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Quick answer
The best value per GB for the UAE is Jetpac Global: 10 GB for 1 day costs $11.00 ($1.10 per GB). For unlimited data, Jetpac Global is cheapest at $2.30 a day (30 days for $69.00), with 3 GB a day at full speed. The cheapest plan of all is Nomad eSIM’s 1 GB for 7 days at $4.00. We compared 254 plans from 7 providers, with prices checked on each provider’s site by 20 October 2026.
Check first: buy and install your UAE eSIM before you fly. Some providers, including Saily, say their eSIMs can’t be bought or set up once you’re inside the UAE. An eSIM already on your phone activates normally when you land.
Best UAE eSIM picks right now
These picks cover Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the rest of the Emirates, and are chosen from live prices across every provider we track.
Cheapest plan
Nomad eSIM
1 GB, 7 days
$4.00
The lowest price of any plan here, across the 7 providers we compared.
View planBest value per GB
Jetpac Global
10 GB, 1 day
$11.00
Works out at $1.10 per GB, the lowest per-GB price among the 6 providers we compared (plans of 3 GB or more).
View planCheapest unlimited
Jetpac Global
Unlimited, 3 GB/day full speed, 30 days
$69.00
The lowest daily price for unlimited data on trips of 5 days or more: $2.30 a day. Full speed for the first 3 GB each day, then 1 Mbps.
View planPicked automatically from prices on each provider’s own site, checked between 19 Oct 2026 and 20 Oct 2026. Pages read: Nomad eSIM, Jetpac Global.
Find your United Arab Emirates eSIM
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UAE eSIM plans compared
Plans in every size, from 1 GB to unlimited, with up to two providers per size so you can compare them. In each size, plans that last a week or more come first, then the lowest price per GB (per day for unlimited plans). Labels mark the plans named in the quick answer. Use the finder above to see every plan for your trip length.
| Provider | Data | Valid for | Price | Per GB / day | Hotspot | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Nomad eSIM
Cheapest plan
du 4G | 1 GB | 7 days | $4.00 | $4.00/GB | Not stated | View plan |
 aloSIM
DU | 1 GB | 7 days | $4.50 | $4.50/GB | Not stated | View plan |
|
Nomad eSIM
du 4G | 3 GB | 30 days | $8.50 | $2.83/GB | Not stated | View plan |
|
Jetpac Global
du | 3 GB | 7 days | $9.00 | $3.00/GB | Not stated | View plan |
|
Jetpac Global
du | 5 GB | 7 days | $10.00 | $2.00/GB | Not stated | View plan |
|
Nomad eSIM
du 4G | 5 GB | 30 days | $11.00 | $2.20/GB | Not stated | View plan |
|
Jetpac Global
Best value per GB
du | 10 GB | 1 day | $11.00 | $1.10/GB | Not stated | View plan |
 Voye Global
du | 10 GB | 30 days | $18.00 $17.10 with code ESIM4U | $1.80/GB | Not stated | View plan |
|
Nomad eSIM
du 4G | 20 GB | 30 days | $29.00 | $1.45/GB | Not stated | View plan |
|
Voye Global
du | 20 GB | 30 days | $33.00 $31.35 with code ESIM4U | $1.65/GB | Not stated | View plan |
|
Voye Global
du | 50 GB | 30 days | $63.00 $59.85 with code ESIM4U | $1.26/GB | Not stated | View plan |
|
aloSIM
Asia plan, 53 countries | 100 GB | 180 days | $185.00 | $1.85/GB | Not stated | View plan |
|
Jetpac Global
Cheapest unlimited
du | Unlimited, 3 GB/day full speedthen 1 Mbps | 30 days | $69.00 | $2.30/day | Not stated | View plan |
 Saily | Unlimited, 3 GB/day full speedthen 1 Mbps | 30 days | $71.99 | $2.40/day | Not stated | View plan |
 Airalo
Etisalat 5G | Unlimited, 3 GB/day full speedthen 1 Mbps | 30 days | $72.00 | $2.40/day | Not stated | View plan |
Prices from each provider’s own site, checked between 18 Oct 2026 and 20 Oct 2026. Pages read: Nomad eSIM, aloSIM, Jetpac Global, Voye Global, Saily, Airalo. Providers can change prices at any time. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure: how we earn
Mobile networks in the UAE
The UAE has two mobile operators, e& (still shown as Etisalat on many phones) and du, and every travel eSIM connects through one of them. Airalo uses e&, while aloSIM, Jetpac, Nomad and Voye Global connect to du.
| Provider | Local networks it uses |
|---|---|
| Airalo | Etisalat 5G |
| aloSIM | DU |
| Holafly | Not stated by the provider |
| Jetpac Global | du |
| Nomad eSIM | du 4G |
| Saily | Not stated by the provider |
| Voye Global | du |
As listed on each provider’s plan pages, shown by network brand name. Networks can change, so check before you buy.
Tip: if you’ll spend time outside Dubai and Abu Dhabi, for example in the desert or the northern emirates, pick the network your hotel or tour operator says works best there. The table above shows which network each provider uses.
How much data do you need in the UAE?
Maps, ride-hailing and messaging use little data, so a city break rarely needs more than a few gigabytes. Video calls on approved apps, streaming and tethering a laptop are what push you towards a bigger or unlimited plan.
How do you use your phone?
- Light1.5 GB 7 daysMaps, chat and a little social
- Social6 GB 7 daysScrolling and posting daily
- Family caller3.5 GB 7 daysVideo calls home every day
- Remote worker9 GB 7 daysWork calls, email, laptop
- Streamer9.5 GB 7 daysVideo and music on the go
Estimates for 7 days with Wi-Fi where you stay, worked out with the same method as our data usage calculator. Pick the card closest to you to adjust it to your own apps.
