Best SIM Cards in the United Arab Emirates: 2023 Buying Guide

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) – mostly known for the insane skyscrapers in Dubai, Dubai International Airport & Emirates- and Etihad Airlines.

When you think of the United Arab Emirates, you may think of the Burj Khalifa, The World Islands in Dubai, or elegant malls

But what about the less extravagant things, like the many deserts full of exciting attractions (and full of sand, of course).

You would almost forget the United Arab Emirates has many deserts when you mostly see pictures of Dubai.

So, what to do in this country?

If you love to shop, The Dubai Mall is for you.

Lose seeing beautiful mosques? Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque will take your breath away.

Into art? The Alserkal Avenue has a bunch of modern art galleries.

In short, being bored while in the United Arab Emirates should be illegal.

Before you decide to make your friends on social media jealous, be aware that international roaming can be expensive.

You are better off buying local SIM cards to enjoy local rates, even in the United Arab Emirates – not a place known for being affordable.

But how expensive are SIM cards in this country?

You can get an Emirati SIM card for as low as 55 AED (14.95 USD) up to 99 AED (26.95 USD) in mobile operator stores (Etisalat – also for Swyp, Du & Virgin Mobile) or authorized dealers. SIM cards are also available at Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah airports.

15 USD for a SIM card? That is certainly not cheap.

As I said, this is not a cheap country. But international roaming rates here? They are criminal.

But, you will be visiting a country that has the fastest mobile download speeds globally.

So is it worth the price? Probably. But we will have to see, huh?

In this guide, I will go over everything you need to know about buying a SIM card in the United Arab Emirates. Let's do this.

Original publication: 25th of December 2019. Last updated: 25th of September 2023.

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Table of Contents

Can You Buy a SIM Card in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)?

Anyone 18 years old or older living in or visiting the United Arab Emirates can buy an Emirati SIM card from the mobile network operators (Etisalat, Du, Swyp & Virgin Mobile) in their stores or from authorized resellers.

You do have to comply with the SIM card registration regulations.

Moreover, you need a phone that supports the frequencies used in the country (preferably all of them to have the most optimal experience while in the United Arab Emirates).

Furthermore, you need to have a SIM-lock-free device.

Where Can You Buy a SIM Card in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)?

You can get an Emirati SIM card in Etisalat (also for Swyp), Du & Virgin Mobile stores. It is also possible to get SIM cards at select international airports, including Dubai International Airport.

You can buy a SIM card in the following international airports:

• Abu Dhabi – Abu Dhabi International Airport (مطار أبوظبي الدولي)
• Dubai – Dubai International Airport (مطار دبي الدولي/Maṭār Dubayy al-Duwalī)
• Sharjah – Sharjah International Airport (مطار الشارقة)

You can expect to pay the following for Emirati SIM cards:

• Etisalat UAE: 55 AED (57.75 AED with VAT)
• Du: 55 AED (57.75 AED with VAT)
• Swyp UAE: 99 AED (103.95 AED with VAT)
• Virgin Mobile UAE: free, but plan required (minimum of 36.75 AED witv VAT)

The following operators also have SIM cards targeting tourists:

• Etisalat UAE: 49 AED, 79 AED, 125 AED & 200 AED
• Du: 55 AED, 75 AED & 110 AED

For up-to-date AED:your currency (let's say USD) exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.

Can You Use Your Phone in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)?

The United Arab Emirates use GSM technology for mobile communications. CDMA phones will not work in the United Arab Emirates. If your phone has a SIM card slot, then it supports GSMA (99% of the phones do support GSM nowadays).

Traditional European frequencies are used in the United Arab Emirates, which are mostly used in ITU Regions 1 & 3 (Africa, Asia (including the Middle East), Europe & Oceania).

The Americas (North-, Central– & South America + the Caribbean – ITU Region 2) use American Frequencies, which differ from the European ones.

If you bought your phone in Africa, Asia, Europe, or Oceania (ITU Regions 1 & 3), you should not experience any issues with using your phone in the United Arab Emirates.

If you purchased your phone in the Americas (ITU Region 2) and have a low/medium-end device (without Tri-Band or Quad-Band) support, then there is a possibility you cannot use your phone when in the United Arab Emirates or can only use slower networks (3G or 2G).

If you have a medium/high-end device with Tri-Band or Quad-Band support, you can use your phone in the United Arab Emirates (to some extent) – also on 4G/LTE and 5G NR.

Mobile Operators, Networks & Frequencies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

The United Arab Emirates have two mobile network operators (Main Operators) and two Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) offering prepaid services easily accessible to travelers:

• Etisalat UAE
• Du
• Swyp UAE (Etisalat UAE MVNO for the youth)
• Virgin Mobile UAE (Du MVNO)

The following frequencies are used in the United Arab Emirates:

• 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
• 3G: 2100 MHz
• 4G/LTE: 800 MHz (Band 20), 1800 MHz (Band 3), 2100 MHz (Band 1) & 2600 MHz (Band 7) & 3500 MHz (Band 42)
• 5G NR: 3500 MHz (n78)

You can learn more about frequencies in the video below.

To check whether your phone will work in the United Arab Emirates, check out this page by Kimovil or this one by Will My Phone Work (outdated, unfortunately, but extremely user-friendly – useful for phones launched in or before 2019. It does not check for 5G NR compatibility).

Again, make sure your phone is unlocked. Otherwise, you will not be able to use any SIM card except the one from your home operator (meaning you have to roam internationally or buy another unlocked phone that does support the frequencies listed above).

If you want to learn how international roaming works, this guide explains it in-depth. If you wonder why it is often so expensive to roam, this article explains the hidden reason they do not want you to know.

5G NR in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Commercial 5G NR has been available in the United Arab Emirates since 2019. It was available to all types of customers, including prepaid users.

Although 5G NR is still mostly concentrated in populated areas (like Abu Dhabi and Dubai), it is still being actively rolled out.

Best SIM Card in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Best eSIM in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Unfortunately, none of the mobile operators offer eSIM to prepaid customers in United Arab Emirates yet.

Note that the Emirati mobile operators require your identification (passport) for (future) eSIMs and physical SIM cards (will be discussed later).

