Hello beautiful people, and welcome back on the route! 🙂

Have you ever landed after a long flight, turned off airplane mode and… nothing?

No maps, no taxi app, no “Di you landed safely?” message for your mum? xD

In the UAE this is easy to avoid, because it’s one of the most connected countries on the planet.

According to the national telecom regulator (TDRA), there are about 211 mobile broadband subscriptions for every 100 people, which basically means most people in the United Arab Emirates walk around with more than one connected device!

Still, using your phone in the Emirates comes with a few rules you probably won’t find at home.

Some calling apps don’t work, SIM cards are normally tied to your passport, and pointing your camera at the wrong person can cost you far more than a bad look!

If you’re still building your trip, we have a practical UAE itinerary for 3, 5 or 7 days, which unfortunately will only works fine if your phone does too, so we thought of writing this article to help you sorting everything out before you land 🙂

Today we’ll see what works and what doesn’t, which SIM or eSIM makes sense for your trip, and the few laws worth knowing before you land.

Let’s dive right in! 🙂

1. In the UAE, your Phone Will Work…

But Not Every App On It

Here’s the first surprise for most visitors: WhatsApp works for messages, photos and voice notes, but not for voice or video calls. Tam, tam, taaaaaaaam….what?!

The same goes for FaceTime too!

The block applies to tourists and residents alike, on both Wi-Fi and mobile data.

So how do people in the UAE call each other?

They use apps approved by the TDRA.

The list includes BOTIM, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet and Webex (here’s the full list of VoIP apps legally allowed in the UAE).

Our tip: if you’ll need to call home, install BOTIM or set up a Zoom account before you fly. Easy, fast and beautiful! 😉

Some websites are also blocked: mostly gambling, dating and anything considered offensive to local laws.

Most travelers won’t even notice, but if a page doesn’t load, that’s probably why. 😉

2. VPNs, Photos and Posts:

The Rules That Can Become Expensive!

Let’s clear up the most common question first: using a VPN is not illegal in itself.

Many companies in the UAE use them every day for work.

The problem starts when a VPN is used to commit a crime or to hide one.

Under Article 10 of the UAE cybercrime law (Federal Decree-Law 34 of 2021), that can mean prison and fines from AED 500,000 to AED 2 million (Gulf News explains it here).

Using a VPN to get around the WhatsApp call block sits in a grey area, and with those numbers it’s simply not worth the risk.

Photos are the other big one, and they catch a lot of tourists by surprise….

Taking pictures of people in the UAE without their consent is a crime, even in a public places like a mall or a beach.

The fine goes from AED 150,000 to AED 500,000, plus at least six months of detention (details on Khaleej Times).

 That is probably one of the reasons why many photos of the UAE look so empty of people: because it is not a common thing to do taking photos with people there!

In practice: shoot the Burj Khalifa as much as you want, but ask before filming people!

Stay away from accidents, police operations and government buildings, and think twice before posting someone else’s face online! 🙂

3. There’s a Free SIM Waiting for You

at the Airport (Yes, Really!)

This is the tip most guides forget: both main airports hand out free tourist SIM cards right after immigration!

At Dubai International (DXB), DU gives a free tourist SIM at the immigration counters in all three terminals.

At Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport, e& gives visitors a SIM with 10 GB of data valid for 24 hours.

Not bad, right?

You need to be over 18, show your passport and have entered the country on a visit or transit visa (the data allowance changes from time to time, so check the current package at the counter!).

Just keep in mind these are 24-hour bridges, not a solution for the whole trip.

They’re perfect to book your first taxi and reach the hotel, then you’ll need something else.

4. Local SIM, eSIM or Roaming:

What Actually Makes Sense

Get an E-SIM, that’s all you need to know!

If you’ve been reading our blog for a while, you probably already know it… if it is the first time, I will say it one more time: I DAMN hate physical SIMS! 

I HATE changing SIM cards, I HATE having to find a needle that I never find, I HATE pushing it into my nail, and I HATE removing my SIM which then I will risk losing (plot twist, now I luckely do not have a SIM card anymore at all :)).

eSIMs are the future, they are convenient, and also in the UAE in my opinion they rule!

Apparently I am not the only one thinking it: according to the Trusted Connectivity Alliance, eSIM shipment volumes reached 503 million units in 2024, up 35% in a year. 

If you just want data from the moment you land, without queues or plastic cards, the Holafly eSIM plan in the UAE is a practical option I can definitely recommend for short stays!

You install it at home, and it connects as soon as you land.

Holafly recently added “Always On”, a backup of 1 GB of data per month included for every customer.

It’s handy if your main plan runs out on the last day, when you’re trying to find your gate;)

Just remember that most travel eSIMs are data-only: no local number, so calls go through the approved apps above!).

The alternative to E-Sims is Roaming….

 It’s the easy choice, but usually the most expensive one too.

A note for European readers: the EU “Roam Like at Home” rules don’t apply in the UAE, so check your operator’s daily price before your first scroll through Instagram.

Here’s a quick recap:

5. Check Your Phone

Before You Fly

Two quick checks at home save a lot of stress at arrivals.

First, make sure your phone is unlocked: if it’s locked to your carrier, nobody at the airport can fix that for you.

Second, if you want an eSIM, check that your phone supports it (on most phones it’s under Settings → Mobile data).

Then download the apps you’ll actually use.

Besides Uber, the big local one is Careem: it was founded in Dubai in 2012 and bought by Uber in 2020 for 3.1 billion dollars. Who would have thought a taxi app would become one of the region’s biggest tech stories? 😉

Finally, turn off automatic photo backups and app updates on mobile data, and keep banking and important logins for your own data connection rather than public Wi-Fi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

And here we come at the end of this article! 🙂

To recap:

• WhatsApp messages work, calls don’t.
• VPNs are fine unless they’re used for something illegal,
• photos of strangers are a serious legal matter,
• and your first 24 hours can be covered by a free airport SIM,
• with a convenient eSIM doing the rest.

Have you already been to the UAE?

Did you have any trouble with calls or SIM cards?

Let us know in the comments below, we always love to chit-chat with fellow travelers 😀

And if you’re one of those travelers who live on the road, maybe in a campervan like us, check out our guide on how to have internet in your camper and stay connected everywhere.

Thank you for reading, and see you in the next article! 🙂