ChildrenSame price as an adult · 3 GB recommended (Light use)
3. One plan for all 4
Price per eSIM
Other data amountsfrom 1 GB to 100 GB
Different needs?More data for the parents, less for the children: choose a plan for each traveller.
Each phone must support eSIM; this check does not block your purchase.
Final price−10% from 3 eSIMs
From €3.80, all included
per traveller (1 GB · 1 day), no fees added at checkout
Your order
UAE · 7 days · 4 eSIMs
4 eSIMs · 5 GB7 days · €13.50 per eSIM€54.00
Family discount −10%−€5.40
FeesIncluded
Total to pay€48.60
that's €12.15 per person
Bank cardApple PayGoogle Pay
Installation link received usually in under 2 minutes
The plan starts the first time you connect at your destination
Payment secured by Stripe: your card details never pass through Sirocco
Total · 4 eSIMs€48.60−€5.40 discount included
Before you pay
eSIM UAE: the essentials
Each traveller has their own eSIM and their own plan. Here is how it works, in short.
eSIM UAE · from €3.80
Networks
Du and Etisalat, on 4G and 5G (depending on the plan, details below)
Use
Data only: no UAE number. WhatsApp, FaceTime and other calling apps work over your data.
Plan start
Your plan starts the first time the eSIM UAE connects on arrival. Install the eSIM before you leave, on Wi-Fi. To be activated within 90 days of purchase.
Unlimited
1 GB a day at full speed, reset every 24 hours from activation. Then reduced to 512 kbit/s. An unlimited plan cannot be topped up.
GB plans
Can be topped up from the trip dashboard, with no reinstalling: only the eSIM of the traveller concerned is topped up.
The online diagnostic checks your eSIM with the operator and gives you the fix. If the fault lies with the network, we send you a new eSIM, free of charge.
Support
Replies 7 days a week from an automated assistant, in your language, usually within minutes; the team takes over Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 6 pm (Paris time).
Choose my eSIMsThe group price appears straight away, discount included.
Free · 20-page PDF guide
The Emirates with the family
Documents, money, health, emergency numbers
Our places: restaurants, outings, with phone numbers and GPS directions
Itineraries, useful words, a page to print
Catalogue prices
eSIM UAE plans and prices
One eSIM per traveller, one price per traveller. The configurator shows the group price straight away, discount included.
From
€3.80
per traveller, before group discount
7 days trip
from €8.30
unlimited at €24.20
Group discount
−10%
from 3 eSIMs, shown before you pay
The choices offered at checkout, by trip length
Exactly the configurator's choices, for each length sold. Prices per traveller.
eSIM UAE: choices offered by trip length, price per traveller
Trip length
Light useMessages, maps, email
Regular use+ social media, photos
Heavy use+ video, video calls
UnlimitedNo counting, for the whole trip
1 day
—
1 GB · €3.80
—
€5.60
3 days
1 GB · €3.80
2 GB · €7.60
—
€10.90
5 days
—
3 GB · €8.30
—
€16.60
7 days
3 GB · €8.30
5 GB · €13.50
10 GB · €20.30Valid for 30 days
€24.20
10 days
3 GB · €8.50Valid for 30 days
10 GB · €20.30Valid for 30 days
12 GB · €32.00Valid for 15 days
€42.70Valid for 15 days
15 days
5 GB · €13.50
10 GB · €20.30Valid for 30 days
20 GB · €32.80Valid for 30 days
€42.70
30 days
10 GB · €20.30
20 GB · €32.80
—
€83.50
90 days
50 GB · €135.70
—
100 GB · €229.70Valid for 180 days
—
180 days
—
—
100 GB · €229.70
—
Unlimited. 1 GB a day at full speed, reset every 24 hours from activation. Then reduced to 512 kbit/s. “—”: choice not offered for this length. For your exact dates, the configurator picks the plans that cover the whole trip.
Example: 4 travellers, 7 days, Regular use · 5 GB
4 × €13.50 · Group discount −10% (−€5.40) · that is €12.15 per person
Possible networks, depending on the plan and availability: the UAE eSIM connects to one of these local operators via roaming.
