Prepaid SIM / eSIM in Abu Dhabi: How to Buy a 4G Internet SIM Card?

Free Mobile

Abu Dhabi is one of the emirates of the United Arab Emirates.

Good news: Free Mobile has recently added the United Arab Emirates to its list of destinations with no roaming fees.

If you have a Free Mobile plan at €20/month, you can enjoy 35 GB of internet data in Abu Dhabi without risking a massive bill.

Buy a SIM Card for Abu Dhabi on Amazon

Amazon offers various SIM card deals valid for the United Arab Emirates.

For example, you can check out this offer which gives you 3 GB of data across the Middle East.

Buy an eSIM for Abu Dhabi

If you have a compatible phone, Holafly also offers an eSIM solution for the United Arab Emirates, and thus Abu Dhabi (see our article on the subject).

Check out eSIM deals for the United Arab Emirates. Feel free to use the promo code TOURDUMONDE5CONTINENTS

Buying a SIM card in town

Since I only had a short stay, I didn’t have time to look into getting a SIM card in the city. Feel free to share your experiences in the comments.

Buying a SIM card at the airport

Unlike Dubai, you won’t be surprised to find a free SIM card in your passport after going through immigration.

After immigration, near the baggage claim area, you’ll find various stands selling SIM cards.

Here are the prices I noticed.

Honestly, I find these offers extremely expensive. The cheapest Virgin Mobile plan costs more than €35!

It would be more cost-effective to get a Free Mobile plan before leaving and cancel it at the end of your stay!

If you’re only staying a few days and don’t need much data, the etisalat offer at 49 AED for 2 GB is decent, though. It’ll be enough for Google Maps or ordering an Uber, for example.