Aylar: March 2022

Etisalat is the biggest telco operator with 13 million customers and the best mobile 3G and 4G coverage in the UAE.

People applying for a new SIM card must submit their Emirates identity card or passport as labour card or driving licence will no longer be accepted , according to new rules by the UAE’s telecommunication regulators.

You can also get a SIM card in the city from major shopping hubs like The Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates . Visitor SIM cards are valid for 90 days and phone plans can be purchased either as voice and data bundles, pay-as-you-go plans, or prepaid recharge cards.

There are two major network operators; Du (based out of Dubai) and Etisalat (based out of Abu Dhabi) , and both offer coverage throughout the UAE. Etisalat is the oldest network provider while Du has been operating for just over a decade.

There are three main sim card services in Dubai that you can choose from; Virgin Mobile, du and Etisalat . All of these service providers offer post-paid and prepaid mobile phone plans for calls, texts and internet packages.

Dubai has only 2 telecom service providers, Du and Etisalat. Majority of tourists staying in or near Dubai have reported no difference in signal strength, coverage or speed between the 2 networks. If you want to wander the untravelled paths then Etisalat is the best prepaid SIM card .