Best eSIM for United Arab Emirates (2026): 20 plans compared in £

Quick answers

The cheapest data plan here is £3.02.
Best value for a longer stay: Nomad 10GB for 30 days, £13.96.
Unlimited data from Airalo: £54.33 for 30 days.
United Arab Emirates is outside the EU, so the big UK networks charge about £7 to £8 a day here.
WhatsApp and FaceTime voice and video calls (plus Skype, Viber and Google Meet calling) are blocked on UAE networks and UAE Wi-Fi, though WhatsApp messages work. Zoom and Microsoft Teams calls generally work, and licensed apps like Botim need a paid plan. Calls often connect over UK roaming or travel eSIM data because it is routed abroad, but that is not guaranteed.

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Prices

United Arab Emirates eSIM prices compared

All 20 plans we track, cheapest first within each length.

Provider	Data	Lasts	Price (approx. in £)
Nomaddu	1GB	7 days	£3.02US$4.00 · £3.02/GB	Go to Nomad Provider link
Ubigidu	1GB	7 days	£3.77US$5.00 · £3.77/GB	Go to Ubigi Provider link
Saily	1GB	7 days	£6.78US$8.99 · £6.78/GB	Go to Saily Provider link
Sim Localdu	3GB	7 days	£6.79US$9.00 · £2.26/GB	Go to Sim Local Provider link
Nomaddu	5GB	30 days	£8.30US$11.00 · £1.66/GB	Go to Nomad Provider link
Saily	5GB	30 days	£9.05US$11.99 · £1.81/GB	Go to Saily Provider link
Sim Localdu	5GB	30 days	£9.43US$12.50 · £1.89/GB	Go to Sim Local Provider link
NomadBest value 10GB+du	10GB	30 days	£13.96US$18.50 · £1.40/GB	Go to Nomad Provider link

Show all 20 United Arab Emirates tariffs

Provider	Data	Lasts	Price (approx. in £)
Saily	10GB	30 days	£15.08US$19.99 · £1.51/GB	Go to Saily Provider link
Sim Localdu	10GB	30 days	£15.09US$20.00 · £1.51/GB	Go to Sim Local Provider link
Ubigidu	10GB	30 days	£15.85US$21.00 · £1.58/GB	Go to Ubigi Provider link
AiraloEtisalat	Unlimited	3 days	£9.43US$12.50	Go to Airalo Provider link
Holaflydu	Unlimited	3 days	£9.43US$12.50	Go to Holafly Provider link
Nomaddu	Unlimited	7 days	£20.37US$27.00	Go to Nomad Provider link
AiraloEtisalat	Unlimited	7 days	£20.75US$27.50	Go to Airalo Provider link
Holaflydu	Unlimited	7 days	£20.75US$27.50	Go to Holafly Provider link
Sim Localdu	Unlimited	7 days	£21.13US$28.00	Go to Sim Local Provider link
Ubigidu	Unlimited	7 days	£27.16US$36.00	Go to Ubigi Provider link
Holaflydu	Unlimited	15 days	£38.11US$50.50	Go to Holafly Provider link
AiraloEtisalat	Unlimited	30 days	£54.33US$72.00	Go to Airalo Provider link

Prices checked 25 September 2026. Most travel eSIM companies charge in US dollars, even to UK customers, so your bank converts the price when you pay. We show pounds at that day's rate (US$1 = £0.75458) with the dollar price underneath.

Price per GB in United Arab Emirates

Each provider's best-value 30-day plan of 5GB or more, as a price per GB. Lower is better; orange = cheapest.

Nomad£1.40

Saily£1.51

Sim Local£1.51

Ubigi£1.58

Roaming

What UK networks charge in United Arab Emirates

A week in United Arab Emirates: what it costs

7 days of data on each UK network's roaming (where there's a daily price) against the cheapest 5GB+ eSIM (Nomad). Orange bar = eSIM.

