How many times can I use my eSIM?

Your Simbye eSIM can be used until the data runs out or the validity period expires. Once installed, it stays on your device and can be topped up anytime with new data packages — no need to install a new eSIM. After 180 days of inactivity, the eSIM profile may expire and you would need to purchase a new one.

Is there any speed throttling on eSIM data plans?

No throttling on Simbye’s regular data plans — you get full 4G/5G speeds (up to 1 Gbit/s where the local network allows) on premium local carriers in 190+ countries, so you browse at the same speed as locals. On some unlimited plans a fair-use policy applies (a high-speed allowance, then reduced speed) — you’ll find the exact details on each product page.

How does Simbye compare to Airalo, Holafly & Saily?

Simbye is one of the most affordable eSIM providers on the market — often up to 85% cheaper for the same data. And unlike most providers, many Simbye eSIMs include real calls and a phone number, data eSIMs can be topped up again and again — and you always reach a real human on WhatsApp or email.

How can I check my remaining eSIM data?

Simbye offers three easy ways to track your eSIM data usage: use the Simbye app for real-time monitoring, check via our website with your order number, or use the link in your confirmation email. You’ll also get low-data and expiry alerts — a feature not all eSIM providers offer. When data runs low, top up instantly without buying a new eSIM — and every app purchase earns you 5% wallet cashback.

United Arab Emirates eSIM – mobile data for your trip

eSIM United Arab Emirates

Name: eSIM United Arab Emirates
Brand: Simbye
SKU: AE_5_30
Price: 4.95 EUR
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.7 (3590 reviews)

The United Arab Emirates eSIM runs on Etisalat and du: 1 to 10 GB or unlimited data, prepaid with no contract and no registration, online within minutes of landing at Dubai DXB.

Etisalat and du — both UAE networks

7 to 30 days, hotspot for laptop and tablet

Validity starts at your first connection

Money-back guarantee

Secure payment

Fair Use Policy

2GB highspeed/day, then unlimited at 1Mbps

1GB

Valid for 7 Days

6,19€ 4,95€

3GB

Valid for 30 Days

12,44€ 9,95€

Popular

5GB

Valid for 30 Days

17,44€ 13,95€

10GB

Valid for 30 Days

29,94€ 23,95€

Your Selection

United Arab Emirates eSIM-

NetworkEtisalat UAE, DU UAE

Duration-

Total-

Your plan only starts counting when the eSIM first connects at your destination — so you can buy today and travel in three weeks.

4.73590 reviews

How does Simbye eSIM work for the United Arab Emirates?

Get connected in under 2 minutes

Set it up before you fly

After your purchase you get an email with a link and a QR code. One tap on the link and the eSIM is in your phone. Do it calmly at home on Wi-Fi — that does not start the validity yet.

Switch it on after landing

Whether you arrive in Dubai (DXB), Abu Dhabi (AUH), Sharjah (SHJ), Ras Al Khaimah (RKT) or at Al Maktoum (DWC): turn off flight mode and turn on data roaming for the new line — after a minute or two Etisalat or du appears on screen.

Keep your own number reachable

Leave your normal SIM in the phone and just turn off mobile data for it. Calls and SMS codes still come through, and everything data-hungry runs over the eSIM.

Check Device Compatibility

Make sure your device supports eSIM before purchasing

Which networks will you be on in the United Arab Emirates?

Your Dubai eSIM is not tied to one operator — it takes whichever of the two UAE networks carries best where you are.

Etisalat UAE

117Mbit/s

Download

14Mbit/s

Upload

69ms

Latency

DU UAE

90Mbit/s

Download

13Mbit/s

Upload

95ms

Latency

Average measured mobile internet performance, nPerf barometer (measured 01.04.2025 – 31.03.2026). What you actually get depends on where you are, the time of day and your phone.

In the Emirates you connect through Etisalat (e&) and du, the country's two big networks. Your phone picks the right one by itself — nothing to choose, nothing to set up. If a connection feels sluggish, switch flight mode on for ten seconds and off again; the phone then searches afresh and often lands on the stronger network. You never have to type in an access point by hand.

Signal is already there in the arrivals hall at Dubai DXB and at Zayed International in Abu Dhabi, and the build-out is just as dense in Sharjah and Ajman: along Sheikh Zayed Road, inside the metro, in the big malls and across Marina, Downtown and Palm Jumeirah you are reachable almost everywhere. Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Al Ain and the mountain road up to Jebel Jais have signal too. It thins out in the open desert — on a safari in the Al Marmoom reserve or heading to Liwa in the Rub al Khali — and out on the water on boat trips. Close to the Oman border, around Al Ain or on the way to Musandam, your phone sometimes latches onto an Omani network. Your plan does not work there. That is where two networks pay off: the eSIM uses both Etisalat and Du, so where one has nothing the other often still does — turn off automatic network selection and pick the other one by hand. A single local SIM gives you only one shot.

eSIM or a local SIM card in the United Arab Emirates?