UAE eSIM: mobile networks by plan
Plans
Operators
Network
All plans
Du and Etisalat
4G5G
5G depends on local coverage and on whether your phone supports it.
As a family or a group
One purchase, one eSIM per person.
1
Search as a group
Destination, dates and number of travellers. The group price shows straight away.
2
Confirm each phone
You confirm that each phone accepts eSIMs. A guide shows you how to check in 30 seconds.
3
Pay once
Total, price per person and discount shown before you pay.
4
Everyone installs their own
A personal link for each traveller, a step-by-step guide, a QR code as a backup.
Send each traveller their eSIM
Enter each traveller's number: they receive a personal link by SMS to install their eSIM.
No number? Send the link by e-mail or share it yourself.
Sent
Opened
Installed
Connected
Someone has run out of data?
You top up their eSIM from the trip dashboard, with no reinstallation and without affecting the others. Data used up: the connection stops and nothing extra is charged.
Child mode
When you order, choose the Child profile for a traveller.
Choose my eSIMsThe group price appears straight away, discount included.
Getting set up
Install before you leave, switch on when you land
Before you leave, on Wi-Fi: open your personal link and follow the guide (iPhone or Android). Do not delete the eSIM afterwards: it cannot always be reinstalled.
When you arrive: turn on data roaming for the Sirocco line only.
Your usual line stays active for calls and texts, at your operator's rates.
Comparison between the Sirocco eSIM, your operator's data roaming and a SIM card bought locally
Sirocco eSIM
Your operator's data roaming
SIM card bought locally
Installation
before you leave
nothing to install
on arrival
Price
shown before you pay
depends on your plan: check with your operator
depends on the seller
Your usual number
stays active alongside
yes
card removed from the phone, unless dual SIM
For a group
one purchase, one eSIM per person, everyone's progress visible
each person sorts it out with their operator
each person buys their own
Choose my eSIMsThe group price appears straight away, discount included.
Practical guide
Planning a family trip to Dubai, Abu Dhabi or the other emirates? Here is what to sort out before you fly: passports, medicines, money, driving and emergency numbers. Every fact comes from an official source, cited and dated.
Entry requirements for the UAE
British citizens
Your passport must have an expiry date at least 6 months after the date you arrive. You will be refused entry without a valid travel document, or with a passport reported lost or stolen.1
A visitor visa is issued free of charge on arrival, with no need to apply in advance. It is valid for up to 90 days over a 180-day period from your first entry, in one stay or several.1
Overstaying brings fines that can build up for each extra day. To extend your stay, contact the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai, or the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship elsewhere.1
Under UK law, you need the permission of everyone with parental responsibility before taking a child abroad. A letter from them, with their contact details and the trip details, is usually enough; a birth or adoption certificate helps to show your relationship.2
You might be asked for that letter at a UK or foreign border. Single parents whose family name differs from the child's should also carry a divorce or marriage certificate.2
A child who is subject to a custody dispute may be prevented from leaving the UAE.1
Checked on 11 October 2026. Source: GOV.UK. Rules can change: check them again before you travel.
U.S. citizens
Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of entry. The UAE does not accept 12-page emergency passports.3
For personal travel of 30 days or less, U.S. citizens with a regular passport can get a no-fee visitor visa on arrival. An extension can be requested, at the discretion of immigration officials.3
Every traveller must leave the UAE on the passport used to enter. The UAE does not recognise dual nationality: only the citizenship of the passport used to enter counts.3
Children travelling to most countries need their own U.S. passport. A child travelling with only one parent may need a letter of consent from the other parent, preferably in English and notarised.4
USA.gov advises asking the embassy of the country you are visiting about consent letters and other entry and exit requirements for children.4
Checked on 11 October 2026. Source: U.S. Department of State, USAGov. Rules can change: check them again before you travel.
Travelling on another passport, such as Irish, Canadian or Australian? The rules may differ: check with your own government before you go.
