Travel data for the United Arab Emirates
eSIM for the United Arab Emirates: prepaid travel data without roaming charges
Dubai and Abu Dhabi have excellent 5G, and equally excellent roaming bills. Buy a prepaid travel eSIM before you fly and pay a fixed amount for your whole stay.
- One fixed price
- You pay once, up front. Nothing renews by itself and there is no per megabyte charge afterwards.
- Local network speed
- Your phone attaches to a major UAE network with 5G across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.
- Keep your own number
- The travel plan runs beside your normal line, so calls, texts and two factor codes keep arriving.
United Arab Emirates and nearby data plans
Staying in one country? Take the country plan. Crossing borders on the same trip? The Asia regional plan keeps working without a second install.
Set up in three steps
- Step 1
Pick your plan
Choose the the United Arab Emirates plan and the amount of data that matches your trip, from a few days to a full month.
- Step 2
Scan the QR code
Your QR code arrives by email within a minute. Install it at home over Wi-Fi, before you travel.
- Step 3
Land and go
Turn on data for the travel line after landing and you are on Emirati mobile data right away.
Travel eSIM versus roaming from your own carrier
| What matters | Netcom Travel eSIM | roaming from your own carrier |
|---|---|---|
| Price for a two week trip | One upfront amount, shown before you pay | Daily pass fees that add up per line |
| Setup | QR code by email, installed before departure | Add on to activate, per line, per country |
| Speed | Local 5G where available in the United Arab Emirates | Often throttled after a small allowance |
| Your own number | Stays active alongside the travel line | Stays active, at roaming rates |
| Running out | Top up from your order page in a minute | Another pass or an overage rate |
Frequently asked questions
Will an eSIM work on my phone in the United Arab Emirates?
Yes on any eSIM capable phone that is carrier unlocked. That covers iPhone XS and newer, Google Pixel 3 and newer, and recent Samsung Galaxy S and Z models. You can check your exact model on our device page.
Do I keep my own phone number?
Yes. The travel eSIM is a second line for data only. Your normal line stays active for calls and texts, so bank codes and iMessage keep working.
When should I install it?
Install at home over Wi-Fi, ideally the day before you fly. Validity starts when the eSIM first connects to a network in the United Arab Emirates, not when you buy it.
Country plan or Asia regional plan?
If the UAE is a stopover on a longer Asia trip, compare the Asia plan with the country plan. For a Dubai only stay the country plan is usually cheaper.
Is this cheaper than a local SIM card?
Note that WhatsApp and FaceTime voice calling is restricted on networks in the UAE, on a local SIM as well as on a travel eSIM. Messaging and data work normally. With an eSIM you buy in advance, in euro, and you are online before you leave the plane.
What if I run out of data?
You top up from your order page in about a minute. The same eSIM keeps working, so there is nothing to reinstall.
More destinations in English
Arrive in the United Arab Emirates already online
Pick your plan now, install the QR code tonight, and land with working maps, rideshare and messaging without a single roaming charge.