In this article, I will focus on how Airalo Discover eSIM works in the United Arab Emirates. I did not expect to be incredibly grateful that calls are part of this fantastic product this time. One never knows what could happen while travelling.
Disclaimer: Some links in this article contain affiliate links. If you click on the link and purchase any service, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
If you want to compare Airalo Menalink eSIM with other eSIMs for the UAE, my reviews are here:
Reviews: eSIM for United Arab Emirates
Nomad Middle East eSIM (coming soon)
Buying an Airalo Discover eSIM is a bit more complicated because it requires identity verification (a procedure known as KYC – Know Your Customer).
More about eSIM technology and other companies is in this article. In this blogpost, you will find advice on choosing a suitable product for a trip abroad. All eSIM reviews are available here.
Airalo Discount Code
If you use my Airalo code SANDRA4293 you can get $3 off or 15% discount (link to the discount here) on your first eSIM.
If you already have an existing account you can get 10% discount on eSIMs US$10+ using this link.
Airalo Applications
Airalo has apps where you can buy new plans or track the usage of your existing plans. Below are the links where you can download them:
For Google Play click here.
For Apple Store click here.
Airalo offering for UAE
Airalo offers three types of products for Qatar. The first is the Airalo Burj Mobile, a data plan specifically for use in the UAE. I haven’t tried the Airalo Burj Mobile eSIM yet, as it requires uploading the ID (KYC).
The second type of product is Airalo Menalink, which can be used in 15 countries in the Middle East and the northern part of Africa. These include Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Sudan, Tunisia)
Airalo offers two types of “Global eSIMs”. The first one is Airalo Discover eSIM, which offers data only. It varies from 1 to 20 GB. In March and April 2024, these data eSIMs could be used in 124 countries.
The second type is Airalo Discover eSIM, which contains data, voice calls, and SMS. The plans include voice calls (from 10 minutes up to 200 minutes), SMS (from 10 SMS up to 200 SMS), and mobile data (from 1 GB to 20 GB). These eSIM cards come with the Austrian phone number +43. In March and April 2024, these data eSIMs could be used in 125 countries.
Detailed instructions on creating an account and buying a data package can be found in this article.
Price
At the time of my trip, Airalo offered six Discover products. Each product had a different amount of mobile data, minutes for calls and SMS – from 1GB, 10 minutes, 10 SMS (for $15) to 20 GB, 200 minutes, 200 SMS (for $89). The validity of the plans was from 7 to 365 days.
What phones support eSIM?
With this technology’s growing popularity, more and more phones and tablets are on the market that support it. When buying a phone, you should ask the seller if the phone supports eSIM. Airalo regularly updates the list of supported devices, so it is better to check their official support page.
Mobile operators in UAE and connection type
There are two mobile operators in the Emirates – du Mobile and Etisalat. The Menalink data package can only be used on the Etisalat network.
Connection type
More and more operators are launching 5G networks, so you will see a 5G icon on your phone whist in the UAE.
eSIM Activation
The activation and validity period of Airalo Discover eSIM starts as soon as the eSIM is connected to one of the supported networks.
My Airalo Discover eSIM experience
My data plan
Buying an Airalo Discover eSIM is more complicated as it requires identity verification. I bought Airalo Discover eSIM with 3GB of data, 30 minutes and 30 SMS. This plan was valid for 30 days. The price was $36 (approximately £29). After applying the discount code, it is possible to have this package for $33 (approximately £26).
Network registration
When I activated the Airalo Discover eSIM in my phone settings, it took approximately four minutes for the Airalo Discover eSIM to establish a connection with the Etisalat network. Subsequently, I received an SMS notification.
I enabled mobile data, but I encountered some issues. Even after waiting for 10 minutes, the mobile data didn’t kick in, so I decided to enable flight mode again. After about a minute, I turned off flight mode; this time, the data started working immediately. Initially, the connection showed as H+, but after a few minutes, it switched to 5G.
Functionality
During my recent travels, I extensively tested the Airalo Discover eSIM’s calls, SMS, and internet access capabilities. Initially, I sent SMS to Slovak and English numbers and was impressed by their near-instant delivery.
Moving on to outgoing calls, I dialled SriLankan Airlines’ customer service, based in Abu Dhabi (+971 prefix). The call connected seamlessly, and I could listen to their automated offer without any issues.
The actual value of the Airalo Discover eSIM came to light when I encountered a problem with my flight reservation during check-in at 3 a.m. local time. In a moment of urgency, I called various British Airways numbers from different countries like America, England, India, Singapore, and Australia during the wee hours (3:00 to 4:00 a.m.). This would not have been possible without reliable internet access, and the Airalo Discover eSIM proved to be a lifesaver in this stressful and critical situation.
Additionally, the access to the Internet provided by the Airalo Discover eSIM was crucial in enabling me to search for and find these contact numbers. I shuddered to think of the exorbitant charges I would have incurred if I had used my private SIM card instead. It was genuinely unforeseen how instrumental the Airalo Discover eSIM would be in such a challenging situation.
Speed
I did not test the speed. My goal was to test outgoing/incoming calls and sending/receiving SMS.
Top-ups
Buying additional data was easy. After clicking “My eSIM” and “TOP UP”, I saw these six plans.
Conclusion
I had an exceptional experience with Airalo Discover eSIM during my recent trip to Abu Dhabi. This eSIM proved to be a lifesaver when I encountered an issue with my ticket and nearly missed my flight. It really highlighted the significance of having a travel eSIM, as it allowed me to access essential information on the Internet during a crucial moment.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Voice calls and SMS support | No Unlimited Data bundle |
| Different sizes of data offered – from 1GB to 20GB | Initial problems with data |
| Different validity periods of data plans – from 7 to 365 days | |
| Simple process for top-up |
What is your experience with eSIM in the UAE? Do you have a favourite one?
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