Tourists can buy a Dubai SIM card with a passport. The UAE's telecoms regulator, the TDRA (Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority), allows visitors to take out a mobile line on their passport for a limited period, and Dubai International Airport (DXB) has shops for e& (formerly Etisalat), du and Virgin Mobile. According to Dubai Airports, du even hands out free tourist SIMs at the DXB immigration counters. There are also rules specific to the UAE: visitors can register only two SIMs per operator, and a visitor line is cut off 48 hours after it expires. This guide uses the TDRA's, the airport's and the operators' own information to explain who can buy a SIM, where to buy one and how the three brands differ.
If you would rather skip the counter queue and the SIM swap and be online the moment you land, you can set up a UAE eSIM before you travel. See the Coral eSIM plans for the UAE and pick the data allowance that fits your trip.
Tourists can buy a Dubai SIM card: the TDRA rules
Mobile subscriber registration in the UAE is set by the TDRA. Its FAQ says the following about visitors:
- Visitors can obtain a mobile SIM card with their passport (GCC citizens can also use a GCC national ID), for a limited period and subject to each operator's conditions
- A visitor can register up to two SIM cards per operator (residents can register up to five)
- The registration rules apply to every type of SIM card, whether it is used for calls or for data only
The UAE government portal u.ae also tells visitors that they need a copy of their passport and UAE visa to get a local SIM. e& likewise asks for a valid passport and visa and says its visitor line is for people aged 18 and over.
SIMs can only be activated at registered points of sale
The TDRA requires every shop that sells SIM cards to register with it, and activating a SIM outside a registered point of sale is prohibited. Selling SIM cards is a regulated activity reserved for licensed operators and their authorised agents. Buying at the airport, at an operator's own store or from an authorised agent is the safe choice.
To use a UAE SIM card in a phone bought in your home country, the phone must also be carrier-unlocked. See how to check whether your phone is unlocked.
Who sells Dubai SIM cards: e&, du and Virgin Mobile
The UAE has two mobile network operators: e& (formerly Etisalat, officially "etisalat by e&") and du. u.ae names e&'s "Visitor Line" and du's "Tourist Plan" as the products for visitors.
The third name you will see at the airport is Virgin Mobile UAE. According to du's annual results announcement, Virgin Mobile UAE is the second brand of EITC, the company that runs du, launched in September 2017 with a fully digital sign-up process. It also offers a "Tourist Plan" for visitors.
Where to buy a SIM card at Dubai Airport
Dubai Airports lists shops for all three brands, e&, du and Virgin Mobile, in Terminal 1 arrivals, Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 arrivals. Virgin Mobile's help page gives more precise directions:
- Terminal 1: just after immigration, on the left of the walkway in the meet-and-greet area
- Terminal 2: at the end of the walkway in the meet-and-greet area
- Terminal 3: in the telecoms section, before the meet-and-greet area
Beyond Dubai, e& says its Visitor Line is sold at all airport arrivals in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, and Virgin Mobile has shops at Abu Dhabi Airport (two locations) and Sharjah Airport. We could not confirm the opening hours of the airport shops in official sources.
du's free tourist SIM at immigration
Dubai Airports says du offers free tourist SIMs at the DXB immigration counters. du's tourist leaflet (created in August 2025) shows two ways to activate it:
- Insert the SIM card and send an SMS with your year of birth to "1220"
- Scan the QR code in the leaflet to activate a free eSIM instead
The leaflet then explains how to add data and calling bundles. The SIM itself is free; the bundles you use are bought separately. We could not confirm in official sources which terminals hand out the free SIM.
Dubai SIM cards compared: validity and renewal
The three tourist lines differ in how long they last and whether they can be extended. The table summarises what we could confirm on the official pages.
| Brand | Tourist line | ID | Line validity | Renewal or extension |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| e& | Visitor Line | Passport and visa (18 and over) | Same as your visa on arrival, up to 90 days | Packs last 24 hours to 28 days and can be bought repeatedly |
| du | Tourist Plan | Passport (and visa) | 90 days from activation | Can be extended once for another 90 days (180 in total) |
| Virgin Mobile | Tourist Plan | Passport or GCC ID | Choose 3, 7, 10 or 20 days | One-time only, cannot be renewed |
e& Visitor Line
e& allows a maximum of two Visitor Line SIMs per passport, and you can also apply online. The line is valid for as long as your visa on arrival, up to 90 days. Packs can be added through the app or by dialling *101#.
du Tourist Plan
According to du's FAQ, the tourist SIM can be used for 90 days and extended once for another 90 days by dialling *135#. The documents required are a passport with a valid UAE visa (GCC citizens can use a GCC passport or national ID, among others).
