United Arab Emirates eSIM
38 standard plans · 49 total
New to eSIM? Read our United Arab Emirates eSIM guide →
Free eSIM in United Arab Emirates — 500MB–1GB free for first-time users, claimed in the Wanderly app. No card.
Choose your package
Start with a travel style or fine-tune the sliders.
Total plan price
Price per GB
$2.10
- Coverage
- Single country
- Plan type
- Data only
- Top-up
- Available
- Activation
- On network connection
Available packages
What's Included
United Arab Emirates eSIM plans at a glance
Wanderly lists 38 fixed-data United Arab Emirates plans, ranging from 1GB up to 50GB over 7 to 365 days. Prices start at $3.99, and the lowest cost per gigabyte is $1.75/GB on the 20GB 30-day plan.
Unlimited day-passes are also available from $3.99 per day, billed per day rather than per gigabyte. All 49 United Arab Emirates plans can be topped up without reinstalling the eSIM.
Every plan is data-only and installs from a QR code, so your home number stays active on its own line. Validity starts when the eSIM first connects to a network in United Arab Emirates, not at purchase, which means you can install before you fly.
🇦🇪 About eSIMs in United Arab Emirates
The UAE has some of the fastest 5G in the world, and Wanderly UAE eSIM plans connect to Etisalat or du — the two national carriers with full coverage across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. Speeds in downtown Dubai regularly exceed 300 Mbps.
One important note: the UAE government blocks WhatsApp voice and video calls, FaceTime and Zoom on all local networks — including on a Wanderly eSIM, because it roams onto Etisalat/du. Text and photo messages on WhatsApp work fine; only voice/video is blocked. Travelers who need calls typically pair the eSIM with a trusted VPN.
Data needs are moderate: Careem (the local Uber), Talabat for food, Google Maps for the giant mall interiors, and WhatsApp text for tour operators. 8–10 GB covers a week; two-week travelers usually want 12 GB.
How to activate your eSIM in United Arab Emirates
- 1Install before you flyAdd the QR at home. Delivery is immediate.
- 2Enable at DXB or AUHAfter landing, switch data to the UAE eSIM and enable Data Roaming.
- 3Install CareemCareem is the region's dominant ride-hail — cheaper and more available than Uber in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
- 4Use a VPN for callsWhatsApp and FaceTime calls are blocked on all UAE networks. A reputable VPN restores them. Wanderly plans do not remove this national restriction.
United Arab Emirates eSIM FAQ
Explore nearby destinations
Popular eSIMs travelers often pair with United Arab Emirates.
