How to Set up a Phone Plan in Dubai – A Newbie’s Guide
If you’ve just moved to Dubai, getting a phone plan set up is probably pretty high on your things-to-do list. But don’t worry if you don’t know where to start. Here’s a little breakdown of how I set up my long-term phone plan in Dubai!
Do note that this is a guide for new expats who have just moved to Dubai or anyone who would like a longer-term phone plan. I’ll leave short-term tourist plans and e-sim options for another post!
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase or booking through one of these links, I may earn a small commission (which I’m so thankful for!) at no extra cost to you.
Setting up a phone plan in Dubai
So there are three phone providers in Dubai: e& (Etisalat), du, and Virgin Mobile (which are all government-owned). I do not have experience with all of these providers, but I have used Virgin Mobile for the past three years, so that is what I’ll be talking about in this post.
Not only am I super happy with the service with Virgin, but the price is an absolute steal when compared to not only Etisalat and du, but also to phone plans in my home country of the US. But please feel free to compare and contrast plans with these three companies to see what will work best for you!
Why I Chose Virgin Mobile
Because I had just moved to Dubai and knew I’d be here for the long haul, I chose Virgin because they give 50% off 1-year prepaid phone plans. I asked for the bare minimum phone plan, which gives me 3 GB of data and 50 minutes or 50 text messages. They also gave the option of a physical or an e-SIM.
This plan works perfectly for me, but you can choose whatever type of plan suits your needs. For example, if you need more data, require international minutes, or want unlimited text messaging or minutes, there will be an option that works for you.
At the end of the day, my basic plan only costs me AED498 (US$136) per year, which works out to AED42 (US$11.30) per month. For me, this was unexpectedly cheap!
How to set up a Virgin mobile plan
You’ll find Virgin Mobile stores all around the city. You can do a quick search on Google Maps to find the closest one to you, but you’ll likely find a branch in your closest mall. I personally set mine up at the Virgin store on the first floor of the Dubai Marina Mall.
If you’ve just arrived in Dubai and don’t have an Emirates ID, you will want to bring your passport with you in order to set up your plan. If you’re already a resident, you’ll need to bring your Emirates ID to set up your plan.
choose your phone number carefully
Taking a moment to choose your phone number is actually helpful in the long run. The woman who assisted us really emphasized the importance of getting a number that’s easy to memorize. And she was so right. As we quickly learned, you’ll use your phone number for everything in Dubai. From making doctors’ appointments to setting up all of your accounts – your phone number is basically tied to everything here!
Why it’s important to keep your phone number
As a newcomer to Dubai, you’re going to be setting up a lot of accounts with your phone number, which is why it’s so important that you don’t lose your phone number and need to change it on everything. This would be an enormous pain.
With that in mind, if you do set up your phone plan before you get your Emirates ID (like I did), you will need to return to the Virgin store within 60 days with your Emirates ID in order to have them register your ID.
If you don’t do this, you’re not only going to lose your 1-year prepaid plan, but you’ll lose your phone number. The people at the store will explain this to you but just don’t forget to return the moment you get your Emirates ID.
A few tips for setting up your phone
Why tons of minutes, international calls, and texts aren’t necessary
If you’ve never lived abroad before, you might think I’m crazy for having a phone plan that only allows for either 50 phone minutes or 50 text messages. That’s because everyone in Dubai uses an app called WhatsApp (one of the many must-have apps in Dubai!).
WhatsApp is totally free, and it’s basically used as a substitute for text messaging. So instead of paying for texts through your phone plan, you can just message through WhatsApp for free. I also use WhatsApp to make calls (video and voice) to my family back home in the US for free. This is another reason why I didn’t choose to add on international minutes or extra minutes/texts (which honestly come at a hefty price).
Another reason I opted for a plan with only 3 GB of data is because Wi-Fi is seemingly everywhere in Dubai. So I don’t find myself needing all that much data. But you should choose an amount of data that will realistically work for you to avoid having to pay extra to top-up your data if you run out, which you can do very easily using the Virgin Mobile app.
Also, if you’re ever in need of international minutes or other services not included in your phone plan, you can always purchase them using the app.
Why you should get a VPN
In Dubai, most messaging services (video and voice) are blocked, including WhatsApp. If you’re wondering why your call isn’t going through – that’s why.
So, having a VPN is handy if you want to use apps like WhatsApp to make calls. It’s not illegal to have a VPN, don’t worry. I personally use ExpressVPN, but there are loads of options.
