Discover the Best Dubai SIM Cards for Hassle-Free Tourist Travel

Are you planning on visiting Dubai? If yes, then you’ll probably need a Dubai tourist SIM card!

As well as being a rather Instagram-famous city, it’s almost always necessary to have internet when travelling these days. From retrieving travel booking details to ordering taxis and meals while you’re on the go, trust us; there’s an app for everything in Dubai!

Although you’ll get access to a Wi-Fi network in most places in Dubai, what if you’re on the go? That’s when you’ll need a travel SIM in Dubai to make calls, use social media, or use Maps to navigate the city or call a driver.

For your ease and convenience, we have put together everything you need to know about getting a SIM card in Dubai for tourists, as well as Dubai eSIM options you can arrange before your arrival.

You will find detailed information in this article, from the mobile network operators in Dubai to the best SIM card and even how to pre-order a Dubai SIM, so you’re ready to go.

1. Du SIM Card in Dubai for Tourists

The upside of getting a Du tourist SIM from the immigration counters at the Dubai airport is that you get it for free with 1GB of local data as a welcome bonus. As for the activation, you don’t need to go through extensive steps as the SIM is already activated using your passport information.

To start using the du SIM, you simply have to insert it into your mobile and verify your date of birth via a verification text. Once the verification is complete, you will get 1GB of local data for free, valid for 24 hours.

You can also purchase a Du SIM card from its franchise store across the city. If you just buy the SIM without any package, it will cost around AED 10; however, if you activate a bundle package (starting from AED 49), you’ll get the SIM for free. You’ll just need your passport to get started.

Presently, these are the best Tourist SIM options from Du:

• 2GB valid for 28 days with 30 flexi minutes – AED 49 ($13.35 USD)
• 6GB valid for 28 days with 30 flexi minutes, unlimited internet calls – AED 99 ($27 USD)
• 10GB valid for 28 days with 30 flexi minutes, unlimited internet calls – AED 139 ($37.85 USD)
• 20GB valid for 28 days with 30 flexi minutes, unlimited internet calls – AED 189 ($51.46 USD)
• Online special – unlimited data for 7 days + exclusive attraction discounts – AED 199 ($54.20)

Learn more about Du tourist SIMs and currently available packages here

Good To Know – presently all data plans from Du come with access to the ALSAADA App – you can download this for app (App Store / Google Play) for additional discounts during your stay in Dubai.

2. Etisalat Dubai Tourist SIM

Etisalat is the 18th largest mobile operator in the world and operates in more than 16 countries. Therefore, we can say that it is one of the best SIM cards for Dubai.

You can get an Etisalat SIM from the Dubai airport when you land. And while it does not offer free data, it has plenty of packages.

• If you’re only here for less than a day and you’re a light internet user – you can grab a FREE 1GB/24 hr validity Etislat eSim – yup, the same deal as Du, but it doesn’t seem to be openly advertised.
• The cheapest paid Visitor Line gives you 2GB of data + 30 flexi minutes, valid for 28 days for AED 49 ($13.30 USD).
• Visitor Line + gives you 4GB of data + 30 flexi minutes valid for 28 days for AED 79 ($21.50 USD)
• Visitor Line Premium gives you 8GB of data + 120 flexi minutes valid for 28 days for AED 125 ($34 USD)
• If you’re a heavy online user and caller, go with Visitor Line Premium + 22.5GB of data + 525 flexi minutes valid for 28 days for AED 200 ($54.50 USD), or
• Unlimited 7 Days – includes 100 flexi minutes for 200 AED ($54.50 USD)

Simialr to Du, Etisilat offers access to local rewards progrma ‘Smiles‘

Learn more about Etisalat tourist SIMs here

Its important to note that Visitor Line packages are valid until your visa; therefore, if you plan on staying in Dubai for good, you can switch to Etisalat’s other pre-paid and post-paid packages.

