Landing in the UAE and worried about staying connected? You’ve got two options: rely on your home provider’s roaming package or grab a local tourist eSIM. Honestly, the UAE Tourist eSIM usually makes more sense after all, roaming can be ridiculously expensive, even if your provider offers “discounted” daily passes. Over a week or two, those charges add up fast.
How To Get A Free Tourist eSIM When You Land In The UAE
Let’s face it, most roaming packs are stingy on data. You’re talking 500MB–1GB per day, barely enough to navigate, let alone scroll Instagram or stream videos. Tourist eSIMs, on the other hand, offer generous data allowances, 10GB, 40GB, sometimes even unlimited. Truth be told, this is a game-changer if you want to share every Burj Khalifa sunset or Dubai Marina snap without stressing over overage charges.
Activation is a breeze. You can do it at the airport or online. No fiddling with SIM cards, no waiting in queues, no “how do I switch numbers?” headaches. Roaming, in practice, depends on your provider’s coverage and whether you remembered to pre-activate your package. Not exactly stress-free.
Get A Local Number For Calls
Here’s the kicker: a UAE eSIM gives you a local number. Suddenly, booking taxis, ordering food, or calling your hotel becomes seamless. You can receive OTPs for online bookings, access special restaurant or attraction deals, and even tap into local Wi-Fi offers. Using roaming keeps you stuck on your home number, fine for emails, not so convenient for everyday life here.
Top Tourist eSIM Options In The UAE
1. Free Tourist eSIM from du
- Offer: 10GB free data for 24 hours
- How to get it: Activate after completing immigration at the UAE airports
- Activation: Instant via self-onboarding, your home SIM can stay in the phone
After your free data runs out, du has flexible plans:
- AED49 for 4GB + 30 flexi minutes (28 days)
- AED99 for 10GB
Rules: Valid for 30 days from purchase, renewable with passport and visa, max two SIMs per passport, for travellers 18+ only.
2. Visitor Line from e& (Etisalat)
- Free instant eSIM: 10GB for 1 day, activated after immigration
- Paid plan: 10GB local data + 60 flexi minutes, valid 28 days for AED94.28 (excl. 5% VAT)
Available for visitors 18+, with multiple purchases allowed. Later, you can migrate to a Wasel Prepaid/Postpaid plan using your Emirates ID if you become a resident. Online signup lets you pick your number.
3. Tourist Plans from Virgin Mobile
Virgin Mobile is all about flexibility:
- 3-day unlimited data: AED99
- 7-day 40GB: AED142
- 30-day unlimited: AED500
Sign up via the app or website. Just scan your passport, snap a selfie, pick your plan, and you’re online in minutes.
Also Read: Travelling To The UAE? Now You Can Get A Free eSIM With 10GB
Which eSIM Should You Pick?
- Short stopover: du’s Free Tourist eSIM, simple and quick
- 1–2 weeks: Etisalat Visitor Line (10GB + calls) or Virgin 7-day 40GB plan
- Longer stays: Virgin 30-day unlimited plan or du’s renewable 28-day packs
In the end, having a local UAE eSIM is about more than just data. It’s freedom, convenience, and a little peace of mind while you explore the Emirates. Come on, we all know navigating Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or Sharjah is way easier with a local number in your pocket.
Cover Image Courtesy: CanvaPro/Prykhodov from Getty Images Signature
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