Dubai - using your UK phone - what's the best option

[S8QUATTRO]

Any advice on using your UK mobile / data in Dubai?

Never been before and never used an E sim or even a diff sim card in another country.

Any advice appreciated.

We have UK phones on EE network.

[sjc]

With EE For around 8 quid a day (ish) you can use your normal allowance phone shed text allowances by memory,and it only kicks in if you use phone/text.
I tend to do wi-fi calling and WhatsApp and so costs nowt.

[S8QUATTRO]

sjc said:

With EE For around 8 quid a day (ish) you can use your normal allowance phone shed text allowances by memory,and it only kicks in if you use phone/text.
I tend to do wi-fi calling and WhatsApp and so costs nowt.

Did you use an e sim over there?

[sjc]

S8QUATTRO said:

sjc said:

With EE For around 8 quid a day (ish) you can use your normal allowance phone shed text allowances by memory,and it only kicks in if you use phone/text.
I tend to do wi-fi calling and WhatsApp and so costs nowt.

Did you use an e sim over there?

I don’t change anything from the uk. You just have rung up EE the first time to let them know and then it’s permanently active when you’re abroad unless you opt out.

[W99KSY]

I used an eSIM for the first time earlier this month in Dubai and it was surprisingly easy. I used the Airalo app and was good value versus my provider (data only) - I think around $10 for 3gb over 30 days.

We use it at work for travel and everyone seemingly happy with it

Moderator edit: no referral codes

[NorthDave]

sjc said:

With EE For around 8 quid a day (ish) you can use your normal allowance phone shed text allowances by memory,and it only kicks in if you use phone/text.
I tend to do wi-fi calling and WhatsApp and so costs nowt.

Do you mean calling using Whatsapp? I thought actual wifi calling was still chargable.

[walamai]

I've just been there for a few days over the weekend. EE's roaming pass seems to have gotten more expensive so I tried out an ESim from Holafly. Purchased and installed it while still in the UK. (Super simple, just done from the email) Then actually turned on the Esim when I landed. Worked perfectly and had zero issues.

Edited by walamai on Wednesday 27th November 09:12

[The G Kid]

W99KSY said:

I used an eSIM for the first time earlier this month in Dubai and it was surprisingly easy. I used the Airalo app and was good value versus my provider (data only) - I think around $10 for 3gb over 30 days.

We use it at work for travel and everyone seemingly happy with it

I was there last week and Airalo worked perfectly, I also used Express VPN with zero issues.

[Marshall878]

Sim cards are also available on arrival however data out here is relatively expensive. Virgin tourist sim is 21GB for £30 with a cap of 3GB per dat valid for only 7 days

If you have Revolut they have a new service which is eSim based. Prices are actually pretty good at 5GB for £9.50.

[pitlane]

I work all over the world, anywhere my phone doesn't include on roaming pass then Airalo will cover with cracking prices on an esim. Just download the app, set up esim once and then it will work anywhere in the world once you select data package you want.

You keep the same number for Whatsapp etc, it doesn't change anything in day to day use, just a lot more cost effective than the phone operators packages.