Student SIM for UAE: land with a UAE number and 30GB already working, ₹3,499 ($41.99)
A UAE local number in your name before you fly, 30GB for your first 30 days on Etisalat by e& and du networks, 100 minutes to India, then ₹2,199 a month with the same number.
UAE student SIM at a glance
The Universal eSIMs UAE student SIM (Arrive Connected UAE) costs ₹3,499 ($41.99) for 30 days with 30GB on Etisalat by e& and du networks, a UAE local number active before departure and 100 India minutes. Monthly continuation costs ₹2,199. Local prepaid plans in UAE cost AED 50 to AED 125 a month, approx.
Prices checked on 25 October 2026 · Hotspot allowed on every plan · Full refund if your phone cannot install the eSIM
Arrive Connected UAE: plans and prices
Prices include GST. Pay by UPI, card or PayPal; parents can pay from India. A consultant code takes 10% off the starter.
Starter kit
30GB, 30 days₹3,499 ($41.99)
- UAE local number in your name, live within 48 hours
- 100 minutes to India
- Hotspot allowed
- Etisalat by e& and du networks
Monthly continuation
30GB, 30 days₹2,199 ($25.99)
- Same UAE local number
- 100 India minutes a month
- Renews only when you confirm
- Or hand off to a local carrier partner
Parent calling pack
30 days₹999 ($11.99)
- 300 minutes India to your UAE number
- 3GB in UAE for a parent travelling with you
- Installs on the parent's phone
- Buy any time from your account
Arrive Connected UAE pricing, launch pricing
New city. New beginnings. One less worry.
A local number before you fly, data working the moment you land, and someone to message when anything needs a hand.
What you need a UAE number for in UAE
Each of these verifies a local mobile by SMS or calls you back on it. With the UAE local number active before departure you can start most of them from India.
Week-one tasks in UAE that need a local number
How Arrive Connected UAE works: the pre-departure timeline
Visa approved: order the kit (2 to 8 weeks before you fly)
Choose Arrive Connected UAE, enter your passport details and travel date, add a consultant code if you have one for 10% off. Pay by UPI or card.
Within 48 hours: your local number is assigned
We email the UAE number, the eSIM QR code and a one-page setup sheet. The number is yours from this point; give it to your university and bank.
One week before departure: install on Wi-Fi
Scan the QR on your phone at home. Takes two minutes. The data plan stays dormant until the eSIM first connects abroad, so nothing is used in India.
Departure day: switch it on at the gate
Turn on the Universal eSIM line and data roaming for that line only. UAE networks connect automatically on landing and your 30 days start then.
Day 25: choose how to continue
Renew the monthly plan in the app, or take the hand-off to a local carrier partner. Your number stays the same either way.
iPhone install guide · Android install guide · eSIM not connecting?
UAE student SIM vs local prepaid carriers vs Indian roaming
Carrier prices are approximate list prices for prepaid plans, indicative for October 2026, converted at indicative rates, and exclude activation fees and taxes where carriers add them. They change often; check the carrier before you decide.
Getting connected in UAE: the options
The case for the kit is not that it is always the cheapest line item. Local prepaid can be cheaper per month once you are settled, and the day-25 hand-off exists for exactly that reason. The kit wins on the first two weeks: the number exists before you land, the identity check is done, and India calling is included.
Your first 7 days in UAE: checklist
- Day 1Switch on the eSIM at the gate. DXB immigration is fast; book a Careem with your UAE number from arrivals.
- Day 2Complete your medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics as the university visa office schedules them.
- Day 3Attend orientation and set up the university portal with your UAE number.
- Day 4Register for UAE Pass once your Emirates ID application number is issued.
- Day 5Open a bank account with passport, visa page, admission letter and your UAE number.
- Day 6Get a student Nol card for Dubai Metro or the equivalent in Abu Dhabi or Sharjah.
- Day 7Register your tenancy (Ejari in Dubai) if you rent off campus.
Timings are typical, not fixed. Immigration, university and bank rules change; confirm current requirements with your university's international office.
Universities and cities covered
Universities where Indian students commonly enrol
- NYU Abu Dhabi
- Khalifa University
- American University of Sharjah
- University of Sharjah
- Heriot-Watt University Dubai
- University of Birmingham Dubai
- BITS Pilani Dubai
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education Dubai
- Amity University Dubai
- Middlesex University Dubai
- University of Wollongong in Dubai
- Abu Dhabi University
Coverage is on the same national networks local students use. University-specific pages follow after launch.
