Three ways to get online in Dubai
A Pakistani flying to Dubai has three ways to stay online. All three work — the differences are price, registration, and whether your Pakistani number keeps working.
| Airport SIM (du, e&, Virgin) | Jazz roaming | eSIM (like eJurs) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where from | DXB airport or a mall shop | Your Pakistani SIM | Online, from Pakistan |
| Passport and visa details | Yes | No | No |
| Pakistani number | Often means removing your SIM | Keeps working | Keeps working — a second line |
| 5 GB for 30 days | Depends on the plan | Rs. 4,499 + tax | Rs. 4,290 |
| A 60-day plan | Needs a recharge | No | Yes — 10 GB |
| WhatsApp calling | Blocked | Blocked | Not guaranteed (BOTIM as backup) |
Buying a SIM card at Dubai airport — what to know
Dubai International (DXB) arrivals has du and e& (formerly Etisalat) counters, and Virgin Mobile tourist SIMs are sold too. You need your passport and UAE visa details, because every SIM in the UAE is registered to a named person by law.
- Queues at the counters are long at peak times — and many flights from Pakistan land early in the morning or late at night.
- A local SIM means taking out your Pakistani SIM if the phone has one slot, after which bank OTPs and texts from home stop arriving.
- For job hunting or a long stay, many plans ask for an Emirates ID, which a visit visa does not give you.
The upside is a UAE number. If you are moving to the UAE for work and a residence visa is coming, a local SIM is the right answer in the end.
Jazz roaming — what the UAE bundles actually cost
Jazz has its own UAE roaming bundles: 1 GB for 7 days at Rs. 999 + tax; 2 GB for 15 days at Rs. 1,799 + tax; and 5 GB for 30 days at Rs. 4,499 + tax. They work, and your Pakistani SIM stays in the phone.
By comparison, our UAE 1 GB for 7 days is Rs. 940 and 5 GB for 30 days is Rs. 4,290 — and the 10 GB plan runs 60 days, where the roaming bundle stops at 30.
And one rule for everyone: never leave mobile data on while roaming without a bundle. At per-MB rates, one day of Maps and Careem can cost a great deal.
Holafly — what an international eSIM costs
Holafly sells only unlimited plans for Dubai, on du: $27.90 for 7 days (about Rs. 7,750) and $50.50 for 15 days (about Rs. 14,000). There is nothing longer than 20 days, you pay in dollars by card, and hotspot sharing is capped at 1 GB a day.
Unlimited pays off if you stream video for hours every day. For a normal trip our 3 GB for 30 days is Rs. 2,690, and the 60-day 10 GB is Rs. 7,990 — about one week of Holafly.
The truth about WhatsApp calls
The UAE licenses internet calling, and traveller reports up to July 2026 say WhatsApp and FaceTime voice and video calls are blocked on local networks. Messages, photos and voice notes work normally. Licensed apps such as BOTIM work for calls.
That restriction applies on a local SIM and on Pakistani roaming alike. Our eSIM is a roaming profile and some travellers have found calls work on it — but it is not reliable and we do not promise it; the rules can change at any time. If calling home matters, install BOTIM before you fly.
An eSIM — ready before you leave Pakistan
An eSIM installs at home and works on du the moment you land in Dubai, up to 5G — across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ajman.
- Check that your phone supports eSIM and is not carrier-locked (JV).
- Buy the UAE eSIM — the QR arrives on WhatsApp and by email.
- Scan the QR and install it at home. Validity starts when it first connects to a network in the UAE.
- Turn off data roaming on your Pakistani line so there is no roaming bill.
- When you land, switch mobile data to the UAE line and open Careem or Uber.
Apps to have for Dubai
- Careem and Uber — both run in Dubai, and are often quicker than the airport taxi queue.
- RTA Dubai and Nol Pay — the Metro, buses and your Nol card balance.
- BOTIM — the UAE's licensed calling app, as a backup for calls home.
- Google Maps — Metro routes and walking distances, including inside places as big as Dubai Mall.
How much data for Dubai — and what it costs
- A long stopover or 3 days: 1 GB (Rs. 940).
- 5 to 7 days, normal use: 3 GB (Rs. 2,690) — what most people choose.
- Two weeks, or daily video calls: 5 GB (Rs. 4,290).
- A 60-day visit visa: 10 GB for 60 days (Rs. 7,990) — the Visit Visa Pack.
Video on Instagram and TikTok burns data fastest — watch it on hotel Wi-Fi and keep mobile data for Maps, Careem and WhatsApp.
| Plan | Data | Validity | Price | Per GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini | 1 GB | 7 days | Rs. 940 | Rs. 940 |
| Travel Pack | 3 GB | 30 days | Rs. 2,690 | Rs. 897 |
| Travel Plus | 5 GB | 30 days | Rs. 4,290 | Rs. 858 |
| Visit Visa Pack | 10 GB | 60 days | Rs. 7,990 | Rs. 799 |
| Family Pack | 20 GB | 30 days | Rs. 13,990 | Rs. 700 |
Common questions
Can I buy a SIM card at Dubai airport?
Yes. DXB has du and e& (Etisalat) counters, and Virgin Mobile tourist SIMs are sold too. You need your passport and visa details. An eSIM installs in Pakistan and works the moment you land.
What is the cheapest internet for Dubai?
For a short trip, an eSIM — 1 GB for 7 days at Rs. 940 and 5 GB for 30 days at Rs. 4,290. Jazz's 5 GB UAE bundle is Rs. 4,499 + tax. If you are moving to the UAE for work, a local SIM is cheaper once you have a residence visa.
Do WhatsApp calls work in Dubai?
WhatsApp voice and video calls are blocked on local UAE networks; messages and voice notes work. Some travellers find calls work on a roaming eSIM, but it is not reliable — install BOTIM, which is licensed in the UAE, for calls home.
What should I take for a 60-day visit visa?
The 10 GB Visit Visa Pack, which lasts 60 days (Rs. 7,990). One eSIM covers the whole visa.
Will my Pakistani number keep working?
With an eSIM or roaming, yes. The eSIM is a second line, so your Pakistani SIM stays in the phone and bank OTPs keep arriving.
Still stuck?
Message us on WhatsApp — usually answered within a couple of minutes. Ask on WhatsApp
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