Health and insurance
The only vaccination requirement is a yellow fever certificate, and only if you are coming from a country listed as a transmission risk.1
UK travellers: at least 8 weeks before the trip, check the latest vaccine advice for the UAE and see where to get vaccines on the NHS travel vaccinations page. U.S. travellers: be up to date with the vaccinations the CDC advises.56
Healthcare is similar to the UK's, but you may be refused treatment without insurance or the means to pay, and prevented from leaving the UAE if you cannot pay the bill. Hospitals usually ask for advance payment or proof of insurance, except in emergencies.56
Medicare does not apply overseas, and the State Department strongly recommends supplemental insurance covering medical evacuation. The Abu Dhabi tourism authority states that all visitors must have medical insurance.67
Medication: get approval online from the UAE Ministry of Health before you travel; applications are normally processed within 5 working days. Visitors can bring up to 3 months' supply, or one month's for medicines on the approval list. Keep them in the original packaging with the prescription.16
Money and payments
The currency is the UAE dirham (AED), divided into 100 fils and pegged to the US dollar.8
Withdrawing cash from machines and paying by credit or debit card are usually straightforward. To change money, use a licensed exchange centre, found at airports, in malls and in commercial areas.910
Cash, jewellery or other goods worth more than 60,000 dirhams must be declared in advance, on arrival or departure.11
Plugs and electricity
In Abu Dhabi the supply is 220/240 volts at 50 Hz and the standard sockets are square three-pin. Bring an adapter if your plugs differ: most hotels can lend one, and they are sold locally.7
Getting around and driving
UK photocard driving licences can be used in the UAE; with an old paper licence, you may need a photocard or the correct international driving permit. U.S. visitors can drive on a valid state licence, though an international permit may be required in some emirates.1213
Traffic drives on the right, front seat belts are compulsory and you may not turn right on a red light unless a dedicated lane allows it. There is zero tolerance for drinking and driving.13
After an accident, stay at the scene until the police arrive. Traffic fines must be paid before you leave the country.13
Use licensed taxis only: cream with coloured roofs in Dubai (pink roofs have female drivers), silver or grey in Abu Dhabi. Special taxis for women and children can be hailed or booked.12
On foot, cross only at designated crossings and keep children close: vehicles often do not stop at zebra crossings.12
Time difference and when to go
The UAE is 4 hours ahead of GMT and does not use daylight saving: 4 hours ahead of the UK in winter, 3 hours during British Summer Time. At midday in Abu Dhabi, it is 3am in New York, not allowing for summer time.87
The climate is desert: warm and sunny in winter, hot and humid in summer. In Abu Dhabi, temperatures run from around 13C on winter nights to around 42C on summer days, and the little rain falls mainly from November to March.87
November to April is the most pleasant time for a family trip, with days around 24C and nights around 13C.7
Staying connected as a family
Most hotels offer free Wi-Fi to guests, as do most malls and many other public places. The networks your eSIM uses are listed in the mobile networks section.14
According to Germany's Federal Foreign Office, some widely used messaging apps cannot make calls in the UAE, only send text and voice messages. Video-conferencing apps or ordinary paid calls are the alternatives.10
Install everyone's eSIM at home over Wi-Fi before you leave, so the whole family is online as soon as you land. The installation guide takes a few minutes.
The Sirocco eSIM is for data only: to call a local number, use your usual line at your operator's rates.
Travelling with children
Abu Dhabi is very family-friendly: baby changing rooms and play areas are common in malls and hotels, and most restaurants offer kids' menus and high chairs.7
Under-18s cannot stay in a hotel unless an adult is with them.12
Swim only from approved beaches with lifeguards and flags showing it is safe: rip currents can occur at any beach. Pack a jumper too, as air conditioning in hotels and cinemas can be fierce.127
For desert trips or quad-biking, choose a reputable company with proper health and safety procedures, and check that your insurance covers the activity.12
During Ramadan, eating or drinking in public in the daytime, including in your car, may cause offence. Check shop and restaurant opening hours.12
Emergency numbers
From anywhere in the UAE: police 999, ambulance 998, fire service (Civil Defence) 997.1516
The U.S. State Department gives 999 for both police and ambulance.13
Tourism police: Abu Dhabi +97128002626 or +97125127777; Dubai +971504538107.15
In the UK, the FCDO answers 24 hours a day on 020 7008 5000 if something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.16
The Sirocco eSIM cannot make calls: dial emergency numbers from your usual line.