However, you can also get a travel eSIM from various eSIM providers.

The list below is not exhaustive – many more providers have eSIMs for United Arab Emirates.

But these are the ones I have tried and had pleasant experiences with.

Moreover, they are reasonably priced, which I find very important (you will not see me recommending an eSIM I would not buy myself).

So here are the six best eSIMs for United Arab Emirates:

• Airalo United Arab Emirates Burj Mobile eSIM with three choices between 1 GB and 5 GB (top pick)
• Airalo Menalink eSIM with three choices between 1 GB and 3 GB
• Holafly United Arab Emirates eSIM with unlimited data for 5 to 20 days – use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for 5% off)
• Nomad United Arab Emirates eSIM with four choices between 1 GB and 10 GB – use code ADU123 for 3 USD off)
• Airalo Discover(+) eSIM (formerly Discover Global) with 12 choices between 1 GB and 20 GB (extensive global coverage (130+ countries) at attractive prices) + ability to make and receive calls & send and receive SMS (new) – read my ongoing Airalo Discover(+) (Global) eSIM review too!
• AIS eSIM2FLY Global eSIM through SimOptions with 5G NR access in United Arab Emirates with one 6 GB option (eSIM with the most 5G NR supported countries (53/143) at a reasonable price but with a short validity)
• Nomad International eSIM with three choices between 1 GB and 5 GB
• Nomad Global eSIM with six choices between 1 GB and 5 GB (extensive global coverage (109 or 139 countries) at high(er) prices – use code ADU123 for 3 USD off)

Because this is the SIM card buying guide for United Arab Emirates, I will not spend too much time about travel eSIMs here and throughout this guide (but I will still do here and there).

If you want to learn more about the best eSIMs for United Arab Emirates, you better check out my United-arab-emirates eSIM buying guide.

It is as helpful and comprehensive as this guide but about eSIMs instead 😜.

SIM Card Registration in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

SIM card registration, with the use of your passport information, is mandatory in the United Arab Emirates. This will be done at the point of purchase.

As of 2016, biometrics (fingerprints) will also be taken as part of the SIM card registration process.

VAT in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

As of January 2018, the Emirati government introduced a Value Added Tax (VAT) of 5% applicable to most goods and services in the United Arab Emirates.

The 5% VAT will be charged when using your prepaid credit to buy a package or plan.

This means that you will not be taxed 5% when reloading your SIM card or that the reload amounts have increased by 5% (like in Saudi Arabia).

Instead, the 5% VAT will be charged when buying a SIM card or buying a plan.

The prices listed below will mention whether the advertised price is tax inclusive or not.

Internet Censorship in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

There is internet censorship in the United Arab Emirates. The government censors various things, such as LGBTQ content, pornography, political criticism, and escort services.

Other inaccessible sites are Israeli domains (.il).

However, unlike other countries in the region, internet censorship is not as strong in the United Arab Emirates.

Usually, I would recommend using a VPN when a government censors the internet.

However, a change to the Cybercrime Law in 2016 states that […] Whoever uses a fraudulent computer network protocol address (IP address) by using a false address or a third-party address by any other means for the purpose of committing a crime or preventing its discovery, shall be punished by temporary imprisonment and a fine of no less than 500 000 AED and not exceeding 2 000 000 AED, or either of these two penalties,

In short, this makes the use of VPN services de facto illegal.

However, VPN use for corporate use is still allowed (to access internal networks, for example).

Moreover, the government will have a hard time tracking individuals using VPNs (especially those with camouflage protocols, such as NordVPN and Surfshark).

Because of this, I will not advocate for VPN usage in the United Arab Emirates just to access blocked websites or avoid surveillance.

However, I always recommend travelers to use a VPN when connecting to (open) WIFI hotspots or access geo-blocked content, like Netflix. You can check the VPNs I recommend for the purposes stated above on this page.

And certainly not to access blocked websites deemed immoral by the government *wink* *wink*.

VoIP Ban in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

VoIP services have mostly been banned in the United Arab Emirates.

Examples of VoIP services are WhatsApp calls, Facebook Messenger calls, or Snapchat calls.

One of the most cited reasons why VoIP has been banned in the Kingdom is that it would result in loss of (international) call and text revenues for Etisalat and Du (which are both partially state-owned – 40% stake in both operators).

As of now, only four apps offering VoIP can be used while in the United Arab Emirates, which are BOTIM, C'Me, VoiCo (by Du), and HIU Messenger.

If you intend to call with the four apps, you do have to purchase Internet Calling packages (up to 52.50 AED for monthly access).

Or you can use a VPN and use whatever app you want (and not be spied on).

United Arab Emirates (UAE) Mobile Speeds, Mobile Internet Prices & Insights

Currency in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

The United Arab Emirates use the United Arab Emirates Dirham with the symbol AED (which will be used throughout this guide).

However, prices are often listed in د.إ For example, 25 AED = 25 د.إ .

For reference, below are some exchange rates between AED and USD (US Dollars):

• 1 AED = 0.25 USD
• 10 AED = 2.70 USD
• 100 AED = 27.25 USD
• 1000 AED = 272.25 USD

For up-to-date AED:your currency (let's say USD) exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.

Emirati Prepaid SIM Cards

Below, I will guide you through Etisalat UAE, Du, Swyp & Virgin Mobile UAE, and go through:

• Background information
• Mobile coverage
• SIM card types, prices, and availability
• Recharge/top-up information
• Combo plans, data plans, and special packs (such as social media packs) 

With that being said, let’s see what the United Arab Emirates have to offer to us.

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Etisalat UAE

Etisalat UAE, just Etisalat, is the largest mobile operator in the United Arab Emirates. It also won the prestigious award for having the world's fastest mobile network of 2020.

It is also the best mobile operator in all aspects in the United Arab Emirates.

Etisalat, as a company, is active in Africa, Asia & the Middle East.