Virgin Mobile Tourist Plan
Virgin Mobile lets you choose a plan of 3, 7, 10 or 20 days, and the plans are one-time only and cannot be renewed. An Emirates ID cannot be used; you need a passport or a GCC ID. An eSIM usually activates instantly, but if you collect a physical SIM at an airport store, the team reviews your passport first, and Virgin Mobile says this can take a few hours.
A Dubai SIM card is cut off 48 hours after it expires
The TDRA's FAQ states that if a visitor does not submit valid, verifiable registration details within 48 hours of the subscription's expiry, the operator must disconnect the SIM and all associated services. The subscriber is notified 24 hours before disconnection. Disconnection here means you can no longer make or receive calls or send or receive SMS.
Residents get a partial suspension 60 days after expiry and then a further 30-day grace period, so a visitor line stops far sooner. Once you are home, texts to the UAE number will no longer reach you, so do not register a local SIM number as the verification number for banks or other services. For ways to keep receiving texts on your home number while travelling, see how to receive SMS verification codes while using an eSIM.
A local SIM in Dubai does not change the calling-app rules
Voice and video calls over the internet (VoIP) are regulated in the UAE, and the apps you can use are set by the TDRA's list of approved apps. Buying a local SIM does not change this. For how WhatsApp and FaceTime calls are treated and the list of approved apps, see internet and free Wi-Fi in Dubai and the UAE.
Local SIM card or travel eSIM in Dubai: which to choose
A local SIM and a travel eSIM suit different travellers.
- A local SIM suits you if you want a UAE phone number for restaurant bookings or contacting people locally, or you are staying longer and want a line that can be extended
- A travel eSIM suits you if you want data as soon as you land, you want to skip the airport queue and the wait for activation, or you do not want to remove your home SIM
A local SIM does not work until you have cleared immigration and reached a shop. With a travel eSIM, ride-hailing apps and maps work as soon as you switch off airplane mode. To keep your home number active at the same time, see dual SIM setup for travel, and for a comparison with buying a SIM at the airport, see airport SIM vs eSIM.
You can choose a plan for the UAE from the Coral eSIM UAE plans. The setup steps are in how to set up a travel eSIM.
Dubai SIM cards: frequently asked questions
What do I need to buy a SIM card in Dubai?
You need your passport. The TDRA allows visitors to take out a line on their passport, and u.ae and e& ask for a passport and UAE visa. If you will put the SIM in a phone from home, the phone must also be unlocked.
Can I get a free SIM card at Dubai Airport?
According to Dubai Airports, du hands out free tourist SIMs at the DXB immigration counters. You activate it by inserting the SIM and texting your year of birth to 1220, or by scanning the QR code in the leaflet to activate a free eSIM. Data and calling bundles are added separately.
How long does a tourist SIM last?
e&'s Visitor Line lasts as long as your visa on arrival, up to 90 days. du's Tourist Plan lasts 90 days and can be extended once for another 90. Virgin Mobile's Tourist Plan comes in 3, 7, 10 or 20 days and cannot be renewed.
How many SIM cards can one person buy?
According to the TDRA's FAQ, a visitor can register up to two SIM cards per operator (residents up to five). e& also says a maximum of two Visitor Line SIMs are allowed per passport.
What happens when a Dubai SIM card expires?
Under the TDRA rules, a visitor line is fully disconnected, including calls and SMS, if valid registration details are not submitted within 48 hours of expiry. It will stop working after you go home, so do not use it as the verification number for other services.
Buy a Dubai SIM card at an official shop with your passport, and secure data on arrival with an eSIM
In Dubai, tourists can sign up for e&, du or Virgin Mobile with a passport, and du's free tourist SIM is available at DXB. But under the TDRA rules you can register only two SIMs per operator, activation is allowed only at registered points of sale, and the line is cut off 48 hours after it expires. If you need a local number, buy it properly at the airport or an operator's store and check how long it lasts and whether it can be extended. If you want maps and ride-hailing apps from the moment you land, set up a travel eSIM before you leave. Using the two for what each does best is the most reliable way to stay connected in Dubai.
See the Coral eSIM UAE plans, or browse all destinations.