Your questions
eSIM UAE: frequently asked questions
Questions about the eSIM
Is my phone compatible?
On the phone, dial *#06#: if an EID number appears, it accepts eSIMs. It must not be locked to a network (a phone bought with a contract). Sirocco does not check the model: you confirm each phone yourself when you order.
The eSIM activates the first time it connects to a network at your destination; the plan runs from that moment. You can install it before you leave.
Can I buy the whole family's eSIMs in one go?
Yes. You choose the destination, the dates and the number of travellers (up to 10), then a plan for each person. You pay once. Each traveller then receives their personal installation link, without creating an account. From 3 eSIMs in the same order, 10% is taken off the total, rounded in your favour. The discount is shown before payment.
Do I keep my usual number?
Yes. The Sirocco eSIM is added alongside your usual line, which stays active for calls and texts, at your operator's rates. The Sirocco eSIM is for data only: internet calling and messaging apps work with your data.
What happens when my data runs out?
The connection stops; nothing extra is charged. You can top up the eSIM concerned from the trip dashboard, on the same eSIM, with no reinstallation.
Is the unlimited plan really unlimited?
There is no data cap, but a fair use policy applies. 1 GB a day at full speed, reset every 24 hours from activation. Then reduced to 512 kbit/s.
Can I transfer an eSIM that is already installed?
No: an installed eSIM stays tied to the phone it was installed on. Before installation, the organiser can reassign an eSIM to another traveller from the trip dashboard.
Questions about the trip
Do I need a visa to visit the UAE?
British citizens get a free visitor visa on arrival, valid for up to 90 days over 180 days. U.S. citizens get a no-fee visitor visa on arrival for personal trips of 30 days or less.
How long must my passport be valid for the UAE?
At least 6 months after the date you arrive for British passports, and six months beyond the date of entry for U.S. passports. U.S. 12-page emergency passports are not accepted.
I am travelling alone with my children: what should I carry?
A letter of permission from the other parent, with their contact details and the trip details, plus a birth or adoption certificate. USA.gov prefers consent letters in English and notarised.
Can my teenager travel to the UAE without us?
Check carefully first. Under-18s cannot stay in a hotel without an adult, and Germany's Federal Foreign Office states that minors may only enter with a parent or guardian. Ask the UAE embassy before booking.
Are any vaccinations compulsory for the UAE?
Only a yellow fever certificate, and only if you are coming from a country with a transmission risk. Check the latest vaccine advice at least 8 weeks before you travel.
Can I bring my child's prescription medicine?
Yes, with approval from the UAE Ministry of Health, applied for online before you travel. Visitors can bring up to 3 months' supply, or one month's for medicines on the approval list.
Do I need a plug adapter in the UAE?
In Abu Dhabi, the standard sockets are square three-pin, at 220/240 volts. Bring an adapter if your plugs differ; most hotels can supply one.
Can I drive in the UAE with my licence?
A UK photocard licence can be used. U.S. visitors can drive on a valid state licence, but some emirates may require an international permit. Traffic drives on the right.
What is the time difference with the UAE?
The UAE is 4 hours ahead of GMT all year, so 4 hours ahead of the UK in winter and 3 hours in summer. At midday in Abu Dhabi, it is 3am in New York.
When is the best time to visit the UAE with children?
November to April, when days are around 24C and nights around 13C. Summer days in Abu Dhabi reach around 42C.
Which numbers should I call in an emergency in the UAE?
999 for the police, 998 for an ambulance and 997 for the fire service. Call from your usual line, as the Sirocco eSIM is for data only.
Can we make calls on messaging apps in the UAE?
Not always: Germany's Federal Foreign Office says some widely used apps only send text and voice messages there. Video-conferencing apps remain an option, and most hotels offer free Wi-Fi.
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