Etisalat uses the following frequencies:

• 2G: 900 MHz
• 3G: 2100 MHz
• 4G/LTE: 800 MHz (Band 20), 1800 MHz (Band 3), 2600 MHz (Band 7) & 3500 MHz (Band 42)
• 5G NR: 3500 MHz (n78)

This is what you will learn about Etisalat:

* Coverage
* How to Get an Etisalat SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings

Coverage – Etisalat UAE

Etisalat has the best coverage in the United Arab Emirates.

Basically, all of the populated areas are covered by Etisalat. You may, however, have to deal with 2G or 3G in deserts.

Below is Etisalat's coverage map produced by Speedtest:

However, click here to see Etisalat's official coverage map.

SIM Card Price – Etisalat UAE

You can buy an Etisalat SIM card, called Wasel Prepaid Line, for 55 AED (57.75 AED with VAT) with 1 GB with the first recharge (valid for 7 days) in Etisalat stores and from authorized resellers. It is also possible to get Etisalat SIM cards at Abu Dhabi International Airport, Dubai International Airport & Sharjah International Airport.

Short-term travelers can also take advantage of the Etisalat Visitor Line – Etisalat's tourist SIM card.

They come in four variants, which are shown below:

Price (with VAT)	Plan	Data	Flexi Minutes	UAE WIFI Hours	Careem Credit	Validity
49 AED	Visitor Line	2 GB	30 minutes	N/A	100 AED	28 days
79 AED	Visitor Line +	4 GB	30 minutes	N/A	100 AED	28 days
125 AED	Visitor Line Premium	6 GB	120 minutes	5 hours	100 AED	28 days
200 AED	Visitor Line Premium +	22.5 GB	525 minutes	30 hours	100 AED	28 days

Be aware that tourists and travelers will most likely only get Visitor Lines when getting an Etisalat SIM card, not a Wasel Prepaid Line SIM card.

Etisalat employees are often strict with this policy.

Moreover, the validity of your Visitor Line SIM card is tied to the validity of your visa, which could mean a shorter validity than advertised.

Migrant workers, who often read this guide, do not have to worry about the aforementioned policy – you can simply get a regular Etisalat SIM card and take advantage of many of the plans mentioned later.

Dial *101# to access the Etisalat menu.

It is also possible to get an Etisalat eSIM for the same price as a regular SIM card.

To use an Etisalat eSIM, you need to have one of the following devices:

• iPhone XS/XS Max/XR

Note that the Emirati mobile operators require your identification (passport) for eSIMs and physical SIM cards.

Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for United Arab Emirates without personal detail capturing, you can get the United Arab Emirates (Burj Mobile) eSIM from Airalo.

You have these three options:

1. United Arab Emirates/Burj Mobile 1 GB eSIM for 7 days – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
2. United Arab Emirates/Burj Mobile 3 GB eSIM for 30 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
3. United Arab Emirates/Burj Mobile 5 GB eSIM for 30 days

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in September based on data up to the 7^th of September (2023 data only).

Finally, you can get United Arab Emirates eSIMs from Holafly:

1. Unlimited eSIM for 5 days – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
2. Unlimited eSIM for 7 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
3. Unlimited eSIM for 10 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
4. Unlimited eSIM for 15 days
5. Unlimited eSIM for 20 days

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in September based on data up to the 7^th of September (2023 data only).

Use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for exclusive deals when getting Holafly eSIMs, AND get an additional 5% off!

Airalo recently introduced an eSIM for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA): Menalink. The Menalink eSIM follows the popular Eurolink eSIM for 39 European countries, the fairly new Asialink eSIM for 13 Asian countries & the super new Latamlink eSIM for 19 Latin American countries.

The Menalink eSIM comes in three variants: 1 GB/7 days – very popular with PTW readers, 2 GB/15 days – very popular with PTW readers & 3 GB/30 days – most popular with PTW readers, to be used in United Arab Emirates and 14 other Middle Eastern and Northern African countries:

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in September based on data up to the 7^th of September (2023 data only).

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Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Etisalat UAE

Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Etisalat UAE

Etisalat has eleven data-featured prepaid plans:

• Wasel Flex Exclusive Addons (combo)
• WaselGo (combo)
• Prepaid Combo Plan Addons (combo)
• Pinoy Pack (combo for Filipinos)
• Visitor Line Combo Pack Addons (combo)
• Visitor Line (combo)
• Prepaid Data Plan Addons (data)
• Everyday Data Packs for Prepaid – Local Data (data)
• Super Hour Data Access (data)
• Everyday Data Packs for Prepaid – Social Data (social data)
• Visitor Line Data Packages (data for Visitor Line)

All Etisalat plans can be purchased by dialing *101#.

I will list all the prices in AED (Emirati Dirham).

To convert AED to your currency (let's say IND – Indian Rupee) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.

Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in:

Wasel Flexi Exclusive Addons – Etisalat UAE

Wasel Flexi Exclusive Addons are combo plans with data (with 5G NR access), Flexible Minutes & International minutes.

Although the name includes addons, they can be purchased as standalone plans.

Wasel Flexi Exclusive Addons can be activated by dialing *101*50#:

Price	Local Data	Flexi Minutes	International Minutes	Validity
3 AED	100 MB	N/A	N/A	24 hours
5 AED	N/A	N/A	30 minutes 2	24 hours
5 AED	N/A	N/A	60 minutes 1	24 hours
10 AED	N/A	30 minutes	N/A	28 days
20 AED	N/A	60 minutes	N/A	28 days
25 AED	N/A	N/A	200 minutes 2	7 days
25 AED	N/A	N/A	400 minutes 1	7 days
30 AED	N/A	90 minutes	N/A	28 days
30 AED	1 GB	N/A	N/A	28 days
49 AED	N/A	N/A	500 minutes 2	28 days
49 AED	N/A	N/A	750 minutes 1	28 days
50 AED	150 MB/day	N/A	N/A	28 days
55 AED	2 GB	N/A	N/A	28 days
75 AED	3 GB	N/A	N/A	28 days
79 AED	N/A	N/A	1000 minutes 2	28 days
79 AED	N/A	N/A	1500 minutes 1	28 days
99 AED	N/A	N/A	2000 minutes 2	28 days
99 AED	N/A	N/A	2000 minutes 1	28 days

¹ for Bangladesh
² for Afghanistan (Etisalat & Roshan), Bangladesh, Egypt (Etisalat & Vodafone), India, & Pakistan (Fixed, Mobilink/Jazz, Warid/Jazz, Ufone & Zong)

WaselGO – Etisalat UAE

WaselGo is the base plan for the Wasel Prepaid Line. It featured data and Flexi Minutes (local & international minutes).

