UAE Roaming Packages: e& vs du Packs and Rates

Roaming from the UAE is affordable only with a pack. e& sells roaming packs from AED 35 a day across 170 plus countries, including a data add-on charged only on the days you use it, and its Freedom plans let you use your local allowance abroad from AED 100 a week. du sells destination-based bundles in its app and includes some roaming data on higher Power Plans. Without a pack, du’s standard rates outside the GCC are AED 9 a minute to call the UAE and AED 1.25 a minute just to receive a call.

Roaming at a glance

Both operators have moved away from pay-per-use roaming towards packs, and the gap between the two prices is large. The decision is less about which network and more about whether you set a pack up before you travel.

Item	e&	du
How packs are sold	Daily, weekly and combo packs, plus special packs	Bundles chosen by destination in the du app
Entry price	From AED 35 a day	Varies by country
Use your plan abroad	Freedom plans, from AED 100 a week	Roaming data included on higher Power Plans
Buy it by	App, website, *177# or SMS to 1010	du app or website
Help while abroad	+971 800 2300 for a free callback	+971 55 567 8155

Because prices for each country change often, use this page to understand how the options work, then check the exact price for your destination in your operator’s app on the day you buy.

e& roaming packs

e& lists its roaming as valid across more than 170 countries with its partner networks, and on some flights. The range covers most travel patterns.

Option	What you get	Price
Roaming data add-on	e&’s best-selling data add-on, charged only on days you use data	AED 35 a day
Daily and weekly packs	Data, voice or combined data and calls	From AED 35 a day
Freedom plans abroad	Use your local minutes and data while travelling	From AED 100 a week
Umrah and Hajj pack	Data and minutes for pilgrims	Valid for 7 days
Callback app	Calls from abroad using e&’s callback service	AED 3 a minute

The pay-only-on-days-used add-on is the clever one for trips where you will be on Wi-Fi most of the time. You pay AED 35 only on the days your phone actually uses mobile data abroad. To subscribe, use the e& UAE app, the website, dial *177#, which e& says works free from anywhere, or text the pack code to 1010.

du roaming bundles and rates

du organises roaming around where you are going. In the du app you choose the destination, then pick data only, voice only, or data and voice, for a one-day trip, a short trip or a long stay. Some postpaid Power Plans already include roaming data each month.

du Power Plan	Roaming data included each month
Power Plan 200	100 MB
Power Plan 300 Data	1 GB
Power Plan 350 Data	5 GB
Power Plan 500 Data	10 GB

du’s own advice is to activate the roaming bundle before you leave, let your phone connect to a local partner network when you land, and track your roaming data, calls and SMS in the du app while you are away.

What happens without a pack?

du publishes its standard roaming rates, and they show why a pack matters. These are the pay-as-you-go rates outside the GCC and Arab countries.

Use abroad	du standard rate
Call the UAE	AED 9 a minute
Call within the country you are visiting	AED 5 a minute
Call another country	AED 9 a minute
Receive a call	AED 1.25 a minute
Send an SMS	AED 2
Call a satellite number	AED 20 a minute

du lists separate rates for GCC and Arab countries, and its pages show more than one GCC rate table, so check the exact rate for your destination in the app. The key point for any destination is that incoming calls are not free when you roam. A long call from home that you answer abroad is charged to you.

Roaming or a travel eSIM

For data, a travel eSIM bought for the destination is often cheaper than a roaming pack, especially for longer trips. Roaming wins on convenience: your UAE number keeps working for calls, texts and one-time passwords from your bank, with no setup on arrival. Many travellers combine the two: a travel eSIM for data, and the UAE line kept on for texts. Our eSIM guide explains how dual lines work on one phone.

Avoiding a surprise bill

• Keep data roaming switched off until your pack is confirmed by SMS.
• Turn off automatic app and photo backups over mobile data.
• Let calls go to voicemail or reply by message, since answering costs money.
• Use hotel or cafe Wi-Fi for calls through internet apps where they are allowed.

If something goes wrong abroad, e& customers can request a free callback on +971 800 2300 and du customers can call +971 55 567 8155. Both are covered in our e& customer care and du customer care guides. For calling home cheaply when you are back in the UAE, see our international calls guide, and for everything else our UAE telecom guide.

Frequently asked questions

How much is e& roaming?

e& roaming packs start from AED 35 a day, including a data add-on charged only on days you use it. Freedom plan customers can use their local allowance abroad from AED 100 a week.

How do I activate e& roaming?

Use the e& UAE app or website, dial *177#, or text the pack code to 1010. Activate it before you leave the UAE.

Are incoming calls free when roaming?

No. On du’s standard rates outside the GCC, receiving a call costs AED 1.25 a minute. A pack with included minutes reduces this.

Which du plans include roaming data?

du’s Power Plans include monthly roaming data from Power Plan 200 upwards, from 100 MB on Power Plan 200 to 10 GB on Power Plan 500 Data.

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Last verified: November 2026 against e&’s roaming packs page, du’s roaming page and standard rates, and du’s Power Plan details. Roaming prices vary by destination and change often.
Written by Roman Shah · Reviewed by the UAEexplained editorial team
Sources: e& and du
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