3. Virgin Mobile Travel SIM in Dubai

Virgin Mobile is a newer mobile operator in UAE by the Virgin Mobile brand (though it is a fully owned subsidiary of Du and uses the same network). It offers special tourist SIM cards with different packages to people visiting Dubai for business or vacations.

You can get the SIM from the airport as soon as you land; however, the tourist SIM is for one-time use. This means you can use it for as long as your package lasts and won’t be able to renew it.

Virgin Mobile offers four packages for its Dubai tourist SIM:

• A 7-day package costs AED 150 with 21GB of data (capped at 3GB per day)
• A 10-day package costs AED 200 with 40GB of data (capped at 4GB per day)
• A 7-day package costs AED 200 with unlimited data
• A 15-day package costs AED 300 with unlimited data
• A 30-day package costs AED 500 with unlimited data

SIMs Sold by Third-Party Companies

If you see online tour operators selling you a SIM card, it will be based on services provided by one of the above three networks.

All should have reliable coverage in metropolitan areas. Beyond that, in the mountains and the desert, it’s time to switch off and get yourself an offline map, as the network will be patchy or non-existent no matter whose network you use (they are all ultimately government-owned and share much of their infrastructure).

Airalo eSim

We are an affiliate of Airalo and earn a commission on any activated eSim plans.

As international travellers, we’ve become big fans of using Airalo eSIMs whenever possible. The eSIM they sell for the UAE is marketed as “Burj Mobile” (digging beneath the cover, we believe it runs on the Etisalat network, so you shouldn’t encounter any connectivity issues)

There are currently six different Burj Mobile packages

• 1GB valid for 7 Days for $4.50 USD (AED 16.53 )
• 2GB Valid for 15 days for $7.00 USD (AED 25.71)
• 3GB valid for 30 days for $9.50USD (AED 34.90)
• 5GB valid for 30 days for $13.00 USD (AED 47.74)
• 10GB valid for 30 days $21.00 USD (AED 77.12)
• 20GB valid for 30 days $35.00 USD (AED 128.53)

These have dramatically reduced in price since they were first released.

NB these are all for data only; if you think you’ll need to make phone calls too, you’re better waiting until arrival and getting a local Dubai SIM with a phone number attached!

Using Airalo is super easy. Once you purchase online, you’ll need to press activate and change any existing eSIMs on your phone to the new eSIM. The clock starts ticking as soon as you land and connect to the UAE network. (Note that in the UAE’s infinite wisdom when it comes to blocking tech, you may not be able to reach the Airalo site from the UAE, so do activate before you arrive ready).

If you are travelling more widely around the Middle East and just popping into Dubai briefly, you may also want to look at Airalo’s Middle East option, Menalink, with packages as follows:

• 1GB valid for 7 Days for $15 USD
• 2GB valid for 15 days for $28 USD
• 3GB valid for 30 days for $39 USD

KitMyTrip – Via GetYourGuide

Popular online tour provider Get Your Guide partners with KitMyTrip to deliver several incredible value tourist bundles to consider – they take all the guesswork of how to sign up for a network; you really have to decide how data-hungry you are!

You’ll need to find their kiosks in arrivals at DXB Terminals 1 and 3 to get your data set up (NB not for arrivals in DXB Terminal 2, DWC airport or AUH airport in Abu Dhabi).

• Their SIM card-only package lets you choose from 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, 22.5GB and unlimited over 7 or 14 days – starting from $15 USD – check it out here
• Another option they offer is to combine your SIM with a NOL card for public transport and entry to IMG Worlds of Adventure Theme Park – check it out here
• Pocket Wifi Rental – If you’ve got multiple devices, this one could be your solution; rent a mobile hotspot and return it after your trip – suitable for 4 to 10 days, or add extra days on – check it out here

Do read the fine print if pre-packaged SIM bundles will work for you, only 1 per passport and users must be over 18, so you can’t hand one out to each of the kids. In this instance, families should consider pocket wifi options.