The WaselGo are combo plans with data (with 5G NR access) and minutes.

WaselGo can be activated by dialing *101#:

Price (with VAT)	Plan	Data	Flexi Minutes	Validity
10.50 AED	WaselGo Small	400 MB (@ 400 Kbps)	15 minutes	7 days
26.25 AED	WaselGo Medium	750 MB	40 minutes	7 days
52.50 AED	WaselGo Large	2 GB	100 minutes	7 days
78.75 AED	WaselGo Extra Large	3.5 GB	175 minutes	7 days

WaselGo auto-renews. To disable auto-renewal, dial *101#.

Prepaid Combo Plan Addons – Etisalat UAE

The Prepaid Combo Plan Addons are combo plans with data (with 5G NR access) and Flexi Minutes (local & international minutes).

Although the name includes addons, they can be purchased as standalone plans.

Prepaid Combo Plan Addons can be purchased by dialing *101#:

Price	Local Data	Flexi Minutes	International Minutes 1	Validity
19.05 AED	150 MB/day ”192 Kbps”	N/A	50 minutes	7 days
35 AED	500 MB	25 minutes	N/A	28 days
55 AED	1 GB	50 minutes	N/A	28 days
57.14 AED	150 MB/day ”192 Kbps”	N/A	200 minutes	28 days
100 AED	2 GB	140 minutes	N/A	30 days
110 AED	3 GB	150 minutes	N/A	28 days
165 AED	6 GB	200 minutes	N/A	28 days
220 AED	10 GB	250 minutes	N/A	28 days

¹ for Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Nepal, Pakistan & Philippines

Prepaid Combo Plan Addons auto-renew. To disable auto-renewal, dial *101#.

Pinoy Pack – Etisalat UAE

The Pinoy Pack is a plan targeted at Filipino migrant workers. It features data, minutes, and SMS.

The Pinoy Pack are combo plans with data (with 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.

Pinoy Pack can be activated by texting Pinoy to 1020:

Price	Data	Barkada Minutes 2	Local Minutes	International Minutes 1	Flexi SMS	Validity	Activation Code
20 AED	1 GB	210 minutes	20 minutes	20 minutes	250 Flexi SMS	7 days	Pinoy to 1012

¹ only to the Philippines
² to other Pinoy Pack users

Visitor Line Combo Pack Addons – Etisalat UAE

Visitor Line Combo Pack Addons are combo plans with data (with 5G NR access) and Flexi Minutes (local & international minutes).

Although the name includes addons, they can be purchased as standalone plans.

Visitor Line Combo Pack Addons can be activated by dialing *101*#:

Price	Local Data	Flexi Minutes	Validity
46.66 AED	2 GB	30 minutes	28 days
75.23 AED	4 GB	30 minutes	28 days
119.04 AED	8 GB	120 minutes	28 days
190.47 AED	22.5 GB	525 minutes	28 days
303.81 AED	Unlimited	100 minutes	10 days

Visitor Line – Etisalat UAE

The Visitor Line is a prepaid pack exclusively for visitors to the UAE. Benefits include loads of data, voice minutes and Wi-Fi connectivity as well as discounts at restaurants and attractions.

The Visitor Line are combo plans with data (with 5G NR access).

Visitor Line can be activated by dialing *101*#:

Price	Plan	Data	Flexi Minutes	UAE WIFI Hours	Careem Credit	Validity
49 AED	Visitor Line	2 GB	30 minutes	N/A	100 AED	28 days
79 AED	Visitor Line +	4 GB	30 minutes	N/A	100 AED	28 days
125 AED	Visitor Line Premium	8 GB	120 minutes	5 hours	100 AED	28 days
200 AED	Visitor Line Premium +	22.5 GB	525 minutes	30 hours	100 AED	28 days
319 AED	Visitor Line Unlimited	Unlimited	100 minutes	N/A	100 AED	10 days

Prepaid Data Plan Addons – Etisalat UAE

The Prepaid Data Plan Addons are, as the name implies, data bundles (with 5G NR access).

Although the name includes addons, they can be purchased as standalone plans.

Prepaid Data Plan Addons can be activated by dialing *101*#:

Price (with VAT)	Local Data	Social Data 1	Validity
2 AED	60 MB	N/A	1 day
2 AED	N/A	120 MB	1 day
3 AED	N/A	200 MB	1 day
4 AED	150 MB	N/A	1 day
4 AED	N/A	300MB	1 day
5 AED	100 MB	N/A	1 day
10 AED	250 MB	N/A	1 day
14.28 AED	75 MB/day	N/A	7 days
20 AED	300 MB	N/A	7 days
23.80 AED	150 MB/day	N/A	7 days
30 AED	500 MB	N/A	28 days
30 AED	250 MB	250 MB	30 days
38.09 AED	250 MB/day	N/A	7 days
40 AED	75 MB/day	N/A	28 days
40 AED	N/A	150 MB/day	28 days
42.85 AED	N/A	1 GB/day	30 days
47.62 AED	150 MB/day ”192 Kbps”	N/A	28 days
49 AED	N/A	1 GB	30 days
49 AED	N/A	N/A	30 days
50 AED	1 GB	N/A	7 days
50 AED	1 GB	N/A	30 days
57.14 AED	500 MB/day	N/A	7 days
60 AED	150 MB/day	N/A	28 days
60 AED	N/A	250 MB/day	28 days
80 AED	2 GB	N/A	30 days
85.71 AED	250 MB/day	N/A	28 days
100 AED	1 GB	1 GB	30 days
100 AED	3 GB	N/A	28 days
123.80 AED	500 MB/day	N/A	28 days
150 AED	3 GB	3 GB	30 days
150 AED	6 GB	N/A	28 days
200 AED	5 GB	3 GB	30 days
200 AED	10 GB	N/A	28 days
250 AED	7 GB	4 GB	30 days
300 AED	10 GB	5 GB	30 days
300 AED	20 GB	N/A	28 days
450 AED	20 GB	10 GB	30 days
500 AED	25 GB	15 GB	30 days
600 AED	50 GB	N/A	28 days

¹ BOTIM (chat only), C'ME (chat only), Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Twitter, WeChat, & WhatsApp

Prepaid Data Plan Addons auto-renew. To disable auto-renewal, dial *101#.

