UAE eSIM for travellers from India: skip ₹575 to ₹1,101 a day in roaming
Pay in UPI, get a GST invoice, keep your Indian number for OTPs, and land in the United Arab Emirates with data on Etisalat by e&, du. 5GB for ₹1,049.
7-day trip to UAE: what you pay
Roaming figures are typical list prices of Indian operators in October 2026; check your operator for the exact pack.
For travellers from India, a UAE eSIM from Universal eSIMs costs ₹1,049 for 5GB over 30 days, against roughly ₹4,025 for seven days of Jio, Airtel or Vi daily roaming packs. You pay by UPI, get a GST invoice, keep your Indian SIM active for OTPs, and connect to Etisalat by e&, du the moment you land.
Prices checked on 25 October 2026 · Hotspot allowed on every plan · Full refund if your phone cannot install the eSIM
UAE eSIM plans in rupees
1GB 7 days
₹299 ($3.99)
- Weekend trip, maps and messages
- Instant QR by email and app
- Hotspot allowed
3GB 15 days
₹699 ($8.49)
- Light use for up to two weeks
- Instant QR by email and app
- Hotspot allowed
5GB 30 days
₹1,049 ($12.99)
- Most one-week trips
- Instant QR by email and app
- Hotspot allowed
10GB 30 days
₹1,699 ($19.99)
- Two weeks with photos and video calls
- Instant QR by email and app
- Hotspot allowed
20GB 30 days
₹2,799 ($32.99)
- Heavy use, hotspot for a laptop
- Instant QR by email and app
- Hotspot allowed
Unlimited 7 days
₹2,299 ($26.99)
- Streaming and navigation all week
- Instant QR by email and app
- Hotspot allowed
- Full speed to 2GB a day, then 3Mbps
Unlimited 15 days
₹3,799 ($44.99)
- Two weeks without counting
- Instant QR by email and app
- Hotspot allowed
- Full speed to 2GB a day, then 3Mbps
Unlimited 30 days
₹5,999 ($69.99)
- Long stays and remote work
- Instant QR by email and app
- Hotspot allowed
- Full speed to 2GB a day, then 3Mbps
Indian roaming vs UAE eSIM: the full comparison
Connectivity options for Indians visiting UAE
How to set up dual SIM for UAE
- Keep your Jio, Airtel or Vi SIM as the primary line for calls and SMS. Turn data roaming off for that line.
- Install the Universal eSIM on home Wi-Fi. Name the line "UAE" so it is easy to find.
- Set the eSIM as the default data line and turn data roaming on for the eSIM only.
- On landing, the eSIM connects to Etisalat by e& or du. Your Indian SIM registers for incoming SMS automatically.
- WhatsApp stays on your Indian number. Bank OTPs arrive on your Indian SIM. All browsing, maps and video use the eSIM.
Step-by-step with screenshots: iPhone · Android.
What travellers from India should know about UAE
- Regular VoIP apps are restricted on UAE networks. Our UAE eSIM routes data internationally, so WhatsApp and FaceTime calls usually work, but we cannot guarantee it for every app.
- DXB immigration uses smart gates for Indian passport holders with a valid visa; you are through in minutes, so have data ready for Careem at the kerb.
- A 5GB plan covers a one-week Dubai holiday with maps, Instagram and messaging. Add hotspot use for a family and pick 10GB.
- Prices in AED are shown in the currency switcher; you are charged in INR with GST included.
- Visiting Oman or Saudi Arabia on the same trip? Our Middle East regional eSIM covers all three.
Peak demand from India: October to March (cool season, Dubai Shopping Festival, New Year). Visiting more than one country? The Middle East regional eSIM covers 12 countries.
Flights from India and arrival airports
Direct and one-stop flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Kochi arrive at Dubai (DXB), Abu Dhabi Zayed (AUH), Sharjah (SHJ). Coverage on Etisalat by e& is available from the arrival gate, so switch on the eSIM line as soon as the aircraft doors open.
UAE eSIM from India: your questions
Is a UAE eSIM cheaper than Jio, Airtel or Vi international roaming?
Yes. Daily international roaming packs from Indian operators cost roughly ₹575 to ₹1,101 per day for 0.5 to 1GB, so a 7-day trip costs about ₹4,025 or more at the low end. The Universal eSIMs UAE 5GB 30-day plan costs ₹1,049, a saving of about 74 percent, with more data and hotspot included. Pay-as-you-go roaming without a pack can cost several hundred rupees per MB and is the most common cause of bill shock.
Can I keep my Indian number active while using the UAE eSIM?
Yes, and you should. Keep your Jio, Airtel or Vi SIM in the phone with data roaming switched off for that line. You will still receive calls and SMS OTPs for banking, Aadhaar and UPI on your Indian number (incoming SMS is free on most Indian plans abroad; incoming calls are charged by your operator unless you have a roaming pack). Use the Universal eSIM line for all data.
Will UPI, Paytm, Google Pay and bank OTPs work abroad?
OTPs arrive by SMS on your Indian SIM as long as it is switched on and registered on a UAE network, which happens automatically even without a roaming pack on most operators. UPI apps then work over the eSIM data. Some banks require the SIM that holds the registered number to have data; if a payment app insists, switch data to your Indian SIM briefly for the verification step.
Do I need KYC or documents to buy a UAE eSIM from India?
No. Travel eSIMs for foreign networks are data-only and sold without KYC. You need an email address and a payment method. Physical international SIMs delivered in India do require KYC under Department of Telecommunications rules; see the physical travel SIM page.
How do I pay from India?
UPI (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, BHIM), RuPay, Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards, net banking, Apple Pay and Google Pay. Prices include GST and you receive a GST invoice by email, which is useful for business travellers claiming expenses.
What if I cannot install the eSIM?
Message us on WhatsApp; most installation problems are fixed in under ten minutes with a screen-share. If your phone turns out to be locked or not eSIM-capable, we refund in full and can courier a physical UAE SIM to most Indian cities in 1 to 3 days.
Should I buy the eSIM before I leave India?
Yes. Installation needs Wi-Fi, which is easiest at home. Buy a day or more before departure, install on Wi-Fi, and leave the line switched off until you land in the United Arab Emirates. Validity starts only on first connection.
Which is better for UAE: eSIM, airport SIM, or an Indian operator pack?
For trips under 30 days with an eSIM-capable phone, the eSIM is cheapest and easiest. The airport SIM (du or Etisalat Visitor Line, about AED 50 to AED 125 for 2 to 6GB) is reasonable if you have time to queue and need a local number. The Indian operator pack makes sense only if you must receive many regular calls on your Indian number and do not want to manage two lines.
More for travellers from India
• UAE eSIM (main page)
· • 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia eSIM from India
· • 🇹🇷 Turkey eSIM from India
· • 🇬🇧 UK eSIM from India
· • Roaming cost calculator
· • Physical SIM delivered in India
· • eSIM vs international roaming explained
Pay in UPI today, connect in UAE tomorrow
GST invoice included. Keep your Indian number. Full refund if your phone cannot install the eSIM.
UAE eSIM for travellers from India
Prepaid UAE data eSIM sold in INR with GST invoice. Networks: Etisalat by e&, du. Hotspot allowed.
Product Brand: Universal eSIMs