Prices in pounds · Three prices checked 6 November 2026
Three roaming in the UAE vs a travel eSIM
In the UAE, Three uses its Go Roam Around the World Extra prices. Here is what that costs for a long weekend, a week and a fortnight, next to a data-only travel eSIM for the same trip.
صورة: Thomas Haas on Unsplash
Three vs eSIM in the UAE: 3, 7 and 14 days
Three’s lowest published option in the UAE for each trip length, next to a Graba SIM UAE plan with about 0.7 GB a day.
- 3 days
- 7 days
- 14 days
Three roamingGraba SIM eSIM
| Trip | Three | Graba SIM eSIM | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| A long weekend3 days | £17.503-day pass | £8.993GB, 30 days | The eSIM is £8.51 less |
| A week7 days | £42.007-day pass | £11.495GB, 30 days | The eSIM is £30.51 less |
| A fortnight14 days | £82.255-day pass + 3 × 3-day passes | £81.5010GB, 30 days | The eSIM is £0.75 less |
What’s included: Three: your UK calls, texts and up to 12 GB of your UK data. Graba SIM: data only, prepaid; your Three SIM stays in your phone for calls and texts. Graba SIM prices are live; Three prices checked 6 November 2026.
Sources: Three roaming (checked 6 November 2026). Prices change; check before you buy.
Graba SIM UAE plans: data, validity and total price
The 10GB plan costs much more than the smaller sizes here. At about 0.7 GB a day, most week-long trips need around 5 GB.
Each plan is a one-off price for one eSIM. It starts when it first connects in the UAE, and hotspot use comes out of the same data.
Using your phone in the UAE
- DXB Dubai International
- DWC Dubai World Central
- AUH Abu Dhabi
- SHJ Sharjah
- Dubai
- Strong signal across the city, on the Metro and in the malls, including high up in the towers.
- Abu Dhabi
- Good in the city, on Yas Island and Saadiyat, and along the motorway from Dubai.
- Desert safaris
- Signal fades in the dunes away from the camps. Share your pick-up pin before you set off.
- Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah
- Fine in towns and resorts; the Hajar mountain roads can have gaps.
Networks our UAE plans use: EtisalatDu
- Voice and video calls over some apps, such as WhatsApp, can be restricted in the UAE, while messaging works. Keep your UK SIM on for normal calls and texts.
- Gulf plans cover the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, which suits a twin-centre trip or a stopover.
Going further with Three
- Oman (day trips from Dubai to Musandam and the Omani coast): Three charges £8 a day (Go Roam Around the World Extra).
- Qatar (stopovers in Doha): Three charges £8 a day (Go Roam Around the World Extra).
What you get for the money
Three Go Roam Around the World Extra
- £8 a day if you joined or upgraded on or after 18 December 2025; £7 a day if you joined between October 2021 and December 2025.
- Unlocks your UK calls, texts and up to 12 GB of your UK data a month.
- Three only charges on days you use your phone, but your Spend Cap has to be high enough to cover the daily charge or pass, or roaming can stop.
Graba SIM UAE eSIM
- 4 plan sizes for the UAE, from 1GB, 7 days to 10GB, 30 days, each a one-off price.
- Runs on Etisalat, Du in the UAE, with 5G where the network offers it.
- Data only. Your Three SIM stays on for calls and texts, so bank codes still reach you in the UAE.
Three in the UAE: questions
How much does Three roaming cost in the UAE?
£8 a day in Go Roam Around the World Extra (£7 on plans from 2021 to 2025), or £42 for a 7-day pass. Unlocks your UK calls, texts and up to 12 GB of your UK data. For a trip, that is 3 days: £17.50 (3-day pass); 7 days: £42.00 (7-day pass); 14 days: £82.25 (5-day pass + 3 × 3-day passes).
Is a travel eSIM cheaper than Three in the UAE?
It depends on the trip. Comparing Three’s lowest published option with a Graba SIM plan of about 0.7 GB a day: 3 days, the eSIM is £8.51 less; 7 days, the eSIM is £30.51 less; 14 days, the eSIM is £0.75 less. Three’s price also includes your UK calls, texts and up to 12 GB of your UK data.
Does a Gulf eSIM work in Dubai and Abu Dhabi?
Yes. The Gulf plans include the UAE, so they work in every emirate, plus Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Check the coverage list on the plan before you buy.
Can I make WhatsApp calls in the UAE?
Messaging works, but voice and video calls over some internet apps can be restricted in the UAE, on any connection. Keep your UK SIM on so you can still take normal calls, and check which calling apps work before you rely on one.