Everyday Data Packs for Prepaid (Local Data) – Etisalat UAE

The Everyday Data Packs for Prepaid (Local Data) are, as the name implies, data bundles (with 5G NR access).

Everyday Data Packs for Prepaid (Local Data) can be bought by dialing *101#:

Price (with VAT)	Data	Validity
2.50 AED	75 MB	1 day
4.20 AED	150 MB	1 day
8 AED	250 MB	1 day
15 AED	75 MB/day (525 MB)	7 days
15 AED	500 MB	1 day
25 AED	150 MB/day (1.05 GB)	7 days
30 AED	1 GB	1 day
40 AED	250 MB/day (1.75 GB)	7 days
42 AED	75 MB/day (2.1 GB)	28 days
60 AED	500 MB/day (3.5 GB)	7 days
63 AED	150 MB/day (4.2 GB)	28 days
90 AED	250 MB/day (7 GB)	28 days
100 AED	1000 MB/day (7 GB)	7 days
130 AED	500 MB/day (14 GB)	28 days
200 AED	1000 MB/day (28 GB)	28 days

Super Hour Data Access – Etisalat UAE

The Super Hour Data Access plans are data bundles with unlimited data (at slow speeds – 3 Mbps) for 1 or 3 hour(s).

The Super Hour Data Access are data plans (with 5G NR access).

Super Hour Data Access can be purchased by dialing *800*5#:

Price (with VAT)	Plan	Data	Validity
3 AED	Super 1 Hour	Unlimited (@ 3 Mbps)	1 hour
6 AED	Super 3 Hours	Unlimited (@ 3 Mbps)	3 hours

Everyday Data Packs for Prepaid (Social Data) – Etisalat UAE

The Everyday Data Packs for Prepaid (Social Data) is a data plan for various social media apps (BOTIM, C'ME, Facebook, Facebook Messenger, GoChat Messenger, HiU Messenger, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Twitter, Voico, WeChat, & WhatsApp).

The Everyday Data Packs for Prepaid (Social Data) are data plan (with 5G NR access).

Everyday Data Packs for Prepaid (Social Data) can be activated by dialing *101#:

Price (with VAT)	Social Data 1	Validity
2.5 AED	150 MB	1 day
4 AED	250 MB	1 day
15 AED	1.05 GB (150 MB/day)	7 days
25 AED	1.75 GB (250 MB/day)	7 days
42 AED	4.2 GB (150 MB/day)	28 days
63 AED	7 GB (250 MB/day)	28 days

^{1 BOTIM (chat only), C'ME (chat only), Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Twitter, WeChat, & WhatsApp}

Visitor Line Data Packages – Etisalat UAE

The Visitor Line Data Packages are data plans with social media data allowances (BOTIM, C'ME, Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Twitter, WeChat, & WhatsApp) for the Visitor Line.

The Visitor Line Data Packages are data plans (with 5G NR access).

Visitor Line Data Packages can be bought by dialing *170*1# or *101#:

Price (with VAT)	Data	Social Data 1	Validity
47.61 AED	1 GB	N/A	7 days
100 AED	1 GB	1 GB	30 days
150 AED	3 GB	2 GB	30 days
200 AED	5 GB	3 GB	30 days
250 AED	7 GB	4 GB	30 days
300 AED	10 GB	5 GB	30 days
450 AED	20 GB	10 GB	30 days
500 AED	25 GB	15 GB	30 days

¹ BOTIM (chat only), C'ME (chat only), Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Twitter, WeChat, & WhatsApp

Flexi Minutes & SMS Countries – Etisalat UAE

Your Flexi Minutes and SMS can be used to call and the following countries:

APN/Internet Settings – Etisalat UAE

• Name: Etisalat Internet
• APN: etisalat.ae

Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.

Jump back to Table of Contents.

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Du UAE

Du is the other mobile network operator in the United Arab Emirates.

It is mostly popular among the migrant worker community because it used to target that target group initially.

Now, it is just the other option in the country.

Du uses the following frequencies:

• 2G: 900 MHz & 1800 MHz
• 3G: 2100 MHz
• 4G NR: 800 MHz (Band 20) & 1800 MHz (Band 3)
• 5G NR: 3500 MHz (n78)

This is what you will learn about Du:

* Coverage
* How to Get a Du SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings

Coverage – Du UAE

Du has excellent coverage throughout the United Arab Emirates.

Do note that coverage may be lacking in deserts.

Below is Du's coverage map produced by Speedtest:

However, click here to see Du's official coverage map.

SIM Card Price – Du UAE

You can buy a Du SIM card for 55 AED (57.75 AED with VAT) in Du stores. It is also possible to get Etisalat SIM cards at Abu Dhabi International Airport, Dubai International Airport & Sharjah International Airport.

Dial *135# to access the Du menu.

It is also possible to get a Du eSIM for the same price as a regular SIM card.

However, if you transfer from a standard SIM card to an eSIM, the upgrade fee is 20 AED.

To use a Du eSIM, you need to have one of the following devices:

• iPhone 11/11 Pro/11 Pro Max
• iPhone XS/XS Max/XR

Note that the Emirati mobile operators require your identification (passport) for eSIMs and physical SIM cards.

Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for United Arab Emirates without personal detail capturing, you can get the United Arab Emirates (Burj Mobile) eSIM from Airalo.

You have these three options:

• United Arab Emirates/Burj Mobile 1 GB eSIM for 7 days – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
• United Arab Emirates/Burj Mobile 3 GB eSIM for 30 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
• United Arab Emirates/Burj Mobile 5 GB eSIM for 30 days

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in September based on data up to the 7^th of September (2023 data only).

