Does it work on the Dubai Metro and out in the desert?

The Metro has strong coverage across all lines, and central Dubai is blanketed by e& and du. On desert safaris toward Al Marmoom and the deeper dunes, signal thins the further out you go, so download your route beforehand.

How much data do I need for a few days in Dubai?

For maps, ride-hailing and social sharing, most short visitors are comfortable on 1-3GB. If you plan to stream, video-call home or hotspot a laptop from your hotel room, a larger allowance is the safer choice.

Dubai eSIM.

Name: Dubai travel eSIM
Brand: My Holiday SIM

Stay connected from the Burj Khalifa's summit to the Dubai Marina waterfront and desert dunes.

from $5.18/day · unlimited dataAll of United Arab Emirates →

Unlimited data5G where availableInstant QR by emailKeep your number

1 · How many days?

10 daysOther:days

2 · How much data?

3GBBest pricevalid 30 days$9.87$0.99/day

Cheapest plan covering your trip: 3GB, valid 30 days.

Travellers (one eSIM each)

1 × 3GB (valid 30 days) · 10-day trip$9.87

Good to know in Dubai

Dubai's Metro is fast and cheap, but stations often sit far from the actual attractions, so keep data on to hail a Careem or Uber for the last leg, especially in summer when walking outdoors is brutal.

Two simple ways to buy

Dubai eSIM plans: unlimited, or by the GB.

Every Dubai eSIM from My Holiday SIM is one of two straightforward types. Pick whichever fits how you travel in Dubai — you can always top up or switch on your next trip.

Traveller streaming and browsing freely on an unlimited-data travel eSIM

Unlimited plans

High-speed data, nothing to count

Priced per day — the longer you stay, the better the daily rate. Ideal for streaming, hotspot and longer trips where you'd rather not watch a data meter. A fair-use policy keeps speeds fast for everyone; see each plan for the detail.

Best for streaming, video calls & hotspot
Great for longer or open-ended trips
One price per day — no GB anxiety

By-the-GB plans

3GB10GB20GB

A set bundle, brilliant value

A fixed data allowance (say 3 GB or 10 GB) valid for your travel days. The best-value pick for lighter trips built around maps, messaging and a bit of browsing. Running low? Top up in a couple of taps — nothing to reinstall.

Best value for lighter, shorter trips
Clear allowance — pay only for what you need
Top up any time from your phone

Compare plans →Not every destination has both types — the picker shows what's available where you're headed.

Plan your data

How much data do you need in Dubai?

A rough, honest guide to sizing your Dubai eSIM so you're not guessing. Most travellers in Dubai are comfortable on 3–5 GB a week — heavy streamers just go Unlimited.

Traveller checking maps and messages on her phone using a My Holiday SIM eSIM

Not sure? Start with a 5 GB plan — you can top up in seconds if you run low.

Light

~1 GB / week

Maps, messaging & email

Google Maps, WhatsApp, email and the odd search. Plenty for a city break where you mostly need directions.

Suits 1–3 GB plans

Balanced

3–5 GB / week

Everyday holiday use

Everything above plus social scrolling, music, cloud photo backups and a little video. Where most travellers land.

Suits 5–10 GB plans

Dubai eSIM: your local data guide.

From queuing for the At the Top observation deck to hailing a Careem across Downtown or navigating the sprawling Dubai Mall, you lean on data constantly here. A Dubai eSIM keeps your maps, ride-hailing and restaurant bookings live the moment you land, whether you are heading to Jumeirah Beach or catching an abra across the Creek.

One eSIM for Dubai and all of United Arab Emirates. It's the national United Arab Emirates eSIM — from $5.18/day with unlimited data, working the same in Dubai as it does the moment you leave it.

Landing at Dubai International Airport (DXB)?

Install the QR at home, then switch the eSIM on as you taxi in — you're online before you reach the arrivals hall.

Dubai eSIM pricingbest-value plan · per day

Days

Per day

Total

Saving

3 days1GB

$1.67

$5.00

—

5 days1GB

$5.00

−40%

7 days1GB

$0.71

$5.00

−57%

10 days3GBPopular

$0.99

$9.87

−41%

15 days3GB

$0.66

$9.87

−60%

30 days3GB

$0.33

$9.87

−80%

Each trip length shows the best-value plan that covers it. Total always shown before you pay.

eSIM vs the old ways in Dubai

eSIM

ROAMING

AIRPORT SIM

Data allowance

Unlimited

Usually capped

Rarely unlimited

Price known upfront

Prepaid

Billed after

Varies at the desk

Ready when you land

Instantly

After the queue

Keep WhatsApp number

SIM swapped

Dubai eSIM from $5.18/day — the whole bill, agreed before you fly.

On the ground

Where you'll lean on data in Dubai.

Downtown Dubai

Book your At the Top time slot and pull up Dubai Fountain show times while the Burj Khalifa towers overhead.

Dubai Marina & JBR

Order a Careem to the marina, share your live location with friends and post yacht-deck photos straight from The Walk.

Deira & the Creek

Lean on offline-ready maps and Google Translate to haggle through the Gold and Spice Souks and time your abra crossing.

Palm Jumeirah

Pull up your Atlantis Aquaventure booking and monorail times without hunting for hotel Wi-Fi out on the fronds.

The practical bit

Getting around Dubai on your eSIM.

Apps you'll want online in Dubai

Careem— The UAE's own ride-hailing super-app; live driver tracking and fares rely on data.
RTA Dubai— Plans Metro, tram and bus journeys and tops up your nol card online.
Uber— Reliable alternative for airport runs; live tracking and in-app payment need a connection.
Google Maps— Live traffic and walking routes around Downtown, the Marina and the giant malls.

