eSIM for UAE. eSIM for the UAE: e& (Etisalat) and du coverage, what a local SIM really costs, and how to keep your own number live in Dubai. No roaming bill.
the UAE is served by e& (Etisalat), du. Comprehensive 5G across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, full coverage on the Dubai Metro including tunnels, and LTE across the desert highways to the east coast.
Tourist SIMs from e& and du are handed out readily at Dubai airport, sometimes free with a passport scan. They are easy to get and they carry the same restriction as every other UAE line.
WhatsApp voice and video calls, FaceTime audio and most consumer VoIP services are blocked on UAE networks. This catches out nearly every visitor, because the assumption that you can call home on WhatsApp is so deeply baked in. Standard cellular calls and SMS on your own number are not affected, which is the practical workaround.
The UAE is out of bundle for European carriers and at the standard day-pass rate for US ones. Given how commonly Dubai is a stopover, per-country plans fit this trip shape badly.
The alternative to both: Ringo is a global eSIM subscription that ports your existing phone number, so calls, SMS and two-factor codes keep working in UAE and 180+ other countries on one flat monthly plan.
WhatsApp messaging works. WhatsApp voice and video calls are blocked on UAE networks, as are FaceTime audio and most other consumer VoIP services. Regular cellular calls on your own number work normally, which is why keeping your usual number active is the simplest way around it.
Both UAE operators have offered complimentary tourist SIMs with a passport scan on arrival. They come with a small data allowance and the same VoIP restrictions as every UAE line.
The infrastructure is excellent and the UAE runs a Virtual Working Programme with no personal income tax. Our UAE nomad guide covers the requirements and the real cost of a month in Dubai.
Ringo Light UAE data eSIM, on sale now: 10 GB, 30 days €69.99; 20 GB, 30 days €109.99; Unlimited, 3 days €24.99; Unlimited, 7 days €55.99; Unlimited, 30 days €179.99. Works across UAE. 10 or 20 GB of data for 30 days at full speed with no daily cap, one payment. Unlimited data (fair use policy applies) for 3, 7 or 30 days. Installed once, next to your own SIM and number.
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