Finally, you can get United Arab Emirates eSIMs from Holafly:

1. Unlimited eSIM for 5 days – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
2. Unlimited eSIM for 7 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
3. Unlimited eSIM for 10 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
4. Unlimited eSIM for 15 days
5. Unlimited eSIM for 20 days

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in September based on data up to the 7^th of September (2023 data only).

Use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for exclusive deals when getting Holafly eSIMs, AND get an additional 5% off!

Airalo recently introduced an eSIM for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA): Menalink. The Menalink eSIM follows the popular Eurolink eSIM for 39 European countries, the fairly new Asialink eSIM for 13 Asian countries & the super new Latamlink eSIM for 19 Latin American countries.

The Menalink eSIM comes in three variants: 1 GB/7 days – very popular with PTW readers, 2 GB/15 days – very popular with PTW readers & 3 GB/30 days – most popular with PTW readers, to be used in United Arab Emirates and 14 other Middle Eastern and Northern African countries:

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in September based on data up to the 7^th of September (2023 data only).

Short-term visitors can also take advantage of the Du Visitor SIM.

Prior to the pandemic, Du handed out SIM cards for free with some credit and 20 MB of data.

However, it is unknown whether Du still does this or not. Let me know.

The Visitor SIM is sold in the following four variants:

Price (with VAT)	Data	Flexi Minutes	Validity
49 AED	2 GB	30 minutes	28 days
99 AED	6 GB	30 minutes	28 days
139 AED	10 GB	30 minutes 1	28 days
189 AED	20 GB	30 minutes 1	28 days

¹ Unlimited VoIP with BOTIM

Although the validities of the plans are valid for up to 14 days, the Visitor SIM is valid for 90 days.

It can be extended for another 90 days by dialing *135#.

Only Visitor SIM plans, the ones mentioned earlier, can be added to Visitor SIMs.

No opt-in is required if you want to renew a plan.

Simply recharge to the corresponding amount, and the plan will automatically be activated.

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Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Du UAE

Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Du UAE

Du has five data-featured prepaid plans:

• Youth Box (combo)
• Prepaid Flexi (combo)
• DU Tourist SIM (combo)
• Add-Ons (data)
• Internet Calling Pack (VoIP)

I will list all the prices in AED (Emirati Dirham).

To convert AED to your currency (let's say IND – Indian Rupee) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.

Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in:

Youth Box – Du UAE

The Youth box is a bundle of our popular ‘Flexi Yearly Prepaid Plan’, a ‘Music Pass’, and wireless over-the-ear headphones especially created for the Youth.

The Youth Box are combo plans with data (with 5G NR access).

Youth Box can be set up by dialing *135#:

Data/Minutes	2 GB	4 GB	6 GB	10 GB
30 minutes	24.5 AED	39.5 AED	49.5 AED	69.5 AED
60 minutes	29.5 AED	44.5 AED	54.5 AED	74.5 AED

Prepaid Flexi – Du UAE

With Prepaid Flexi, you can customize your plan by setting how much data and how many minutes you want for 28 days.

However, all plans need a minimum of 2 GB of data and 30 minutes (49 AED).

The Prepaid Flexi are combo plans with data (with 5G NR access), minutes & SMS.

Prepaid Flexi can be set up by dialing *135#:

Data/Minutes	2 GB	4 GB	6 GB	10 GB
30 minutes	49 AED	79 AED	99 AED	139 AED
60 minutes	59 AED	89 AED	109 AED	149 AED
90 minutes	69 AED	99 AED	119 AED	159 AED
120 minutes	79 AED	109 AED	129 AED	169 AED

¹ free internet calling through BOTIM & VOICO app

Du Tourist SIM – Du UAE

The SIM will be given to you by the Dubai Immigration Officer at Passport Control. The free SIM will have a Welcome Bonus of 1 GB local data valid for 24 hours. In addition, you can also enjoy non-telecom benefits by downloading the ALSAADA app and getting discounts on retail, dining and attractions in Dubai.

The Du Tourist SIM are combo plans with data (with 5G NR access).

Du Tourist SIM can be set up by dialing *135#:

Price	Data	Flexi Minutes	Validity
49 AED	2 GB	30 minutes	28 days
99 AED	6 GB	30 minutes	28 days
139 AED	10 GB	30 minutes	28 days
189 AED	20 GB	30 minutes	28 days
199 AED	Unlimited	100 minutes	7 days
299 AED	Unlimited	200 minutes	14 days

Add-Ons – Du UAE

The add-ons are data add-ons. They cannot be purchased as standalone plans.

The Add-Ons are add-ons with data (without 5G NR access).

Add-ons can be purchased by dialing *135#:

Price (with VAT)	Data	Validity
3 AED	100 MB	24 hours
30 AED	1 GB	28 days
55 AED	2 GB	28 days

¹ first 155 MB @ 192 Kbps. Unlimited @ 72 Kbps thereafter

Internet Calling Pack – Du UAE

The Internet Calling Packs allow you to make VoIP calls with BOTIM, C'ME, HiU Messenger & Voico.

The following Internet Calling Packs are available:

Price (with VAT)	IC Data 2	Activation Code	Validity
5.25 AED	1 GB	ICP	1 day
52.50 AED	Unlimited	DICP	30 days 1

¹ auto-renews. To stop auto-renewal, text Stop Netcall to 1355
² BOTIM, C'ME, HiU Messenger & Voico

Flexi Minutes Countries – Du UAE

Your Flexi Minutes can be used to call the following countries:

APN/Internet Settings – Du UAE

• Name: Du Mobile
• APN: du

Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.

Jump back to Table of Contents.

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Swyp UAE

Swyp UAE, not to be confused with the other Swyp app, is the youth brand by Etisalat targeting 18- to 29-year-olds – anyone 30 years or older cannot get a Swyp SIM card.

Swyp also uses the Etisalat network.

To learn about Swyp's frequencies, jump back to Etisalat's frequencies.

This is what you will learn about Swyp:

* Coverage
* How to Get a Swyp SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings

Coverage – Swyp UAE

Swyp is an Etisalat MVNO, meaning Swyp uses the Etisalat network and does not have its own mobile infrastructure.

