Dubai SIM card for tourists: local SIM or eSIM?
For a week of everyday use (6 GB), the cheapest prepaid SIM in the United Arab Emirates costs AED 99 (du, 10 GB, 28 days), sold at the airport. A travel eSIM for the same week costs from $16.00 (Jetpac) and is installed before you leave.
Offers checked on October 21, 2026 on the carriers’ websites
The best travel eSIMs in the United Arab Emirates for a week
For 7 days and 6 GB
- 1Best unlimited
Ubigi
Unlimited · 15 days
$58.00$3.87 per day- 5 GB a day at full speed, then reduced speed
- Network: du
- Hotspot allowed
- 2Cheapest
Jetpac
10 GB · 7 days
$16.00$1.60 per GB- Lowest total price for 7 days
- Network: du
- Hotspot allowed
- 3Best price per GB
Orange Travel
20 GB · 14 days
€23.99€1.20 per GB- Lowest price per GB for this trip
- Networks: du and Etisalat (e&)
- Hotspot allowed
Three steps, three questions: the best unlimited plan, the cheapest and the best price per GB, from three different providers. How we pick the podium · Affiliate links
Local SIM or travel eSIM?
For a week of everyday use (6 GB), at the prices on the carriers’ and providers’ websites.
Local SIM, 7 days
AED 99
du · 10 GB · 28 days
- Sold at the airport counter (DXB), or online for some offers.
- It also comes as an eSIM: your SIM then stays on for calls and texts.
- Passport required at purchase.
Travel eSIM, 7 days
$16.00
with Jetpac
- Installed at home before you leave, it works as soon as you land.
- Your SIM stays on for calls and texts.
- ID: our provider pages say who asks for one.
The currencies differ: we convert nothing. · Affiliate links
Dubai SIM card: our analysis
From the carriers’ websites, checked on October 21, 2026.
The carriers
- duTourist Bundles - Value bundles 10GB · as an eSIM · at the airport · online · in storesAED 99
- Virgin MobileTourist Plan 7 days · as an eSIM · at the airport · online · in storesAED 150
- Etisalat by e&Visitor Line Premium + · as an eSIM · at the airport · online · in storesAED 200
Unlimited, phone number, eSIM
- The cheapest unlimited SIM: Tourist Bundles - Unlimited data 7 days (du), AED 199 for 7 days.
- 8 of 14 offers come with a number for calls (du and Etisalat by e&).
- All 14 offers we found also come as an eSIM (du, Virgin Mobile, and Etisalat by e&): no counter to find.
Where to buy it
- At the airport: Dubai International Airport (du, Etisalat by e&, Virgin Mobile, Kitmytrip).
- Online before you leave: 13 of 14 offers (du, Virgin Mobile, and Etisalat by e&).
- In stores in town: du, Virgin Mobile, and Etisalat by e&.
eSIMs in the United Arab Emirates at a glance
- In the United Arab Emirates, we compare plans from 7 eSIM providers: GigSky, GoMoWorld, Jetpac, Nomad, Orange Travel, Ubigi, and Yesim.
- The cheapest unlimited plan for a week is from Ubigi: $58.00 (Unlimited · 15 days).
The carriers’ prepaid offers
For each carrier, the cheapest offers that cover everyday use (maps, messaging, social media) for a week, two weeks or a month.
We found 14 prepaid offers from 3 carriers in the United Arab Emirates: du, Virgin Mobile, and Etisalat by e&. Prices are those on their websites, in their currency (AED), not converted.
| Offer | Carrier | Data | Validity | Price | As eSIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist Plan 7 days | Virgin Mobile | 3 GB a day | 7 days | AED 150 | Yes |
| Tourist Plan 20 days | Virgin Mobile | unlimited data | 20 days | AED 300 | Yes |
| Tourist Bundles - Value bundles 10GB | du | 10 GB | 28 days | AED 99 | Yes |
| Tourist Bundles - Value bundles 15GB | du | 15 GB | 28 days | AED 139 | Yes |
| Visitor Line Premium + | Etisalat by e& | 22.5 GB | 28 days | AED 200 | Yes |
Sources: virginmobile.ae, shop.du.ae, eand.ae
What your trip costs, SIM or eSIM
For each trip length, the cheapest offer that covers everyday use.
| Trip | Local SIM | Travel eSIM | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 week · 6 GB | AED 99 du | $16.00 Jetpac | See the plan |
| 2 weeks · 12 GB | AED 139 du | €23.99 Orange Travel | See the plan |
| 1 month · 24 GB | — | €34.99 Orange Travel | See the plan |
The currencies differ: we convert nothing. · Affiliate links
Where to buy it when you land
Carriers and SIM resellers named by the airports’ and carriers’ websites.
| Airport | Where to buy a SIM |
|---|---|
| Dubai International Airport (DXB) | du, Etisalat by e&, Virgin Mobile, Kitmytrip |
Dubai SIM card: your questions
Answered from the carriers’ websites and today’s prices.
How much is a SIM card in the United Arab Emirates?
For a week of everyday use, from AED 99 with du (10 GB, 28 days), checked on October 21, 2026.
Where can I buy a SIM card in the United Arab Emirates?
At the airport: Dubai International Airport (du, Etisalat by e&, Virgin Mobile, Kitmytrip). Carriers also sell their offers in shops or online, depending on the offer.
Do I need a passport for a SIM card in the United Arab Emirates?
Yes: carriers ask for your passport to activate the SIM.
Local SIM or eSIM in the United Arab Emirates?
A travel eSIM is installed before you leave and keeps your SIM on for calls and texts; for a week, it costs from $16.00 (Jetpac). The cheapest local SIM costs AED 99 (du).
How much is a SIM card in the United Arab Emirates for two weeks or a month?
For two weeks, from AED 139 (Tourist Bundles - Value bundles 15GB, du).
Is there an unlimited SIM card in the United Arab Emirates?
The cheapest unlimited SIM: Tourist Bundles - Unlimited data 7 days (du), AED 199 for 7 days.
Does a tourist SIM card in the United Arab Emirates come with a phone number?
8 of 14 offers come with a number for calls (du and Etisalat by e&).
Can I buy the SIM card before I leave?
Online before you leave: 13 of 14 offers (du, Virgin Mobile, and Etisalat by e&). All 14 offers we found also come as an eSIM (du, Virgin Mobile, and Etisalat by e&): no counter to find.
Which carrier should I pick in the United Arab Emirates?
For a week of everyday use: du from AED 99, Virgin Mobile from AED 150, and Etisalat by e& from AED 200.
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