Unlimited eSIM for the UAE: what you really get
Most “unlimited” UAE plans give you a daily amount at full speed and then slow you down until the next day. If you stream or work online every day, compare the daily amount, not just the price.
| Provider | Full speed per day | After that |
|---|---|---|
| Airalo | 3 GB | 1 Mbps |
| aloSIM | No daily limit stated | Not stated by the provider |
| Holafly | No daily limit stated | Not stated by the provider |
| Jetpac Global | 3 GB | Up to 1 Mbps |
| Nomad eSIM | 2 GB | 1 Mbps |
| Saily | 3 GB | Up to 1 Mbps |
| Voye Global | 3 GB or 5 GB, depending on the plan | Slowed down; speed not stated |
Tip: 1 Mbps is enough for maps and messages but slow for video. If you’ll use several gigabytes a day, look at the plans with a higher daily allowance.
Calls, SMS and WhatsApp in the UAE
The UAE travel eSIMs we compare are data-only: none of them gives you a UAE +971 number. Keep your home SIM switched on for bank codes and calls from home, and use the eSIM for data.
Internet calling is regulated in the UAE. The regulator, TDRA, only allows calls through apps on its approved list, which includes BOTIM, GoChat, Voico, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet and Webex. WhatsApp and FaceTime are not on that list, so expect their voice and video calls not to connect. WhatsApp messages, photos and voice notes work normally.
Tip: before you fly, agree with family on an approved app such as Zoom or Google Meet for video calls, and install it at home.
Using a UAE eSIM as a hotspot
- Holafly: its UAE unlimited plans allow hotspot sharing up to 1 GB a day.
- Saily: its UAE page says hotspot sharing is allowed with no separate limit.
If you’ll tether a laptop every day, choose a plan with a stated hotspot rule, or a fixed-data plan large enough for both devices.
Free airport SIM vs a travel eSIM
Visitors can get a free starter line from the local operators. e&’s free Visitor Line eSIM comes with 10 GB of local data that lasts one day, and after that you buy a paid pack. It’s for visitors aged 18 and over, needs your passport and entry visa, and is limited to two lines per passport.
A local tourist line is worth it if you need a UAE number for local calls. If you mainly need data, a travel eSIM bought at home skips the registration, works from the moment you land and lasts your whole trip.
Travelling on from the UAE?
If Dubai is a stopover on the way to Saudi Arabia, Oman or beyond, a Middle East or global plan can cover every country on one eSIM. Compare them in the eSIM finder, and see the best eSIM for Saudi Arabia if that’s your next stop.
Setting up your eSIM
- Check that your phone supports eSIM and isn’t carrier-locked.
- Buy the plan and install the eSIM at home, on Wi-Fi, before you fly.
- Leave the eSIM line switched off until you land.
- On arrival, turn the eSIM on, turn on Data Roaming for it, and set it as your mobile data line.
Check first: use our eSIM compatibility checker, then follow the step-by-step guide to install an eSIM on iPhone or install an eSIM on Android.
Tip: plans that activate on arrival can be installed days ahead. Saily, for example, starts your plan automatically when you land and gives you 180 days to start an unused plan.
Refunds
| Provider | Refund rule |
|---|---|
| Airalo | Refund possible for unused eSIMs; expired or fully used ones are not eligible |
| aloSIM | 30-day money-back if the eSIM can’t be installed or has connection problems |
| Holafly | Requests within 6 months of purchase; conditions depend on whether the eSIM was activated or its QR code scanned |
| Nomad eSIM | Full refund within 30 days if the eSIM isn’t installed or the plan isn’t activated |
| Saily | Full refund within 30 days if the eSIM isn’t installed or the plan isn’t activated |
| Voye Global | Refund within 30 days if the eSIM fails to install or work because of a fault on Voye’s side |
Tip: if your dates might change, buy from a provider that refunds eSIMs that haven’t been installed, and install close to departure.
Frequently asked questions
Don’t count on it. Some providers, including Saily, say their eSIMs can’t be bought or set up from inside the UAE. Buy and install your eSIM at home before you fly, and it will connect when you land. If you arrive without one, a local tourist line from e& or du is the fallback.
Only for your first day. e&’s free Visitor Line eSIM includes 10 GB of local data that lasts one day, after which you need to buy a paid pack. It also requires registration with your passport and visa. For a full trip, a travel eSIM installed before you fly is simpler.
No. The UAE plans we compare are data-only and don’t come with a +971 number. If you need a UAE number for local calls, get a tourist line from e& or du. Otherwise, keep your home SIM on for calls and texts and use the eSIM for data.
Expect them not to. Internet calls in the UAE are only allowed through apps on TDRA’s approved list, and WhatsApp and FaceTime aren’t on it. WhatsApp messages and voice notes work normally. For calls, use an approved app such as BOTIM, Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Google Meet.
The UAE has two operators, e& and du, and both cover Dubai and Abu Dhabi, so for a city trip either works. Airalo connects to e&, while aloSIM, Jetpac, Nomad and Voye Global use du. The networks table on this page shows each provider’s network.
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Joseph Larkin is the founder and editor of eSIM Mentor. He compares travel eSIM plans and checks every price on the provider's own website before it goes on the site, and every coupon is tried at checkout before it is listed. His aim is simple, honest advice that helps travelers pick the right plan and avoid roaming bills.