To find out what to expect in terms of coverage with Swyp, jump to the Etisalat Coverage section.

SIM Card Price – Swyp UAE

Swyp SIM cards are sold together with its main plan, called The Core, for 99 AED (103.95 AED with VAT) in Etisalat stores and partner stores (Burjuman, Burj Dubai, City Centre, City Mall, Deira, Downtown, Dubai Mall, Festival, Ibn Battuta, Mall Mall of the Emirates & Mercato Shopping Mall).

The Core includes 1 GB of data, “unlimited” social media data for select apps (including Facebook, Facebook Messenger, Instagram, Snapchat & WhatsApp – 3 GB at full speed, then throttled), unlimited UAE WIFI data, and 120 Flexi Minutes (to about 100 countries).

Syp has no eSIMs.

Note that the Emirati mobile operators require your identification (passport) for eSIMs and physical SIM cards.

Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for United Arab Emirates without personal detail capturing, you can get the United Arab Emirates (Burj Mobile) eSIM from Airalo.

You have these three options:

1. United Arab Emirates/Burj Mobile 1 GB eSIM for 7 days – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
2. United Arab Emirates/Burj Mobile 3 GB eSIM for 30 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
3. United Arab Emirates/Burj Mobile 5 GB eSIM for 30 days

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in September based on data up to the 7^th of September (2023 data only).

Finally, you can get United Arab Emirates eSIMs from Holafly:

1. Unlimited eSIM for 5 days – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
2. Unlimited eSIM for 7 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
3. Unlimited eSIM for 10 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
4. Unlimited eSIM for 15 days
5. Unlimited eSIM for 20 days

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in September based on data up to the 7^th of September (2023 data only).

Use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for exclusive deals when getting Holafly eSIMs, AND get an additional 5% off!

Airalo recently introduced an eSIM for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA): Menalink. The Menalink eSIM follows the popular Eurolink eSIM for 39 European countries, the fairly new Asialink eSIM for 13 Asian countries & the super new Latamlink eSIM for 19 Latin American countries.

The Menalink eSIM comes in three variants: 1 GB/7 days – very popular with PTW readers, 2 GB/15 days – very popular with PTW readers & 3 GB/30 days – most popular with PTW readers, to be used in United Arab Emirates and 14 other Middle Eastern and Northern African countries:

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in September based on data up to the 7^th of September (2023 data only).

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Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Swyp UAE

Swyp SIM cards can be recharged with Etisalat top-up vouchers or the Swyp app (Android/iOS).

The following top-up options (recharge cards & eVouchers) are available:

• 25 AED
• 50 AED
• 100 AED
• 200 AED
• 500 AED

To top up your Swyp SIM card with Etisalat top-up vouchers, dial *120*VoucherCode#.

For example, if your voucher code is 123456, you would dial *120*123456*1#.

You can also tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.

Your balance can be checked on the Swyp app.

Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Swyp UAE

The Core is the only plan you can get with Swyp. However, add-ons can be purchased to boost your allowances.

I will list all the prices in AED (Emirati Dirham).

To convert AED to your currency (let's say IND – Indian Rupee) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.

The following add-ons are available:

Price	Data	Local Minutes	Flexi Minutes
25 AED	N/A	N/A	100 minutes
25 AED	N/A	200 minutes	N/A
25 AED	500 MB	N/A	N/A
25 AED	1 GB 1	N/A	N/A
50 AED	N/A	N/A	240 minutes
50 AED	1 GB	N/A	N/A
100 AED	2 GB	N/A	N/A
150 AED	4 GB	N/A	N/A

¹ for Instagram & Snapchat only

Your Flexi Minutes can be used to call the following countries:

APN/Internet Settings – Swyp UAE

• Name: Swyp
• APN: etisalat.ae

Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.

Jump back to the Table of Contents.

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Virgin Mobile UAE

Virgin Mobile UAE, just Virgin Mobile, is a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) using the Du network. It is actually owned by Du.

Virgin Mobile, as a brand, is active in Europe, Mexico, the Middle East & South America.

To learn about Virgin Mobile's frequencies, jump back to Du's frequencies.

This is what you will learn about Virgin Mobile:

* Coverage
* How to Get a Virgin Mobile SIM Card & SIM Card Price
* Topping Up Options & Methods + Balance Check
* Plans & Packages
* APN/Internet Settings

Coverage – Virgin Mobile UAE

Virgin Mobile is a Du MVNO, meaning Virgin Mobile uses the Du network and does not have its own mobile infrastructure.

To find out what to expect in terms of coverage with Virgin Mobile, jump to the Du Coverage section.

SIM Card Price – Virgin Mobile UAE

Virgin Mobile SIM cards are free in Virgin Mobile stores and partner stores, but they are sold together with a plan, meaning you have to spend at least 36.75 AED (with VAT) to get a Virgin Mobile SIM card. It is also possible to get Virgin Mobile SIM cards at Abu Dhabi International Airport, Dubai International Airport & Sharjah Airport.

You can also get a Virgin Mobile SIM card delivered within 60 minutes for free in all Emirates (Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah & Umm Al Quwain).

However, results have been mixed for short-term travelers, as you mostly need an Emirates ID to confirm your identity upon delivery.

Virgin Mobile has no eSIMs.

Note that the Emirati mobile operators require your identification (passport) for eSIMs and physical SIM cards.

Therefore, if you wish to get an eSIM for United Arab Emirates without personal detail capturing, you can get the United Arab Emirates (Burj Mobile) eSIM from Airalo.

You have these three options:

1. United Arab Emirates/Burj Mobile 1 GB eSIM for 7 days – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
2. United Arab Emirates/Burj Mobile 3 GB eSIM for 30 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
3. United Arab Emirates/Burj Mobile 5 GB eSIM for 30 days

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in September based on data up to the 7^th of September (2023 data only).

Finally, you can get United Arab Emirates eSIMs from Holafly:

1. Unlimited eSIM for 5 days – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
2. Unlimited eSIM for 7 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
3. Unlimited eSIM for 10 days – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
4. Unlimited eSIM for 15 days
5. Unlimited eSIM for 20 days

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in September based on data up to the 7^th of September (2023 data only).

