Most visits to the United Arab Emirates start in Dubai, many add a day in Abu Dhabi, and some go further, to the dunes, the Hajar Mountains around Hatta or the beaches of Ras Al Khaimah. Coverage is excellent in the cities and along the motorways. Two things surprise visitors: some calling apps do not work, and the rules on photos and posts online are stricter than at home. Because the UAE sits outside the EU's Roam Like at Home zone, a European SIM is billed at its operator's roaming rates, often as a daily pass.
Key facts for the UAE
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: du (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: police 999, ambulance 998, fire 997
- Embassies: in Abu Dhabi, with consulates in Dubai for some countries
Regional tensions
Strikes and retaliatory attacks by Iran have hit a number of locations around the region since July 2026, and further escalation is possible. Short-notice airspace closures can disrupt flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi, so check your flight status before setting off for the airport. If you receive a shelter alert, go indoors and keep away from windows, and do not approach any drone or missile fragments: falling debris from interceptions is the biggest danger.
WhatsApp, FaceTime and calling apps
Voice and video calls on WhatsApp, FaceTime and Skype have long been blocked on UAE networks, while messages and photos work normally. Zoom and Microsoft Teams calls generally work, and licensed apps such as Botim offer calls with a paid plan from a local operator. For important calls, keep your regular phone line available, and expect international roaming rates on it.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi: metro, taxis and the heat
The Dubai Metro runs driverless trains across the city, coverage holds in its stations and on the trains, and a Nol card pays for the metro, buses and trams. Taxis and ride-hailing apps cover both cities. Summer is fierce, with afternoons above 40 °C from June to September; a phone left in direct sun or on a dashboard soon overheats, so keep it shaded and bring a power bank.
Photos and posts online
The UAE has strict privacy and cybercrime laws. Photographing people without their permission, or filming government and military sites, can lead to fines or detention, and posting such images, or insulting comments, online is a criminal offence. Ask before you photograph anyone, and think twice before posting about people you meet.
The desert and the mountains
On desert safaris and drives into the dunes, the signal fades quickly away from the main roads, and in the Hajar Mountains around Hatta it comes and goes. Go with a licensed operator, carry water, and download maps before leaving the city.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM is added from a QR code before departure, and its days only start once it first connects in the UAE. It gives you data rather than a local phone number, so your home line stays active for texts and one-time bank codes.
UAE tourist SIMs are on sale in the airport arrival halls and in operator stores, and your passport is needed to register one.
Consular protection: who to call in the UAE
- 999 is the police, 998 an ambulance and 997 the fire service; 996 is the coast guard.
- In Abu Dhabi, the police's AD999 app has an SOS button, and in Dubai the DCAS SOS app calls an ambulance and shares your location.
- Embassies are in Abu Dhabi, and some countries also have consulates in Dubai. The Telcomia app shows yours, with address and phone.
- If you are an EU citizen and your country has no embassy or consulate in the UAE, the embassy of any other EU country must help you on the same terms as its own nationals (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
- The app's Arabic emergency phrases cover the essentials if English isn't enough.
Questions travellers ask about the UAE
Can I make WhatsApp calls in Dubai?
Usually not: WhatsApp and FaceTime calls are restricted on UAE networks. Messages work normally.
Can I take photos in Dubai?
Of places, generally yes. Ask people before photographing them, and avoid government and military sites.
Which networks does a Telcomia eSIM use in the UAE?
du, depending on the plan, with 4G and 5G where available.
What is the emergency number in the UAE?
999 for the police, 998 for an ambulance and 997 for the fire service.
The short version
Install the eSIM before you fly, plan your calls around the app restrictions, ask before photographing people, check your flight before leaving for the airport, and save 999 and 998.
Related reads:
Ready to stay connected without surprises?
Activate your eSIM in seconds and travel connected in 200+ countries and territories.
See plans