Roaming, local SIM or eSIM: which to choose?
No option is best in every case. A stopover of a few hours, a week's holiday or a business trip: the right choice depends on how long you are staying and whether you need a local number.
Roaming with your own provider
This option needs no preparation, and you keep your number. The Emirates are outside the European Union, so EU ‘Roam like at home’ rules do not apply, and prices depend on your provider. Check them before you go, especially for a stay of several days.
A local SIM card
It gives you an Emirati number, which is useful for a long stay or for services that ask for a local number. You have to buy it locally, show ID and insert the card.
A data eSIM
An eSIM is installed before you leave and works as soon as you land, which is handy for a stopover or a short stay. Your usual SIM stays in place for calls and texts. The Alizeoo eSIM provides data only: no number and no standard calls. For a full comparison: eSIM, local SIM or roaming.
Networks and coverage in the Emirates
The country's two main mobile operators are Etisalat (e&) and du. The Emirates have both 4G and 5G networks. With an eSIM, 5G is only used if the plan, the partner network and your phone all support it; otherwise you connect over 4G. The partner networks for each Alizeoo plan are listed on its page, as they can change.
- Cities: coverage is generally good in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the other cities.
- Desert and remote areas: on a desert or mountain trip, signal can weaken or disappear in places.
- Buildings: in some underground car parks or deep inside large buildings, reception can be poorer.
A United Arab Emirates plan covers the whole country, on the partner networks listed on its page. Before a desert trip, download your maps and keep your bookings available offline.
Internet calls: what you need to know
In the Emirates, some internet voice and video calling services may be restricted, whatever SIM you use. Text messages generally work. If you plan to call family or colleagues through an app, look into the current situation before you travel.
Your usual SIM, which you keep active, still lets you make standard calls while roaming, at your provider's rates. The guide keep your main number explains how to use both lines side by side.
Public Wi-Fi: common, but use it with care
Wi-Fi is common in shopping centres, hotels and airports. It helps with large uploads, but not on taxi or metro journeys or on day trips.
As anywhere, avoid entering sensitive information on an open network: passwords, card details or work documents. Use your mobile data for those.
Useful apps for your trip
- Ride-hailing: in Dubai, apps such as Careem or Uber are useful for getting around; they need a connection during the journey.
- Public transport: public transport apps help you plan metro and bus journeys.
- Maps: a maps app such as Google Maps or Apple Maps helps you find your way, including on foot.
- Tickets and bookings: keep your attraction, flight and show tickets in an app or as screenshots.
Installing and activating your eSIM for the Emirates
You need a phone that supports eSIM and is unlocked: check with the guide is my phone eSIM compatible?.
- Choose from the plans for the United Arab Emirates: duration, data allowance, partner networks and hotspot use are shown on each plan's page. Prices include tax and are in US dollars.
- Before you leave, install the eSIM over Wi-Fi using the QR code or the installation link.
- When you land, turn on the Alizeoo line, set it as your mobile data line and turn on data roaming for that line.
- Turn off mobile data and roaming on your usual SIM to avoid charges, while keeping it for calls and texts.
The validity usually starts when you first connect in the country. Detailed guides: install an eSIM on iPhone and install an eSIM on Android. If you run into trouble: my eSIM has no signal.
How much data will you need?
Maps, ride-hailing apps and messaging use little. Sharing photos and videos, video calls where they are available, and streaming use a great deal more. For a business trip with a laptop, check that the plan allows hotspot use.
The estimator on the United Arab Emirates page gives you a rough figure based on how long you are staying and how you use your phone. If the Emirates are just one stop on your trip, the trip planner helps you cover every country.
Our tips before you go
- Check that your phone is compatible and unlocked.
- Install the eSIM at home, over Wi-Fi, and do not delete it.
- Look into the situation for internet calls if you plan to call through an app.
- Download offline maps for desert trips.
- Plan on one eSIM per phone: an eSIM only works on one device.
For a simple stopover, an eSIM installed before you leave gets you online as soon as you step off the plane. Check the plan's page for the duration on offer and when it starts.