Etisalat eSIM — coverage, plans & network
United Arab Emirates
Key highlights
- The UAE's original operator (1976), now etisalat by e&, with 5G across all seven emirates
- Visitor Line: 28-day prepaid packs sold against a passport and visa, two lines per passport
- Visitor Line comes as a physical TRIO SIM; SIM replacement costs AED 52.50 including VAT
- AviaeSIM's UAE eSIM runs on the Etisalat network and installs before you fly
About the operator
Etisalat — branded etisalat by e& since 2022 — is the UAE's original telecom operator, founded in 1976 and headquartered in Abu Dhabi, and it runs one of the fastest mobile networks in the world across all seven emirates, with commercial 5G since 2019. AviaeSIM's UAE plans connect to the Etisalat network, so this page looks at e&'s eSIM the way a visitor arriving at Dubai or Abu Dhabi meets it.
For tourists e& sells the Visitor Line: prepaid packs valid 28 days, bought at an e& Business Centre, outlet or partner against a valid passport and visa, with at most two lines per passport. e& also offers arrivals a Free Visitor Line eSIM with 10 GB for a day, self-activated after immigration by QR code and face recognition. A travel eSIM on the Etisalat network, installed before the flight, skips both the counter and the one-day limit.
- Founded
- 1976
- Headquarters
- Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Group
- e& (Emirates Telecommunications Group)
- Network
- 4G, 5G
How to get the official Etisalat eSIM: price, QR code, registration
e&'s Visitor Line page sets the rules for tourists: the packs are valid for 28 days and can be bought again, they are sold by visiting an e& Business Centre, outlet or partner with a valid passport and visa, or online with a 3D-secure card, and a maximum of two Visitor Line SIMs are allowed per passport. The support page adds that a new Visitor Line comes as a TRIO SIM card and that a SIM replacement costs AED 52.50 including VAT; the SIM and activation are free. The Visitor Line page does not advertise an eSIM version and lists no pack prices; UAE guides quote about AED 94 plus VAT for 10 GB over 28 days. e&'s visitor eSIM is separate: a Free Visitor Line eSIM with 10 GB for a day, self-activated after immigration with a QR code and a face-recognition step, after which a paid pack is needed.
AviaeSIM's UAE eSIM connects to the Etisalat network and is priced per trip: pay by card, receive the QR code by email in minutes, install before the flight and connect at DXB or AUH with no passport at a counter, no visa check and no 28-day pack.
Etisalat local SIM vs AviaeSIM
| e& Visitor Line (prepaid SIM) | AviaeSIM travel eSIM (UAE) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per GB | About AED 9.40 (~$2.60) per GB if the 10 GB pack costs AED 94.28 plus VAT, as UAE guides and Gulf News report | Plans for the UAE from $2.92; the price per GB is on each plan card |
| Activation | Physical TRIO SIM from a Business Centre, outlet or partner, or delivered free within 24 hours when bought online; the free arrival eSIM self-activates by QR code | QR code by email; installed in the phone's settings in about two minutes |
| Passport registration | Required — valid passport and visa; two lines per passport | None; only an email address at checkout |
| Validity | 28 days, renewable | Fixed validity per plan, counted from the first connection in the UAE |
| Support | e& Business Centres, outlets and the app | AviaeSIM support by email, before and during the trip |
| Best for | Stays of a month, or a UAE number for calls and deliveries | Short visits and stopovers — landing connected without the kiosk |
Checked 26 September 2026 on eand.ae (Visitor Line page and support FAQ: 28-day packs, passport and visa, two lines per passport, TRIO SIM, AED 52.50 replacement, free 24-hour delivery) and e&'s September 2024 announcement of the Free Visitor Line eSIM; pack prices and airport counters come from UAE travel guides — confirm at the counter.
Network & technology
Etisalat's 4G and 5G cover the whole populated UAE: Dubai from DXB and the Marina to Downtown and the Palm, Abu Dhabi and Yas Island, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and the E11 and E311 highways between them, plus the Dubai Metro and the Hatta road. Desert safari camps and the Empty Quarter are the only places signal fades. AviaeSIM's UAE eSIM connects to the Etisalat network, so a visitor sees the same coverage.
Reputation & market position
Etisalat is consistently ranked among the world's fastest mobile networks and is the larger of the UAE's two operators, ahead of du. Its Visitor Line is well organised — online purchase with 3D-secure cards and free 24-hour delivery, plus airport counters at DXB, AUH and SHJ according to UAE guides — but it is a resident-style product: passport and visa at the counter and 28-day packs. e&'s free arrival eSIM is generous for a day and then needs a paid pack.
Pros
- One of the fastest networks anywhere, with 5G in every emirate
- Free Visitor Line eSIM for arrivals — 10 GB for a day, self-activated by QR code
- Free SIM, activation and 24-hour delivery on the paid Visitor Line
Cons
- Passport and visa shown to buy; a maximum of two Visitor Lines per passport
- Visitor Line packs are 28-day products, and the free eSIM lasts only a day
- A paid Visitor Line bought in store or online comes as a physical TRIO SIM
Available plans
Countries covered
Get your United Arab Emirates eSIM from AviaeSIM — instant QR activation, no roaming fees.
How to activate
- 1Choose your destination and a plan on the Etisalat network
- 2Pay and receive your eSIM QR code by email
- 3Scan the QR code in your phone's settings to install it
- 4Turn on data roaming for the eSIM when you arrive
Frequently asked questions
Does Etisalat have an eSIM for tourists?
Yes, in one form: e& offers arrivals a Free Visitor Line eSIM with 10 GB for a day, self-activated after immigration by scanning a QR code and a face-recognition step, after which a paid pack is needed. The paid Visitor Line bought in store or online comes as a physical TRIO SIM. A travel eSIM on the Etisalat network is the route before you fly.
How much does the Etisalat Visitor Line cost?
The SIM and activation are free and you pay for a 28-day pack. e&'s page lists no pack prices, but UAE guides and Gulf News quote about AED 94.28 plus VAT for 10 GB with 60 flexi minutes, and guides list AED 125 for 22.5 GB; a SIM replacement costs AED 52.50. AviaeSIM's UAE plans on the Etisalat network are priced per trip on the plan cards.
Can I get an Etisalat Visitor Line eSIM at Dubai airport?
Yes, as a free starter: e& says its Free Visitor Line eSIM is self-activated by scanning a QR code and a face-recognition step, and Gulf News reports it is offered after immigration at UAE airports with 10 GB for a day, after which you buy a paid Visitor Line pack. A Visitor Line bought at a counter is a physical TRIO SIM, sold against a passport and visa.
Can I buy the Etisalat Visitor Line online as an eSIM?
Not as a paid line before you fly: e&'s Visitor Line page offers online purchase with a 3D-secure card and free delivery within 24 hours, and the line comes as a physical TRIO SIM, so it helps once you are in the UAE. e&'s eSIM form is the free arrival eSIM, activated after landing. AviaeSIM's UAE eSIM is delivered by email wherever you are and installs before you travel.
Does an Etisalat eSIM work in Abu Dhabi and the other emirates?
Yes. Etisalat's 4G and 5G cover all seven emirates, the E11 highway between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the Dubai Metro and the roads to Hatta and Fujairah; only desert camps far from the highways lose signal. An AviaeSIM eSIM on the Etisalat network sees the same coverage.
Useful links
Other operators
Information updated: 2026-09