United Arab Emirates: Mobile Coverage & Carriers
The United Arab Emirates has two major mobile network operators: Etisalat (e&) and du. Both carriers operate 3G, 4G/LTE, and 5G networks commercially in the country. Roaming eSIMs are likely to connect on LTE bands B3 (1800 MHz), B7 (2600 MHz), and B20 (800 MHz), as well as 5G bands n78 (3.5 GHz) and n258 (mmWave).
Both local carriers issue eSIMs, making digital SIM adoption accessible to residents and visitors. This allows users to activate service remotely without requiring a physical SIM card from either Etisalat or du.
| Connectivity | As publicly reported |
|---|---|
| Network generations | 3G, 4G/LTE, 5G |
| Main mobile networks (MNOs) | Etisalat (e&), du |
| Key travel bands | B3(1800), B7(2600), B20(800), n78(3.5GHz), n258(mmWave) |
| Local eSIM support | Local carriers issue eSIMs |
| Region | Middle East |
| Capital | Abu Dhabi |
| Calling code | +971 |
eSIM for United Arab Emirates → · eSIM vs roaming →
Compiled from public-record telecom facts (the MNO roster, commercially-launched 3G/4G/5G generations, deployed travel-relevant bands and local-eSIM support) and verified June 2026; see the source we compile this country from. How we compile this. Plan prices are supplied by the eSIM provider feed at publish time, not stored here.