Price per GB
$3.15
Median mid-tier catalogue price.
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Prices, network indicators, operators and trip-planning tools for UAE. Use the full calculator with the destination already selected.
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Among the world's best 5G; VoIP often restricted on local SIMs.
The UAE is one of the world's top 5G markets: 315.9 Mbps median 5G download, ranked 4th globally by Opensignal. With only two operators and a small, highly urbanised territory, coverage is effectively 100% everywhere a tourist goes, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman and the major attractions. The UAE is arguably the easiest country in Asia for connectivity; the only variable is price, not coverage.
Typical local SIM: $15 to 30 USD for a visitor SIM with data. Prices are higher than most Asian markets reflecting the UAE's cost of living.. Usually sold at Dubai International Airport (world's busiest), Abu Dhabi International and other airports on arrival. Passport required.. The UAE is small and both operators cover it completely, so network choice barely matters. What matters is price and convenience. A travel eSIM is cheaper than the airport visitor SIM for short trips; a local e& or du SIM is more cost-effective for longer stays. Note: VoIP calls (WhatsApp, FaceTime, Skype) are officially restricted in the UAE on local SIMs; travel eSIMs may vary.
For most Dubai visits, a travel eSIM is the practical pick: cheaper than the airport SIM, activates before landing, and often has fewer VoIP restrictions. For longer stays, a local e& or du plan wins on data value per dollar.
The dominant operator with the strongest overall coverage and 5G performance. UAE 5G is globally ranked 4th at 315.9 Mbps. The safest pick and the most widely available tourist SIM.
The second and only other UAE operator, with strong coverage across all the emirates and competitive visitor plans. Both e& and du blanket the UAE completely given its small, dense territory.
you want to avoid the expensive airport visitor SIM for a short Dubai trip, since travel eSIMs are often cheaper and activate before you land.
you stay longer and want the most cost-effective data package, since local plans give better value per GB for extended stays.
No first-hand measurement has been published for UAE yet. This page will update automatically when a validated field test is added to the shared dataset.
Use this page to compare the current price per GB, network indicator, transparency signal and local-operator reference for UAE. It also links to a destination calculator and plan page.
It is the median price per GB of mid-tier plans in the live UAE catalogue. Small 1 GB teasers and 50 GB or larger bulk plans are excluded so the figure reflects a typical traveller choice.
The page shows the current mobile speed indicator, a transparency score and the main local operator. These are destination-level signals, not a guarantee for every street or device.
The decision section compares the practical trade-offs. A travel eSIM is usually simpler for a short visit; a local SIM can make sense when you need a local number, longer service or local pricing. Check the current conditions before deciding.
Price per GB is the median of mid-tier plans from the live UAE catalogue. Network and transparency indicators come from the shared Drift dataset and are refreshed monthly.
Field measurements are published only after validation. Open dataset: data-asia.json.
Figures updated September 2026. Dataset license: CC BY 4.0.