eSIM for UAE
Buy a prepaid travel eSIM for the UAE and pay in cryptocurrency. You get local 4G/5G data on partner networks without a contract or a local address. No documents, no account and no email: you pay in crypto and the QR code appears on the page.
Part of our Middle East plan.
Buying an eSIM for UAE
- Pick a plan that covers the UAE — a single-country plan is cheapest per gigabyte, a regional plan pays off the moment you cross a border.
- Pay with USDT, BTC, ETH, SOL, TON or XMR. No email address, no account, no card.
- Scan the QR that appears on the page. Do this at home over Wi-Fi rather than on airport Wi-Fi after landing.
- On arrival, set the eSIM as your data line and turn data roaming ON for it. This is the single most common reason a correctly installed profile shows no data in the UAE.
Coverage and network quality in the UAE
Excellent 5G across Dubai and Abu Dhabi — among the fastest networks anywhere.
Mobile data in the UAE: fast networks, restricted calls
The UAE has two operators, e& (formerly Etisalat) and du. Both are fast and cover Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah thoroughly, including the Dubai Metro. Coverage thins on long desert drives and up in the Hatta mountains.
The thing to know before you fly: calling over the internet is restricted on UAE networks. WhatsApp and FaceTime messages work, but voice and video calls often don't connect. Plan important calls accordingly.
We don't sell a UAE phone number. If you need a +971 number specifically, the honest route is a tourist SIM from e& or du with your passport. For data, an eSIM gets you online from the moment you land at DXB, without the counter.
Careem and Uber both work in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and both need data from the moment you leave the terminal.
Mobile data in the UAE is among the most expensive in our catalog. Many visitors only pass through on a stopover, and for that a small plan is plenty.
Which plan to pick for the UAE
- Stopover or a few days in Dubai: 1 GB for 7 days.
- A week or more: 3 to 10 GB, or unlimited for 7 or 15 days.
- UAE plus Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt or Turkey: the Middle East plan.
Read next: eSIM with a number for Dubai · Middle East plan
UAE eSIM plans and prices
| Data and validity | Price | Price per GB |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GB · 7 days | $7.00 | $7.00 |
| 5 GB · 15 days | $26.84 | $5.37 |
| 10 GB · 30 days | $53.68 | $5.37 |
| Unlimited · 7 days | $95.94 | — |
The UAE is also covered by these plans: Middle East, World, World Lite.
eSIM vs roaming vs a local SIM in the UAE
- Roaming on your home plan is the expensive default — typically $10–15 a day, billed per day whether you use it or not.
- A local prepaid SIM is cheap but costs you an hour on arrival, usually an ID, and a phone number you will not keep. In UAE, that trade only makes sense on a long stay.
- A travel eSIM sits in between: local-network speeds, no shop visit, no paperwork, and your own number stays live on your physical SIM for calls and SMS.
Compatible devices
Check your phone: dial *#06# and look for an EID. Model by model: the compatibility page.
Practical notes for UAE
VoIP calling over local networks is restricted in the UAE. This is a network-level restriction, not something any SIM changes; travellers routinely pair a data eSIM with a VPN.
Related
- All destinations
- No-KYC eSIM: the complete guide
- How it works
- Check your phone supports eSIM
- Pay with Bitcoin
- Pay with USDT
Frequently asked questions
Can I make WhatsApp calls with the eSIM in Dubai?
Messages work. Calls are restricted on UAE networks and may not connect reliably, so don't count on them for anything urgent.
Do you sell a UAE number?
No, and we'd be wary of anyone offering a +971 number with no questions asked.
Do I need ID?
No. You pay in crypto and get the QR code on the page.