Why is it a Gulf plan, not a UAE plan?
We don’t sell UAE-only plans. The Gulf plans include the UAE plus five neighbours, so a Dubai stopover and a trip into Oman are covered on one eSIM, for a single price in pounds.
Prices in pounds · for UK travellers
eSIM for the UAE from the UK
Dubai, Abu Dhabi or a stopover on the way to Asia? Our Gulf plans cover the UAE and five neighbours on one eSIM, with prices in pounds next to your UK network’s.
Photo: Thomas Haas on Unsplash
- QR code by emailinstall before you fly
- Keep your UK numberdata-only eSIM
- 24/7 live chatin the Graba SIM app
- Pay your way
Before you buy: straight answers
Will my eSIM work as soon as I land at DXB?
Yes, if you install it at home on Wi-Fi. On landing, switch off flight mode, set mobile data to the eSIM and turn on data roaming for it. It connects before you reach passport control.
Do I need a UAE phone number?
Not for most visitors. Taxi, delivery and booking apps work over data, and your UK SIM stays on for bank codes. The eSIM is data only.
What your trip to the UAE costs
Set your trip length and how you use your phone. eSIM bars are data-only plans that cover the whole trip; UK network bars use your UK allowance and include calls and texts. EE and Vodafone don’t publish a price for the UAE that we can check, so they aren’t charted.
Sources: O2 roaming (checked 6 November 2026) · Three roaming (checked 6 November 2026) · Airalo fixed-data plans (checked 9 November 2026). Prices change; check before you buy.
UAE eSIM
How long is your trip?
Pick the trip that sounds most like yours. Every plan is data only, paid once, with no contract.
Prices in GBP
Not sure? Answer 3 quick questionsWe’ll show the maths behind our suggestion.
Swipe to compare plans
On every plan here
- Uses Etisalat and Du, with 5G where available
- Starts when you first connect, so you can install it before you fly
- QR code by emailInstall it in minutes
- Keep your numberData only, your SIM stays in
- 24/7 live chatIn the Graba SIM app
- Pay onceNo contract, guest checkout
More options
Other sizes for different kinds of trip.
Only need a day?
A day pass gives you full-speed data for one day, then slower data for the rest of the day.
500MB to 10GB a day
From £6.75
See day passesHow we choose these plans
For each trip we pick the current plan that costs the least while lasting the whole trip and gives about 0.3 to 0.7 GB a day, enough for maps, messages and social media. A plan may last longer than the trip. Everyone uses data differently, so check your phone’s recent data use. “Best value” only appears when that plan also costs the least per GB of all the plans that fit.
Arriving in the UAE
- DXB Dubai International
- DWC Dubai World Central
- AUH Abu Dhabi
- SHJ Sharjah
Most UK flights land at Dubai International (DXB) or Abu Dhabi (AUH). Both have free airport Wi-Fi, but an eSIM already installed works the moment you switch off flight mode.
Signal where people go
- 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
Your UK network in the UAE
The UAE is outside the EU, so Europe roaming deals on UK plans don’t cover it. What each network publishes for the UAE, and a week of it:
| Network | What it charges | 7 days | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
 EE | Varies by plan EE doesn’t publish one price for every country: it prices roaming by destination, plan and start date. Check EE’s roaming tool for the UAE. | No published price | EE roaming |
| O2 | O2 Travel £7 a day with the O2 Travel Bolt On: unlimited calls, texts and data, at up to 2 Mbps. | £49.00£7 a day × 7 | O2 in the UAE vs eSIM |
| Vodafone | Zone D The UAE is in Vodafone’s Zone D, where a daily fee applies. Check the price for your plan in Vodafone’s roaming charge checker. | No published price | Vodafone roaming |
 Three | Go Roam Around the World Extra £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. | £42.007-day pass | Three in the UAE vs eSIM |
Sources: EE (checked 29 October 2026) · O2 (checked 6 November 2026) · Vodafone (checked 29 October 2026) · Three (checked 6 November 2026). Prices change; check before you buy.
Compare prices for the UAE
Know before you go
- 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.
- The UAE is outside the EU, so Europe roaming deals on UK plans don’t cover it. Check what your network charges before you fly.
Crossing a border from the UAE?
A UAE plan covers the UAE only. This is what your UK network charges next door:
| Going on to | O2 | Three | Vodafone | eSIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omanday trips from Dubai to Musandam and the Omani coast | Standard rates | £8 a day (Go Roam Around the World Extra) | Check Vodafone | Oman plans |
| Qatarstopovers in Doha | £7 a day | £8 a day (Go Roam Around the World Extra) | Check Vodafone | Qatar plans |
Set it up before you fly
- Check your phone is unlocked and supports eSIM on our compatibility page.
- Install the plan at home on Wi-Fi with our iPhone or Android guide.
- When you land at Dubai International, switch mobile data to the eSIM and turn on data roaming for it only.
Questions about the UAE
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.
Is a travel eSIM cheaper than roaming in the UAE?
For a week with about 0.7 GB a day, the Graba SIM 5GB, 30 days plan costs £11.49, less than each published UK network option for the UAE (the lowest is Three at £42.00). UK network prices include calls and texts; the eSIM is data only.
What do UK networks charge in the UAE?
EE: EE doesn’t publish one price for every country: it prices roaming by destination, plan and start date. Check EE’s roaming tool for the UAE. O2: £7 a day with the O2 Travel Bolt On: unlimited calls, texts and data, at up to 2 Mbps. Vodafone: The UAE is in Vodafone’s Zone D, where a daily fee applies. Check the price for your plan in Vodafone’s roaming charge checker. Three: £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.
What if something goes wrong?
Live chat in the Graba SIM app is open 24/7. Email and contact-form requests are answered Monday to Friday.
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