How long to stay in Dubai

Most visitors stay three to five days, enough for Downtown and the Burj Khalifa, a Marina evening, an old-town abra ride and a desert safari.

How much data for Dubai

For a typical Dubai break, 3-5 GB comfortably covers Careem trips, live maps, restaurant bookings and social posts; choose Unlimited if you plan to stream, hotspot a laptop or share endless desert-safari videos.

Coverage in Dubai

e& and du give strong 5G across Downtown, the Marina, both airports and along the Metro line; signal only really dips deep inside some Metro tunnels, remote desert-safari dunes and a few basement car parks.

Where you're headed

Discover Dubai.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates — skyline and landmarks · stay connected with a Dubai eSIM from My Holiday SIM

Dubai, United Arab Emirates — streets and everyday scenes · stay connected with a Dubai eSIM from My Holiday SIM

Dubai, United Arab Emirates — sights worth exploring · stay connected with a Dubai eSIM from My Holiday SIM

Dubai, United Arab Emirates — a travel moment · stay connected with a Dubai eSIM from My Holiday SIM

How to activate your Dubai eSIM.

Full installation guide →

A traveller happily planning her next trip with a map and phone

Buy your plan

Choose your days — the QR code arrives by email in seconds.

A traveller installing her eSIM from the sofa in two minutes

Install at home

Scan the QR on Wi-Fi before you fly. About two minutes, no app needed.

Friends laughing together while packing for a holiday

Fly relaxed

Nothing counts down yet — your days start only at first connection.

A joyful family reunion at the airport arrivals hall

Switch on in Dubai

Turn the line on when you land. Connected before baggage claim.

New to eSIM in Dubai?

What is a Dubai eSIM?

A Dubai eSIM is a digital SIM that's already built into your phone. Scan one QR code and a local Dubai data plan installs alongside your home SIM — no plastic, no tray tool, no swap. Your number and WhatsApp stay exactly where they are.

✓ 2-minute install✓ Keep your number✓ Works on phones from 2018+

How eSIM works →Check my phone

A traveller with a backpack smiling at her phone — online abroad with My Holiday SIM

Connected · 5G

Home SIM · calls & WhatsAppHoliday eSIM · unlimited data

30-day refund promiseUnused, uninstalled eSIM? Full refund, no questions.

The price is the billPrepaid and final — roaming charges can't happen.

Days start when you landInstall early with zero pressure; counting begins at first connection.

Humans, 24/7Real people answer, before, during and after the trip.

Peace of mind

Your Dubai eSIM: data-only, zero bill shock.

Your Dubai eSIM handles the internet while you travel. Your home number stays exactly where it is — no surprise roaming charges in Dubai, no swapping your real SIM out.

Keep your number & WhatsApp

The eSIM is data-only and runs alongside your home SIM. Your number, iMessage and WhatsApp keep working exactly as they do at home.

No roaming bills, ever

Turn data roaming OFF on your home SIM and ON for the eSIM. You pay once, up front — no overage, no metered surprises, no bill waiting when you land home.

One thing worth knowing

Because it's data-only, the eSIM can't receive bank verification (OTP) text codes — those still go to your home number. Keep it reachable on Wi-Fi calling, or use app-based codes.

Traveller relaxed and connected on her phone, no roaming bill to worry about

Why travellers choose My Holiday SIM for Dubai.

Instant eSIM deliveryQR code in your inbox seconds after checkout — even at the departure gate.

No physical SIMNothing to collect, lose or poke out with a paperclip. Your home SIM stays put.

Keep your WhatsApp numberData flows through us; WhatsApp stays on your home number. Family always reaches you.

A traveller at the departure gate, eSIM ready on her phone

eSIM ready in ~2 minutes

No bill shock, everOne clear price before you fly. Roaming charges simply can't happen.

Secure paymentsCards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal and Klarna — encrypted end to end.

Real human supportReal people — before, during and after your trip. Live chat and email, no bots. Easy top-ups too.

Coverage in United Arab Emirates.

5G where available, fast 4G everywhere else

Connected · 5G

Your eSIM joins United Arab Emirates's partner networks automatically — no settings to choose, no manual network hunting. If signal drops in a remote spot, toggling Airplane Mode for a few seconds forces a fresh connection.

e& (Etisalat)
du

Popular places covered

DubaiAbu DhabiSharjahRas Al Khaimah

Keep data roaming ON for the eSIM line only — that's the switch travel eSIMs use, and it never adds charges on our plans.

Trusted networks, honest numbers.

No invented star ratings behind your Dubai eSIM — just the numbers we actually stand behind.

Friendly globe with location pins — coverage on every continent

My Holiday SIMSTAY CONNECTED. ANYWHERE.

200+

destinations — every continent covered

regions covered by a single regional eSIM

~2 min

typical install — QR to connected

Live

chat & email support

Before you fly

Dubai eSIM questions, answered.

Yes. Install and activate before you fly, then your phone connects to e& or du automatically as you step off the plane at Dubai International. You will have data through immigration, baggage reclaim and the taxi queue without touching airport Wi-Fi.

More on the United Arab Emirates eSIM →

Your Dubai eSIM glossary.

eSIMA SIM built into your phone's hardware. Plans install onto it digitally — no plastic card involved.

QR profileThe code we email you. Scanning it downloads your holiday plan onto the eSIM. One scan per device.

Data roaming (the switch)The toggle travel eSIMs use to join partner networks abroad. On our plans it never adds charges — keep it ON for the eSIM, OFF for your home SIM.

Hotspot / tetheringSharing your phone's data with laptops and tablets. Included on our plans wherever networks allow.

Top-upExtra days added to a live plan from your account. They append to the end — nothing overlaps.

First connectionThe moment your eSIM first joins a network at the destination — that's when your days start counting, not before.

Travelling wider in United Arab Emirates?