubai Metro tunnels are fully covered. Speeds routinely exceed 400 Mbps in city centres. Coverage only fades in deep desert dune areas past Liwa.
Does the UAE support eSIM?
Yes. Both Etisalat and du fully support eSIM and have done so since 2019. iPhones from the XS onwards, Google Pixel 3 and later, and most recent Samsung Galaxy models all work. Important exception: iPhones purchased in mainland China do not include eSIM hardware even if the model number looks identical to the global version. Use travelren.com/device-check to confirm your phone in 30 seconds. Check your phone
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Can I use my eSIM at Dubai (DXB) and Abu Dhabi (AUH) airports?
Yes. Both airports have strong Etisalat and du 5G across arrivals, immigration, baggage claim, and the taxi and Metro exits. Your eSIM activates the moment your phone connects to a UAE network — usually while taxiing to the gate. Both airports also offer free unlimited WiFi as a backup if you need it before activation.
How do I pay for the Dubai Metro, tram, and buses?
You need a NOL card — Dubai's public transport system does not accept contactless bank cards directly at gates. Buy a Silver NOL card at any station kiosk for AED 25 including AED 19 of credit, or add a Digital NOL card to your phone via the NOL Pay app and top up with Apple Pay, Google Pay, or any card. Cash is not accepted on Metro, tram, bus, or water bus.
How much does roaming cost without a Travelren eSIM?
Telstra charges AUD$10 per day under its International Day Pass for the UAE (Zone 2) with a 2 GB daily cap. AT&T's International Day Pass is USD$12 per day. EE charges £5 per day or £25 per week for UAE in Zone 1. Spark's 14-day Roaming Pack is NZD$30 and includes the UAE in its Asia coverage. Travelren plans typically work out cheaper per day and don't reset at a fixed midnight cutover.
Do I need to register my passport to buy a SIM in the UAE?
Yes for physical SIMs. UAE law requires passport scanning for any local Etisalat or du SIM — kiosk staff verify your ID and biometrics before activation. An eSIM purchased from Travelren skips this step entirely. You install it before you leave home, activate it when you land, and no passport registration is required at any UAE counter.
Middle East regional plan
Visiting more than just the United Arab Emirates?
One Middle East eSIM covers the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, plus 4 other countries.
Nearby destinations
Not flying yet?
Tell us when you go and we’ll email you a reminder to set up your United Arab Emirates eSIM three days before you fly. One email. That’s it.