Vodafone£56

Three£56

O2£49

EE£42

iD Mobile£35

Sky Mobile£14

Cheapest eSIM£8.30

Your network	Per day	A week	Details
EE	£6 a day	£42	Zone 1 24h pass £6, buy on arrival Check with your network
O2	£7 a day	£49	O2 Travel bolt-on £7/day (Ultimate plans include some destinations) Check with your network
Vodafone	£8 a day	£56	Global Roam Zone C/D, approx £8/day Check with your network
Three	£8 a day	£56	Go Roam Around the World Extra £8/day (£7 on older plans), 12GB
giffgaff	Add-ons only	–	no daily pass; travel data add-on 1GB/5GB/10GB, 30 days, approx £6-£15 per GB tier
SMARTY	Add-ons only	–	PAYG by band (Roaming 1 e.g. US/TR 10p/MB, higher bands up to £5/MB) Check with your network
iD Mobile	£5 a day	£35	Roam Beyond add-on from £5 (2GB, 1 day) Check with your network
VOXI	Add-ons only	–	PAYG roaming pass rates by zone Check with your network
Lebara	Add-ons only	–	add-on 1GB/8 days £5 or 3GB/15 days £15 Check with your network
Tesco Mobile	Add-ons only	–	not Home From Home; PAYG or data bundle Check with your network
Sky Mobile	£2 a day	£14	Roaming Passport £2/day, 120 destinations (country not confirmed) Check with your network
Lyca Mobile	Add-ons only	–	PAYG rates / country bundles, not checked Check with your network

Checked 25 September 2026. Roaming prices depend on your exact plan and when you joined, so check with your network before you travel.

Local know-how

Mobile in United Arab Emirates: what to know

Mobile networks

e& (formerly Etisalat)The original national operator, often said to reach further outside the cities; tourist packages and counters at DXB arrivals.

duSecond operator; hands out free tourist SIMs at Dubai International (DXB) passport control and runs the free WiFi UAE hotspots.

Virgin Mobile UAEDigital-first brand run by du's parent company EITC.

Coverage

Coverage is strong across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the other cities on both e& and du, with e& often said to reach further for trips outside the cities.

Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi is widespread: all the main airports, hotels, malls, Dubai Metro and bus stations, parks and beaches via WiFi UAE from du (visitors register with passport details, sessions are 60 minutes).

WhatsApp and FaceTime calls

WhatsApp and FaceTime voice and video calls (plus Skype, Viber and Google Meet calling) are blocked on UAE networks and UAE Wi-Fi, though WhatsApp messages work. Zoom and Microsoft Teams calls generally work, and licensed apps like Botim need a paid plan. Calls often connect over UK roaming or travel eSIM data because it is routed abroad, but that is not guaranteed.

Buying a local SIM

Easy. du gives free tourist SIMs at DXB immigration and has counters in arrivals at Terminals 1, 2 and 3; e& also has counters at DXB and shops in malls. You must show your original passport. Tourist data plans run roughly AED 50-150 depending on data and length.

Emergency number

999 police, 998 ambulance, 997 fire

Tips for UK travellers

Pick up du's free tourist SIM at DXB passport control, then add a data package, or land with a travel eSIM already set up.
Plan on WhatsApp and FaceTime calls not working on UAE networks or hotel Wi-Fi: use WhatsApp messages, Zoom or Teams, or a normal phone call instead.
Don't use a VPN to get round UAE blocks: it can breach UAE cybercrime law, even though enforcement against tourists is rare.
Watch what you post or send: swearing and rude gestures online are illegal in the UAE and have led to jail or deportation, and photographing people without consent is also an offence.

FAQ

Common questions

Can I make WhatsApp calls in Dubai?

Not on UAE mobile networks or UAE Wi-Fi, where WhatsApp and FaceTime calls are blocked. Messages work fine, and Zoom or Microsoft Teams calls generally connect.

Is there a free SIM card at Dubai airport?

Yes. du hands out free tourist SIMs at DXB passport control; they come with a small starter allowance, so most people add a data package.

Is it legal to use a VPN in the UAE?

Using a VPN to get round UAE restrictions can break UAE cybercrime law, so it isn't worth the risk just to make app calls.

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