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How to buy a Dubai SIM card in 2026: A traveler’s guide
Compare Dubai SIM card prices and plans from e&, du, and Virgin Mobile UAE in %%currentyear%%, plus airport options and what tourists need to buy one.
All you need for a Dubai SIM card is your passport and entry visa. e&, du, and Virgin Mobile UAE all sell tourist plans starting at AED 49 (~$13.35 USD), and you can pick one up at the airport or order it online. A Dubai local SIM card also gives you a UAE number for calls and texts and helps you avoid international roaming charges.
The right choice comes down to how long you’re staying and how much data you need. e& has the widest range of plan lengths, Virgin Mobile UAE leans on unlimited data, and Holafly’s eSIM for Dubai gives you unlimited data with no SIM to collect.
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Top SIM card providers in the UAE
The UAE SIM card names you’ll see most as a visitor are e& (formerly Etisalat), du, and Virgin Mobile UAE. All three sell a tourist SIM card UAE visitors can activate with a passport. Here’s how the SIM card price in UAE compares across the three:
| Provider | Price | Data allowance | Validity | Call minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| e& | AED 49-319 (~$13.35-86.86 USD) | 2 GB to unlimited | 10 to 28 days | 30 to 525 flexi minutes |
| du | AED 49-499 (~$13.35-135.88 USD) | 4 GB to unlimited | 7 to 28 days | 30 to 400 minutes |
| Virgin Mobile UAE | AED 100-300 (~$27.23-81.69 USD) | 3 GB per day to unlimited | 3 to 20 days | Up to 30 local and 20 international minutes, with most plans data-only |
Disclaimer: The data in this article is accurate as of November 4, 2026, and is subject to change.
1. e& (formerly Etisalat)
The e& Dubai SIM card for tourists is the Visitor Line, a prepaid line designed for visitors, and every plan comes with a new SIM included. You can buy it online and collect your SIM at the airport, so it also works as a Dubai airport SIM card. The Etisalat Dubai SIM card price ranges from AED 49 (~$13.35 USD) to AED 319 (~$86.86 USD), with 5% VAT included.
- 28-day plans: 2 GB to 22.5 GB of local data and 30 to 525 flexi minutes, AED 49-200 (~$13.35-54.46 USD)
- Unlimited plan: unlimited local data and 100 flexi minutes for 10 days, AED 319 (~$86.86 USD)
- Extras: Wi-Fi hours on the two Premium plans, and 20% off four Careem rides on every plan
2. du
du is another major telecom provider in the UAE, launched in 2007 as a competitor to e&. Its coverage extends outside of Dubai and across the UAE, including Fujairah and Hatta.
Just as with e&, du offers a free SIM card with 10 GB of data for 24 hours. Once the free validity period expires, you can buy a du Dubai prepaid SIM card plan online or in physical du stores. Prices range from AED 49 (~$13.35 USD) to AED 499 (~$135.88 USD), with data limits from 4 GB to unlimited data. Validity periods range from 7 to 28 days, and every plan comes with a local Dubai SIM card number for calls.
3. Virgin Mobile UAE
Virgin Mobile UAE’s Dubai SIM card plans for short visits last 3 to 20 days, and three of the four come as a Dubai SIM card unlimited data plan. You sign up with your passport and can activate an eSIM through facial recognition, or collect a physical SIM at Virgin Mobile stores in Dubai Airport Terminals 1, 2, and 3.
- 7-day plan: 3 GB per day plus 30 local and 20 international minutes and SMS, AED 150 (~$40.84 USD)
- Unlimited data plans: 3, 10, or 20 days, AED 100-300 (~$27.23-81.69 USD), data only with no call minutes
Dubai free SIM card
du offers a free tourist eSIM with 10 GB of data valid for 24 hours, which you activate by scanning a QR code. Here’s how the Dubai free SIM card works, including where to get it and what to do once the 24 hours are up.
Enjoy seamless connectivity at 5G speeds with Holafly’s eSIM for Dubai
In Dubai, your phone handles most of the trip, from hailing rides and checking metro times to finding your way between malls, beaches, and the old souks. Holafly keeps that connection steady with three options, each suited to a different kind of stay:
- Travel eSIMs: a Dubai tourist SIM for holidays and short business trips, with unlimited data from the minute you land and nothing to collect at the airport. The same eSIM stays on your phone for future trips.
- Holafly Plans: a pay-monthly subscription for regular travelers and newcomers settling into the UAE, covering 160+ destinations with the option to cancel anytime.
- Holafly Ultra: a monthly plan that pairs your data with privacy protection and real-life support, for travelers who want an extra layer of security on the road.
Whichever you choose, 24/7 support is a message away, and Always On: 1 GB of monthly backup data in 150+ destinations comes at no added cost, so you still have data after your plan ends.
Say goodbye to plastic SIMs
Our eSIMs can't be damaged, broken, or lost – they're the future for every type of traveler.
Traveling to other countries in the Middle East? Check out our other SIM card articles for the region:
FAQs about Dubai SIM card
The Dubai SIM card price for tourists starts at AED 49 (~$13.35 USD) with e& and du and goes up to AED 499 (~$135.88 USD). So, how much is a SIM card in Dubai for a week? Virgin Mobile UAE charges AED 150 (~$40.84 USD) for 7 days. Holafly’s eSIM for Dubai includes unlimited data, so there are no extra data packs to buy.
Yes. Visitors aged 18 or over can buy a prepaid SIM Dubai carriers sell, using a passport and entry visa. e& and Virgin Mobile UAE both sell at the airport, while du’s tourist eSIM activates with a QR code. A Holafly eSIM needs no passport check at all.
Yes. e& sells its Visitor Line at airport arrivals in Dubai, and Virgin Mobile UAE runs stores in Dubai Airport Terminals 1, 2, and 3. du also offers a free tourist eSIM valid for 24 hours. A Holafly eSIM is ready before your flight lands, so you can walk straight past the Dubai SIM card airport counters.
Not for calls. WhatsApp and FaceTime messages work in the UAE, but voice and video calls on these apps are restricted under rules set by the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA). Approved apps like BOTIM handle internet calls instead. Holafly’s eSIM for Dubai gives you unlimited data for messaging, maps, and approved calling apps.
When the free 24 hours end, add a prepaid plan to the same Dubai SIM, or switch to e&’s Visitor Line or a Virgin Mobile UAE tourist plan, which run 3 to 28 days. Holafly’s travel eSIM covers your stay with unlimited data and no recharges.
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A senior SEO writer from Lithuania, combining my passion for writing and travel at Holafly. With years of experience in technical fields, I'm here to answer all of your questions about staying connected. I specialize in turning even the most complicated topics into something everyone can understand.