Cities
- Dubai
- Abu Dhabi
- Sharjah
- Ajman
- Ras Al Khaimah
- Al Ain
Intakes
- Fall: early September
- Spring: mid January
- Summer: June, short terms
Most Indian students fly in the last two weeks of August and the first week of January. Flights from India are short and frequent, so many parents accompany students for the first week; the parent pack covers them.
UAE tips from the setup sheet
- Regular VoIP calling is restricted on UAE networks. WhatsApp text and media work normally; voice and video calls over WhatsApp, FaceTime and Zoom are inconsistent. Botim and university-licensed Teams or Zoom accounts are the reliable options. We cannot guarantee any VoIP app on a local UAE number.
- Emirates ID and visa appointments move quickly; missing an SMS can cost a week. A UAE number registered in your name before you land avoids that.
- Keep your Indian SIM on a low plan for Indian bank OTPs, data roaming off.
Registration and regulation. UAE regulations require every local number to be registered to an identified person using Emirates ID, or passport and visa for new arrivals. We pre-register the number against your passport and entry permit; the number is confirmed when your Emirates ID is issued. Confirm current rules with the TDRA.
Policies that apply to this plan
Reviews from students in UAE
Verified reviews from students, filtered by country and university, appear here after our launch beta. They come from Trustpilot and our own post-arrival survey. We do not show placeholder or purchased reviews. Read the review policy.
Your number is ready before your flight is.
Order from India, collect the SIM at home or at the airport, and land with a working local number.
UAE student SIM questions
What does the UAE student SIM include?
Arrive Connected UAE includes a UAE local number in your name that is live before you fly, 30GB of data for 30 days on Etisalat by e& and du networks, 100 minutes of calls to India, hotspot, and a setup sheet with the UAE first-week checklist. It costs ₹3,499 ($41.99) including GST.
Why do I need a UAE number before I land in UAE?
The ICP sends biometric appointment details and card collection notices by SMS to a UAE number. Your student residence visa is tied to the Emirates ID. Emirates NBD, ADCB, Mashreq Neo and FAB verify a UAE mobile for the app and for every transfer. Most will not open an account without one. With the number already on your phone you complete these from India or on day one.
How much does the UAE student SIM cost per month after the first 30 days?
The monthly continuation costs ₹2,199 ($25.99) for 30GB a month with the same number and 100 India minutes. A full first year, starter plus 11 months, comes to ₹27,688. Local carrier prepaid plans cost AED 50 to AED 125 a month (approx. ₹1,150 to ₹2,860) and charge extra for India calls.
Which networks does the UAE student SIM use?
Etisalat by e& and du networks. Your phone picks the strongest signal in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and across the country. Campus coverage at NYU Abu Dhabi, Khalifa University, American University of Sharjah is on the same national networks that local students use.
Is 30GB enough for a student in UAE?
For most students, yes. Campus and accommodation Wi-Fi carry most video and downloads; mobile data covers maps, messaging, video calls home and hotspot for a laptop. Students typically use 15GB to 35GB a month. If you expect more, the Global eSIM 20GB top-up can be added from the app.
Does the UAE student SIM need identity registration?
UAE regulations require every local number to be registered to an identified person using Emirates ID, or passport and visa for new arrivals. We pre-register the number against your passport and entry permit; the number is confirmed when your Emirates ID is issued. Confirm current rules with the TDRA.
When are the UAE intakes and when should I order?
Fall: early September. Spring: mid January. Summer: June, short terms. Most Indian students fly in the last two weeks of August and the first week of January. Flights from India are short and frequent, so many parents accompany students for the first week; the parent pack covers them.
Can my parents call me on the UAE number?
Yes. Any Indian phone can call the UAE local number at that operator's international rate, or use the parent calling pack: ₹999 for 300 minutes to your number plus 3GB of data valid in UAE for 30 days, for parents who travel with you.
How do I use a consultant code for the UAE student SIM?
Enter the code at checkout. It takes 10% off the starter, so ₹3,499 becomes ₹3,149. Your consultant earns 15% commission. If your consultant does not have a code yet, send them the education consultants page.
What if my phone does not support eSIM?
We post a physical student SIM with the same UAE local number and plan to any address in India in 1 to 3 days, with KYC completed online under DoT rules. See delivery and KYC. Check your phone first with the compatibility checker.
Related pages
UAE travel eSIM for short visits · All student SIM countries · Arrive Connected kit explained · For education consultants · eSIM compatibility checker · Physical SIM delivery and KYC · Student connectivity checklist · USA student SIM · UK student SIM · Canada student SIM · Australia student SIM
Land in UAE with your number already working
Order after your visa is approved. UAE local number within 48 hours, 30GB from the moment you land, 100 minutes home. Full refund before the number is assigned.