Choose the eSIM for the UAE: e& and du register a local number to your passport and visa, whereas yours works the second you land at DXB and your bank's SMS codes keep landing on your usual number.

Compared	Simbye eSIM	Local SIM card
When you get online	Straight after landing at DXB, as soon as flight mode is off	Only after queueing at a counter in arrivals
SIM card and registration	No SIM card, no paperwork — the eSIM counts as a foreign plan	Passport and valid visa, e& or du register the number to you
Paying	In advance from home, in your own currency	On the spot in dirhams, usually card or cash at the counter
Predictable price	Fixed data, fixed days, nothing billed afterwards	Tariffs and starting credit change, and airport counters cost more
Your own number	Data only — your home number stays live in the phone	You get a +971 number, handy for things like paying parking by SMS
SMS codes from banks and apps	Still arrive on your usual number	Only arrive if your old SIM stays in the phone
WhatsApp and FaceTime calls	Blocked, as everywhere in the country	Blocked, as everywhere in the country
If you travel on	Runs until the data or the days are used up, then you top up	Gets left behind and expires

Why you should buy your Dubai eSIM before you fly

Roaming on your plan from home is where it gets expensive. Once you leave your own country most providers switch to a day pass or bill by the megabyte, and in the Emirates both add up faster than you would think — many people only notice weeks later on the bill.

Dubai makes that worse than most stops, because DXB is one of the biggest transfer airports in the world. A few hours of waiting with maps, messages and a couple of videos is enough.

You buy this eSIM in advance, in your own currency, with a set amount of data — 1 to 10 GB, or an unlimited plan — and a set number of days between 7 and 30. No contract, no registration, no SIM card in the post and nothing that turns up on your phone bill once you are home. If the data runs short, you top up the same eSIM.

Where Etisalat and du actually reach across the UAE

Coverage in the cities is strong. In Dubai you are reachable throughout Downtown, Marina, Palm Jumeirah, the big malls and the metro; in Abu Dhabi the same goes for the Corniche, Yas Island and Saadiyat. Sharjah, Ajman and Al Ain sit on the same build-out, and the motorways between the emirates rarely drop the connection.

There are limits all the same. In the open desert it thins out — on a safari in the Al Marmoom reserve or heading to Liwa in the Rub al Khali the signal can disappear for a while. The same is true out on the water, on a dhow cruise for instance, and in the narrow valleys of the Hajar mountains behind Fujairah.

Two things worth knowing before you go. First, close to the Oman border, around Al Ain or on the way to Musandam, your phone sometimes jumps onto an Omani network — your plan does not work there, and you are offline until it switches back. Second, download the map of your route offline in advance. It costs you one session on Wi-Fi at home and saves every argument about directions.

WhatsApp calls are blocked in the Emirates

Good to know

This is not a quirk of our eSIM but a rule of the country. The telecom regulator TDRA does not permit voice and video calls over WhatsApp, FaceTime and most other apps. The block sits inside the Emirati networks themselves, which is why it applies on hotel Wi-Fi and with a local SIM card just the same. Written messages, photos and voice notes are not affected and work exactly as normal.

What does work: Botim is licensed in the country, and so are Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Your own number also stays in the phone — ordinary calls over the mobile network are not blocked, they simply run through your home provider at its international rates. Some travellers report that WhatsApp calls get through on a travel eSIM anyway, because the data only reaches the internet outside the Emirates. We cannot promise that. A VPN is not banned in itself, but using one to get around blocked services risks serious penalties under the cybercrime law — better to plan your calls around the apps that are licensed here.

What does a the United Arab Emirates eSIM cost?

Simbye offers 5 plans for the United Arab Emirates from €4,95 to €23,95 — data packs from €4,95, unlimited from €23,95. Prepaid, no contract.

Plan	Validity	Price	Per travel day
1 GB	7 days	€4,95	€0,70
3 GB	30 days	€9,95	€0,33
5 GB	30 days	€13,95	€0,46
10 GB	30 days	€23,95	€0,79
Unlimited	7 days	€23,95	—

Networks: Etisalat UAE + DU UAE
Setting it up: A link in your email, or the QR code — one tap is enough
Network technology: 4G/LTE — and 5G where the network already offers it
APN and settings: Nothing to set. The eSIM brings everything with it
Hotspot: Allowed — for a laptop, tablet or a travel companion
Adding more data: Top up any time, without setting anything up again
Calls and texts: Not included — WhatsApp calls run over the data
Your own number: Stays in the phone and stays reachable
Contract: None. The plan ends by itself
Worth knowing: Roaming on your home contract gets billed here — this eSIM is prepaid, so nothing is added afterwards

Frequently Asked Questions about United Arab Emirates eSIM

Data, calls, real phone numbers, top-ups and setup — everything you need to know before you buy a Simbye eSIM.

Do WhatsApp calls work in Dubai?

How much data do I need for a week in Dubai?

Is there an unlimited eSIM for the UAE?

How much does an eSIM for Dubai cost?

Does the eSIM work in all seven emirates?

Do I get a UAE number with it?

Do I have to register with my passport?

When does the validity start?

