The one place my phone regularly struggles for signal in Dubai is the lift.
That's about the only real complaint I have about my mobile network here. I use du, and before that I used Etisalat, which is now called e&. I've also used my Pakistani Jazz SIM on roaming. So if you're wondering which SIM card is best for Dubai, I have a fairly simple answer, and a few things I wish I'd known on my first trip in 2020.
This guide covers which network I recommend, what I noticed using each one, how much tourist SIM plans cost, whether roaming with a Pakistani SIM makes sense, and what you need to get a SIM when you land.
The Short Answer: Get du
If you want one recommendation, get du.
Honestly, in my experience there isn't a big difference between du and e& when it comes to everyday use. I've used both, and calls, messaging and internet worked fine on each.
The reason I recommend du is practical. Its branches are easy to find. When you need to recharge, change a package, or sort out a problem, there's usually a du shop nearby. For someone new to Dubai, that convenience matters more than small differences in speed.
If you already have an e& SIM, or e& has a better offer when you arrive, that's fine too. You won't regret either one.
How My SIM Story Started
On my first trip in 2020, I bought an Etisalat SIM at the airport.
I also kept my Pakistani Jazz SIM running on roaming. To be fair, it worked well. Calls connected and the signal was fine.
The problem was the internet. Roaming data on a Pakistani SIM is very expensive, and in Dubai you use data for almost everything: maps, ride apps, metro routes, restaurant searches and calling home. A local SIM is far cheaper for all of that.
Now that I live here, I use du as my main network.
du vs e& vs Virgin Mobile
The UAE has three main mobile networks you'll see as a visitor.
e& (formerly Etisalat) is the oldest and largest operator. Its visitor plans are called Visitor Line.
du is the second major operator. Its visitor plans are called Tourist plans, and it has shops all over the city.
Virgin Mobile runs on the du network and sells its plans mainly through its app and website, without the need for a shop visit.
Here's what I've noticed day to day.
In everyday use, I haven't found a big difference between du and e&. Both did the job for me.
Signal inside buildings is where you notice gaps. With du, my signal gets weak inside some buildings, and the lift is the worst spot. It's a small thing, but it's worth knowing if you're waiting on an important call.
I haven't used Virgin Mobile myself, so I can only share what its plans include, not how it performs.
Free Tourist SIM When You Land
This is something I didn't have on my first trip.
Both du and e& now offer a free tourist eSIM after you clear immigration at UAE airports. According to Gulf News, as of late 2025:
du offers 10GB of free data valid for 24 hours. You activate it yourself after immigration, and you can keep your home SIM in the phone at the same time.
e& offers an instant Visitor Line eSIM with 10GB of free data for one day, also self-activated after immigration.
For both, you need to be 18 or older with a valid UAE entry stamp or visa. du allows up to two SIMs per passport.
After the free data runs out, you choose a paid plan. That free first day is still useful, because it covers you from the airport to your hotel without hunting for Wi-Fi.
One thing to check before you fly: your phone must support eSIM for this to work. Most recent phones do, but older or budget models may not. If yours doesn't, you can still buy a physical SIM at the airport.
How Much Tourist SIM Plans Cost
Plans and prices change often, so treat these as a guide and check the operator's website before you buy. These are recently listed visitor plans.
du Tourist plans
| Plan | Data | Minutes | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | 4GB | 30 min | 28 days | AED 49 |
| Standard | 10GB | 60 min | 28 days | AED 99 |
| Plus | 15GB | 60 min | 28 days | AED 139 |
| Premium | 20GB | 60 min | 28 days | AED 189 |
e& Visitor Line plans
| Plan | Data | Minutes | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advance | 10GB | 60 min | 28 days | AED 94.28 + 5% VAT |
| Premium | 13GB | 120 min | 28 days | AED 119.04 + VAT |
| Unlimited Data | Unlimited | 100 min | 7 days | AED 190.46 + VAT |
Virgin Mobile tourist plans
| Plan | Data | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited 3-day | Unlimited | 3 days | AED 99 + VAT |
| 21GB weekly | 21GB (3GB/day) | 7 days | AED 142 |
| Unlimited 30-day | Unlimited | 30 days | AED 500 |
The minutes on these plans can usually be used for local and international calls. For most short trips, a mid-sized data plan is enough, because you'll be on hotel Wi-Fi at night.
Should You Use Roaming With a Pakistani SIM?
From my own experience, roaming works, but it's not worth it for data.
My Jazz SIM ran fine in Dubai. Calls and signal were okay. But using the internet on roaming costs far more than a local plan, and you'll be using data all day.
The best setup is to use both. Keep your Pakistani SIM in the phone for bank codes, OTP messages and important calls from home. Put a local du or e& SIM, or eSIM, in the second slot for data. Most phones now support two SIMs, or one SIM and one eSIM.
Just switch off data roaming on your Pakistani SIM so it doesn't use expensive data in the background.
What You Need to Get a SIM
Getting a SIM is quick if you carry the right documents.
For visitors, you need your passport and a valid UAE visa or entry stamp. You must be 18 or older.
For residents, the Emirates ID is used for registration and longer-term plans.
You can get a SIM at the airport, at du and e& shops in malls and busy areas, and at some supermarkets and convenience stores. Virgin Mobile lets you sign up through its app by scanning your passport and taking a selfie.
Calling Pakistan From Dubai
To call home, I use Botim. It's what I rely on for calls to Pakistan.
Internet calling apps in the UAE have their own rules, and not every app's calls work here. That's a topic big enough for its own guide, so I'll cover Botim and calling Pakistan from Dubai in a separate post.
For now, if you're only visiting for a few days, the international minutes included in most tourist plans can cover a few short calls home.
Simple Tips Before You Land
- Check if your phone supports eSIM. It decides whether you can use the free airport eSIM.
- Turn off data roaming on your home SIM before you board, so you don't come home to a big bill.
- Keep your home SIM active for OTPs and banking messages.
- Download offline maps of Dubai as a backup for your first hour.
- Keep a screenshot of your hotel address, in case your data isn't working straight away.
My Pick, in One Line
Get du, keep your home SIM for OTPs, and skip roaming data. That's the setup I'd use if I were landing in Dubai for the first time again.
Frequently asked questions
- du and e& are both reliable, and in my experience the difference in everyday use is small. I recommend du because its branches are easy to find when you need help or a recharge. Both offer free tourist eSIMs with data after you clear immigration at UAE airports.
- Yes. As of late 2025, both du and e& offer a free tourist eSIM after immigration at UAE airports, each with 10GB of data for about one day. You need to be 18 or older with a valid UAE entry stamp or visa, and your phone must support eSIM.
- For normal use, I haven't found a big difference between du and e&, which used to be called Etisalat. Both did the job for me. With du, I notice weaker signal inside some buildings, especially in lifts. du's easy-to-find branches are the main reason I recommend it.
- Yes, on roaming. My Jazz SIM worked fine for calls and signal in Dubai, but roaming data is very expensive. It's better to keep your Pakistani SIM for OTPs and calls, and use a local du or e& SIM or eSIM for internet.
- Visitors need a passport and a valid UAE visa or entry stamp, and must be 18 or older. Residents register with their Emirates ID. You can buy a SIM at the airport, in operator shops in malls, or online for eSIM plans.