eSIM and SIM cards in United Arab Emirates

Internet calling is restricted

This surprises almost every visitor. The UAE regulates voice over internet protocol, and the apps you use at home to call may not work.

• WhatsApp voice and video calls are commonly blocked, as are FaceTime audio, Skype and Facebook Messenger calls, depending on the network.
• Text messaging on those apps works normally. It is the calling that is restricted.
• Licensed alternatives exist, including Botim and C'Me, which the operators offer as paid add-ons.
• A VPN is a grey area. Using one is not itself illegal, using one to commit an offence carries heavy penalties, and this is not a country in which to test the boundary. Many hotel networks block them anyway.
• Plan around it. Tell people at home to expect text rather than a call.

Getting a SIM

• e& (formerly Etisalat) and du are the two networks, both excellent.
• Free tourist SIMs are handed out at Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports with a small amount of data and credit, as a way of signing you up. Take one, then top it up.
• Paid tourist packages run roughly AED 50 to AED 125 for one to four weeks with generous data.
• You must register with your passport, done at the counter in a couple of minutes.
• eSIM is supported by both networks and by Saily.

Coverage

• Complete across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the whole coastal strip, with fast 5G.
• Good on the highways and in the mountains around Hatta and Ras Al Khaimah.
• The deep desert is patchy, which matters if you are driving to Liwa or camping.
• Wifi is free and universal in malls, hotels and cafes.