How do I buy the Dubai eSIM and set it up?

Is it worth it just for a stopover at DXB?

What do I do if there is no signal?

Is eSIM available in the UAE?

What is the best eSIM for the United Arab Emirates?

What is an eSIM and how does it work for travel?

An eSIM is a digital SIM card already built into your phone — nothing arrives by post and you never open the SIM tray. You buy a plan, save it to your phone over Wi-Fi, and it sits next to your usual line. At your destination you simply choose which line carries your mobile data. Your own number stays in the phone and stays reachable, and when you get home you switch the travel line off again.

Can I top up or recharge my eSIM?

Yes, using the eSIM that is already on your phone — no second eSIM and no new QR code. Enter your order number on our top-up page and pick a package. Top up while your plan is still running and it continues without a break, so you do not have to hunt for Wi-Fi abroad. On the data plans you add gigabytes; on the unlimited plans you add days.

Which phones are eSIM compatible?

Only phones with the chip built in can use an eSIM: on iPhone that is every model from the XS and XR onwards, on Samsung the Galaxy S models from the S20 plus the Note 20 and the Fold and Flip range, and on Google every Pixel from the Pixel 3. For other Android phones there is no rule of thumb — plenty of budget and mid-range models still have no eSIM even when they are brand new, and some Asian variants do not have one despite carrying the same name. Check your exact model under "Check compatibility" further up this page: if it is not on the list, it cannot do eSIM. Your phone also must not be locked to one operator.

How fast will I receive my eSIM after purchase?

Do I need to activate data roaming on my device?

Yes, you need to enable data roaming in your device settings for your Simbye eSIM to work properly. Don't worry – with Simbye you won't face any roaming charges! Simply go to your phone's settings, select your Simbye eSIM, and turn on data roaming. You'll be connected instantly without extra fees.

What happens when my data runs out?

On the data plans, the connection simply stops when your allowance is used up — no surprise charges and nothing renews by itself. On the unlimited plans you stay online, just slower: once the daily full-speed allowance is used up you keep browsing at a reduced speed, and the next day starts at full speed again. You can top up at any time.

Can I keep my WhatsApp number?

Yes, absolutely! Your WhatsApp number stays the same because it's linked to your original phone number, not your SIM card. With Simbye eSIM providing data, you can continue using WhatsApp with your existing number and contacts worldwide. Stay connected without changing a thing!

How do I install and activate my eSIM?

Installing your Simbye eSIM takes less than 60 seconds — one of the fastest setups of any eSIM provider! After buying your eSIM online, you receive a QR code via email. Scan it with your phone camera (iPhone: Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM; Samsung: Settings → Connections → SIM Manager), follow the prompts, and your eSIM activates instantly. No app download required — though our Simbye app makes managing multiple eSIMs even easier.

When should I set up my eSIM?

You need WiFi to install your eSIM, so we recommend setting it up shortly before your departure while you're still at home. Alternatively, you can wait until you arrive at your destination and connect to airport or hotel WiFi. Just remember – you'll need an internet connection for the initial setup, but after that, you're good to go!

Can I use my eSIM as a mobile hotspot?

Most Simbye eSIMs support hotspot/tethering: simply enable hotspot in your device settings and connect your laptop, tablet or other devices. Keep in mind that hotspot usage counts toward your data package, and a few unlimited plans limit or exclude hotspot — you’ll find the details on each product page.

How do I check how much data I have left?

Open the Simbye app and tap My eSIMs — your remaining data is right there. Without the app, go to simbye.com/pages/plans and enter your order number and email. On Orange plans you can also dial #123# straight from your phone. The figures come from the network, so they can lag a little behind your actual use.

What happens if I lose or delete my QR code?

Nothing is lost. Your QR code stays in your order email, in the Simbye app under My eSIMs, and on simbye.com/pages/plans with your order number and email — so you can pull it up again whenever you need it. Once a profile is installed it stays on your phone. A few plans allow one installation only; that is noted with the plan.

Do I get cashback when I buy?

Yes — 5% of what you spend comes back as credit in your Simbye wallet. It lands there by itself, whether you buy in the app or on the website. You can put that credit towards your next plan or use it when you top up an existing eSIM. Nothing to claim, nothing to activate.

Will my speed be throttled?

Data plans are not throttled — you keep full speed until your volume is used up. Unlimited plans have a fair-use threshold: once you pass it you stay connected, just slower. Maps, messengers, email and music keep working; high-resolution streaming does not. The exact threshold is stated with the plan you are looking at.

Can people still reach me on my own number?

Yes — the eSIM sits next to the SIM you already have, so your own number stays active and calls and texts still come through. One thing to watch: your phone still places outgoing calls over your main SIM, at your home provider's rates. For talking, use WhatsApp or a similar app over your eSIM data instead.

When does my plan start counting down?

Your validity starts the moment the eSIM first connects to a network at your destination — not when you buy it, and not when you install it. That is why you can order weeks ahead and set everything up at home in peace. A few plans should only be installed after you arrive; if yours is one of them, your delivery email says so.