For students arriving in the UAE, a Slashtel eSIM for the first week costs from $3.69 (1GB, 7 days) and a first month of data from $24.09 (10GB, 30 days). It is data only, installs before you fly, and your home SIM stays on for calls and OTP texts. Prices checked 7 November 2026.
Student picks for the UAE
Cheapest plan valid for at least a week: maps, WhatsApp and bank apps while you settle in.
Buy this plan →A full month of data while you sort out housing, a bank account and a longer-term phone plan.
Buy this plan →The biggest monthly allowance, for video calls home and streaming.
Buy this plan →Monthly student plans compared
| Data | Validity | Price | Per GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3GB | 30 days | $8.89 | $2.96 |
| 5GB | 30 days | $13.49 | $2.70 |
| 10GB | 30 days | $24.09 | $2.41 |
| 20GB | 30 days | $42.79 | $2.14 |
Networks in the UAE: connects to du or Etisalat (e&) (up to 5G), chosen automatically for the best signal. You cannot pick the network by hand.
Live prices checked 7 November 2026, fees included. Data only. See every UAE plan.
Student cities in the UAE
The same eSIM works in every city below: it connects to local networks automatically, so there is nothing to change when you move between campus, home and the airport.
Abu Dhabi
Khalifa University, NYU Abu Dhabi
Dubai
Heriot-Watt University Dubai, Middlesex University Dubai
University names are listed to help students find this page. Slashtel is not affiliated with or endorsed by any university.
Before you fly
- Check your phone is eSIM-compatible and unlocked (dial *#06#; an EID means eSIM support).
- Buy and install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi. The QR code arrives by email within a minute. Install guide.
- Keep your home SIM in the phone for bank OTPs. How calls, texts and OTPs work.
- When you land, switch on data roaming for the Slashtel line only.
Keep your home number active
Banks and apps back home still send OTPs to your old number, and prepaid numbers can be switched off if they go unused. Top it up from the UAE in a minute. How long numbers stay active without recharge.
| Home country | Cheapest plan lasting 28+ days | Cost | Per day | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | Teletalk: 30 GB (30 days) | $7.51 | 25¢ | Top up |
| Cameroon | Orange: 3 GB (30 days) | $15.57 | 52¢ | Top up |
| China | China Telecom Data: 2GB (30 days) | $9.61 | 32¢ | Top up |
| Colombia | Tigo Data: 7Gb + Unlimited minutes (30 days) | $11.90 | 40¢ | Top up |
| Egypt | Etisalat: Hekaya Mixat 69 (28 days) | $3.93 | 14¢ | Top up |
| Ghana | Telecel Data: 2.4 GB (30 days) | $4.41 | 15¢ | Top up |
| India | BSNL: UL calls + UL data (35 days) | $5.15 | 15¢ | Top up |
| Indonesia | Indosat: 1GB (30 days) | $3.46 | 12¢ | Top up |
| Mexico | Movistar Bundles: 4GB Data + UL mins (30 days) | $22.58 | 75¢ | Top up |
| Nepal | Ncell: 10GB + UL calls (28 days) | $5.79 | 21¢ | Top up |
| Nigeria | Airtel Data: 10GB Monthly Plan (30 days) | $7.34 | 24¢ | Top up |
| Pakistan | Ufone: Social WhatsApp (30 days) | $3.07 | 10¢ | Top up |
| Philippines | Dito: DITO Level Up 99 (30 days) | $3.52 | 12¢ | Top up |
| Sri Lanka | Hutch: 10 GB for 45 days (45 days) | $3.50 | 8¢ | Top up |
| Zimbabwe | Econet: 25GB (90 days) | $93.60 | 104¢ | Top up |
Questions, answered
How much is a student eSIM for the UAE?
For students arriving in the UAE, a Slashtel eSIM for the first week costs from $3.69 (1GB, 7 days) and a first month of data from $24.09 (10GB, 30 days). It is data only, installs before you fly, and your home SIM stays on for calls and OTP texts. Prices checked 7 November 2026.
How much does it cost to keep my home number active while studying abroad?
From 8¢ a day with the cheapest plan lasting 28 days or more. For example: Bangladesh £7.51 for 30 days (Teletalk); Cameroon £15.57 for 30 days (Orange); China £9.61 for 30 days (China Telecom Data). Live prices, 7 November 2026.
Can I keep my home number for bank OTPs?
Yes. The eSIM carries your data while your home SIM stays in the phone for calls and SMS, including bank OTPs. Keep data roaming off on the home SIM to avoid charges.
When does the eSIM start counting days?
Validity starts when the eSIM first connects to a network in the UAE, not when you buy it, so you can buy and install it at home before you fly.
Does the student eSIM include a local phone number?
No. Slashtel eSIMs are data only, with no local number, calls or SMS. WhatsApp and other internet calls work.
Does the eSIM work in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and other student cities?
Yes. The eSIM connects to local networks across the UAE, chosen automatically for the best signal, so it works in every city listed here wherever those networks have coverage.
Just arrived? What a local SIM or phone contract needs in the UAE, and how long the paperwork takes →
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