Internet in Dubai: the restriction worth knowing about before you go

The Emirates have one of the best mobile networks in the world: 5G everywhere in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, coverage on the metro, in the malls and even across much of the desert near the cities. And they have a quirk that surprises almost everyone who arrives.

Calls through apps are restricted

In the Emirates, voice and video calls through messaging apps have been restricted by the local carriers for years. Text messages, photos and voice notes work normally; what may not work is pressing the call button inside the app.

Here comes the important part, and it is the opposite of what people assume: carrying a foreign eSIM does NOT get around the restriction, because the traffic travels over the local network just like anyone else's. Whoever tells you otherwise is selling you something.

• Messages, photos and voice notes work.
• Voice and video calls inside the apps may be blocked.
• There are apps authorised in the country for calling over the internet.
• Ordinary phone calls over your line work at your carrier's roaming rates.

The practical move is to agree it before you leave with whoever needs to talk to you: messages and voice notes for day to day, and an ordinary call if a voice is needed.

Coverage, which causes no trouble

Broad 5G in the two large cities, coverage on the Dubai metro and in the high-rises, and a good signal on the roads between emirates. On desert excursions it drops out at times, and on the further dunes there is simply none.

Public wi-fi

Plentiful in malls, hotels and airports, almost always with registration by mobile number. Since registration asks for a number that can receive a code, keeping your own line active for texts settles the matter.

What you are going to use

Between 400 and 800 MB a day. It is a destination of many photos, a lot of map use inside enormous malls and a fair amount of ride-hailing.

If your trip is a long layover on the way to Asia, first look at what your carrier charges outside the EU.