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🇦🇪 eSIM for the United Arab Emirates
Dubai and Abu Dhabi are expensive places to roam, and a data eSIM avoids both the roaming rate and the airport SIM queue on arrival.
UAE eSIM plans and prices
In short: Num sells 14 prepaid data eSIM plans for the United Arab Emirates, from $3.48 for 1 GB per day (1 day) up to 50 GB over 180 days at $215.25. The best value per gigabyte is 10 GB per day for 1 day at $19.88 ($1.99). It connects to Du and Etisalat with 5G on every plan. Validity starts when the eSIM first connects in the United Arab Emirates, it installs by QR code on any eSIM-capable iPhone, and your own number keeps working.
Live prices, updated from our provider catalogue · 3G/4G/5G. These are the amounts charged at checkout — nothing is added afterwards.
| Plan | Validity | Total data | Per GB | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB per dayTop-up available | 1 day | 1 GB | $3.48 | $3.48 |
| 1 GB totalTop-up available | 7 days | 1 GB | $3.59 | $3.59 |
| 500 MB per dayTop-up available | 1 day | 500 MB | $7.56 | $3.69 |
| 2 GB per dayTop-up available | 1 day | 2 GB | $2.84 | $5.68 |
| 3 GB per dayTop-up available | 1 day | 3 GB | $2.71 | $8.12 |
| 3 GB totalTop-up available | 15 days | 3 GB | $3.27 | $9.82 |
| 3 GB totalTop-up available | 30 days | 3 GB | $3.42 | $10.25 |
| 5 GB per dayTop-up available | 1 day | 5 GB | $2.62 | $13.10 |
| 1 GB totalTop-up available | 365 days | 1 GB | $14.35 | $14.35 |
| 5 GB totalTop-up available | 30 days | 5 GB | $3.28 | $16.40 |
| 10 GB per dayTop-up availableBest value | 1 day | 10 GB | $1.99 | $19.88 |
| 10 GB totalTop-up available | 30 days | 10 GB | $2.97 | $29.72 |
| 10 GB totalTop-up available | 60 days | 10 GB | $3.07 | $30.71 |
| 50 GB totalTop-up available | 180 days | 50 GB | $4.30 | $215.25 |
Prices shown were generated on 2026-10-08 and can change with our provider's catalogue. The app always shows the current price before you pay.
Num vs Airalo, Saily, Nomad, Simpal, Maya: UAE eSIM prices compared →
Best UAE eSIM by trip length
Our pick for each trip length: the cheapest plan that lasts the whole stay and carries enough data for maps, messaging and a bit of video. Heavy streamers should go a size up.
| Trip | Our pick | Validity | Total data | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A long weekend UAE eSIM for 3 days | 1 GB total | 7 days | 1 GB | $3.59 |
| One week UAE eSIM for 7 days | 3 GB total | 15 days | 3 GB | $9.82 |
| Two weeks UAE eSIM for 14 days | 5 GB total | 30 days | 5 GB | $16.40 |
| A month UAE eSIM for 30 days | 10 GB total | 30 days | 10 GB | $29.72 |
Using your eSIM in the United Arab Emirates
Dubai and Abu Dhabi are expensive places to roam and slow places to buy a SIM on arrival. A data eSIM installed before the flight avoids both the rate and the queue. According to the plan details the eSIM connects to Du and Etisalat, and the phone picks whichever is strongest where you are standing.
Each plan carries 5G in its speed rating, which in practice means 4G most of the time and 5G in the cities that have it. Coverage is strong across the main cities and the roads between them; desert excursions outside the cities can drop to weaker signal, which is true of every provider there.
One thing to know that is not about the plan: some voice-over-IP calling services are restricted in the UAE regardless of the network you use. That is a country-level rule. Messaging and data work normally, and the restriction has nothing to do with which eSIM you carry.
At the bottom of the table is 500 MB over 1 day for $3.69, at the top 50 GB over 180 days for $215.25. Every plan here can be topped up from the app without reinstalling anything. Setup: install on wi-fi before you leave, switch data roaming on for the Num line only, leave the APN alone. Suits a stopover of a few days or a working week in one of the two cities.
Practical notes for the United Arab Emirates
- Coverage is strong across the main cities and the routes between them.
- Some voice-over-IP calling services are restricted in the UAE regardless of which network you use — this is a country-level restriction, not a plan limitation.
- Desert excursions outside the cities can drop to weaker signal.
How to get connected
- Download Num and pick the United Arab Emirates.
- Choose a plan and pay with Apple Pay.
- Scan the QR code the app gives you — Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM.
- Turn on data roaming for the Num line when you land.
Questions about the United Arab Emirates
How much does an eSIM for the United Arab Emirates cost?
Plans start at $3.48. The table on this page shows current prices — 14 options ranging from short trips to month-long stays. These are the prices you pay in the app; there are no separate activation or delivery fees.
Will my phone work with a the United Arab Emirates eSIM?
Most iPhones from the XR and XS onward support eSIM, and the handset must be carrier-unlocked. Check the compatibility page for the full list before you buy.
When does the plan start counting down?
Validity begins when the eSIM first connects to a network in the coverage area, not when you buy it. You can install it before you travel and it will wait until you land.
Can I keep my normal number while using it?
Yes. The Num eSIM runs alongside your existing SIM, so calls and texts on your usual number keep working while data runs over the travel plan. Turn your normal line's data roaming off to avoid a roaming bill.
Can I add more data if I run out?
Yes — reloadable plans can be topped up from inside the app without buying a new eSIM or reinstalling anything.
Is there an unlimited data eSIM for the United Arab Emirates?
Num does not sell unlimited plans for the United Arab Emirates. The closest are the daily-allowance plans, such as 1 GB per day, which give a fixed amount each day for the length of the trip. For most travellers the fixed bundles, from 500 MB to 50 GB, are better value.
Which networks does a Num UAE eSIM use?
It connects to Du and Etisalat and picks the strongest available network automatically. Every plan on this page supports 5G where the network offers it.
Do I get a UAE phone number with the eSIM?
No. Num eSIMs are data-only. Your own number stays active on your existing SIM for calls and texts, and WhatsApp, iMessage and other messaging apps keep working over the eSIM's data. If you need a local number, see our guide to eSIMs with a phone number.
What is the best eSIM for the United Arab Emirates?
It depends on how long you stay and how much you use maps and video. On this page the best value per gigabyte is 10 GB per day for 1 day at $19.88 ($1.99); the trip-length picks match a plan to a weekend, a week, two weeks and a month. The comparison page sets Num's prices against Airalo, Saily, Nomad, Simpal, Maya at matched plan sizes, including the sizes where we are not the cheapest.