Use code PHONETRAVELWIZ for exclusive deals when getting Holafly eSIMs, AND get an additional 5% off!

Airalo recently introduced an eSIM for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA): Menalink. The Menalink eSIM follows the popular Eurolink eSIM for 39 European countries, the fairly new Asialink eSIM for 13 Asian countries & the super new Latamlink eSIM for 19 Latin American countries.

The Menalink eSIM comes in three variants: 1 GB/7 days – very popular with PTW readers, 2 GB/15 days – very popular with PTW readers & 3 GB/30 days – most popular with PTW readers, to be used in United Arab Emirates and 14 other Middle Eastern and Northern African countries:

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in September based on data up to the 7^th of September (2023 data only).

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Top-Up, Recharge & Balance Check – Virgin Mobile UAE

Virgin Mobile top-up vouchers are sold in Virgin Mobile stores and partner stores. However, you are encouraged to use the Virgin Mobile UAE app (Android/iOS) for everything, including recharging.

The following top-up options are available:

• 20 AED
• 50 AED
• 100 AED
• 200 AED

To top up your Virgin Mobile SIM card, dial *149*VoucherCode#.

For example, if your voucher code is 123456, you would dial *149*123456#.

You can also tell the salesperson how much credit you want, your phone number, pay, and they will top up your SIM card with the POS system.

Your balance can be checked on the Virgin Mobile UAE app.

Packages, Plans, Bundles & Offers – Virgin Mobile UAE

Virgin Mobile has two data-featured prepaid plans:

• Pre-Made Plans (combo)
• Build Your Plan (customizable combo)
• Boosters (add-ons)

All Virgin Mobile plans can be activated on the Virgin Mobile UAE app.

I will list all the prices in AED (Emirati Dirham).

To convert AED to your currency (let's say IND – Indian Rupee) with up-to-date exchange rates, use the Wise Currency Converter tool.

Click on the links above to jump to the plan you are interested in.

Pre-Made Plans – Virgin Mobile UAE

The Pre-Made plans are data bundles (with 5G NR access) and minutes. Made by Virgin Mobile for those who do not want to build their own plan or want to see what there is to offer.

The following Pre-Made Plans are available:

Price (with VAT)	Data	Local Minutes/SMS	Validity
35 AED	0.50 GB	25 minutes/SMS	30 days
50 AED	0.75 GB	50 minutes/SMS	30 days

Build Your Plan – Virgin Mobile UAE

With Build Your Own Plan, you can set how much data, local minutes/SMS, and international minutes/SMS you want.

Note that every plan needs at least 2 GB and 50 local minutes/SMS, meaning that the plan's minimal price is 79 AED.

And each plan is valid for 28 days.

Build Your Plan (Data) – Virgin Mobile UAE

The data options (with 5G NR access) to Build Your Plan start from 2 GB (79 AED) to 100 GB (1000 AED).

You need at least 2 GB to activate Build Your Plan.

Below are your options:

Price	Data
79 AED	2 GB
119 AED	4 GB
162 AED	7 GB
203 AED	10 GB
250 AED	15 GB
322 AED	22 GB
382 AED	28 GB
607 AED	50 GB
807 AED	75 GB
1000 AED	100 GB
1000 AED	Unlimited 1

¹ roaming pass and data not available for sharing

Build Your Plan (Local Minutes/SMS) – Virgin Mobile UAE

The local minutes/SMS options for Build Your Plan start from 50 local minutes/SMS (79 AED) to unlimited local minutes/SMS (225 AED).

The local minutes/SMS allowances are combined, not separate.

You need at least 50 minutes/SMS to activate Build Your Plan.

Below are your options:

Price	Local Minutes/SMS
79 AED	50 minutes/SMS
86 AED	100 minutes/SMS
100 AED	200 minutes/SMS
114 AED	300 minutes/SMS
130 AED	500 minutes/SMS
178 AED	750 minutes/SMS
225 AED	Unlimited

Build Your Plan (International Minutes/SMS) – Virgin Mobile UAE

The international minutes/SMS options for Build Your Plan start from 50 local minutes/SMS (88 AED) to 1000 international minutes/SMS (430 AED).

The international minutes/SMS allowances are combined, not separate – and they are optional.

Below are your options:

Price	International Minutes/SMS
88 AED	50 minutes/SMS
105 AED	100 minutes/SMS
140 AED	200 minutes/SMS
165 AED	300 minutes/SMS
230 AED	500 minutes/SMS
430 AED	1000 minutes/SMS

Your international minutes/SMS can be used to call the following countries:

Boosters – Virgin Mobile UAE

The Boosters are data, local minutes, and international minutes add-ons. They cannot be purchased as standalone plans.

Data Boosters – Virgin Mobile UAE

The Data Boosters are data add-ons starting from 256 MB (15.75 AED) to 50 GB (210 AED).

Below are your options:

Price (with VAT)	Data
15.75 AED	256 MB
26.25 AED	512 MB
52.50 AED	2 GB
105 AED	10 GB
157.50 AED	25 GB
210 AED	50 GB

Local Minutes Boosters – Virgin Mobile UAE

The Local Minutes Boosters are international call add-ons starting from 50 local minutes (15.75 AED with VAT) to 200 local minutes (52.50 AED with VAT).

Below are your options:

Price (with VAT)	Local Minutes
15.75 AED	50 minutes
26.25 AED	100 minutes
52.50 AED	200 minutes

International Minutes Boosters – Virgin Mobile UAE

The International Minutes Boosters are international call add-ons starting from 25 international minutes (15.75 AED with VAT) to 100 international minutes (52.50 AED with VAT).

Below are your options:

Price (with VAT)	International Minutes
15.75 AED	25 minutes
26.25 AED	50 minutes
52.50 AED	100 minutes

APN/Internet Settings – Virgin Mobile UAE

• Name: Virgin Mobile Data
• APN: internet1
• MCC: 424
• MNC: 03

Note: leave anything not mentioned above untouched.

Jump back to the Table of Contents.

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The Preferred Way to Stay Connected When Traveling in United Arab Emirates

Getting a SIM card from Etisalat or Du would do you well when considering an Emirati SIM card.