dolphinseagirl
10/20/2008 14:16 EST
I will be moving to Dubai any day now and am looking for advice on cell phones there. What are some good companies? Who has best coverage and deals?
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Hadthomas
10/20/2008 19:40 EST
There is, to my knowledge, only one mobile 'phone network in Dubai, and it is called Etisalat. It has a monopoly in Dubai (the company is owned by one of the family of the Emir). The efficiency of the company is in line with all stae-owned monopolies.
You may not purchase an Etisalat SIM card until you have a RESIDENTS' visa for UAE (and getting a residents' visa will involve your jumping through a huge number of other hoops, as you'll find out in due course).
The only way around this drama is to get someone who is already of resident status (or a local) to purchase a SIM card on your behalf. Foreign SIM cards with roaming facility work in Dubai, but you will pay $2 per minute to receive calls on your US SIM.
i can tell you in advance that you are going to find the whole process of obtaining a SIM hugely frustrating . . . good luck, and be patient.
Aye,
Huw
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dolphinseagirl
10/20/2008 22:42 EST
why do you have to have a residents visa? That seems strange.....I will be living and working there fore two years. Are you sure I won't be able to purchase a phone?
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one1world
10/21/2008 01:07 EST
hi dolphinseagirl ,folks,...,.
their is two comunication companies,
ETISALAT ,DUE.
etisalat is due is new company,each company calls cheaer when you use same network, and more expansive when your the other network,
they are ok,
but you have to check your friends and coleeges in dubai, what network they use then you do like them,
you can have both netwrok phone cell, they are cheep.
we use internet for international comunication also,
if you need any help contact us,
one.1world@yahoo.com
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Hadthomas
10/21/2008 05:27 EST
When first you arrive in UAE, the immigration people at the airport will stamp your passport with a visitor's visa. This will allow you to remain in UAE for only 30 days. If you are going to work here for 2 years, I presume you will be in the employ of a company that is licensed for work in Dubai. The company should, in that 30-day period, commence applying for a resident's visa for you. Should they fail to obtain it for you within the 30 days, you will have to leave UAE and return the next day; at the airport you will once again be given a 30-day visitor's visa. You will have to keep leaving UAE and returning at 28-day intervals until your resident's visa is approved by the UAE Government.
Etisalat is a complete monopoly - for resaons of security (fight against terrorism etc), they will not sell any SIM that cannot be tracked and traced to an individual or company over whom they (the UAE Government) have no control. The Etisalat SIMs may be purchased by - and registered to - individuals who have resident's visas and companies licensed by the government. So, until you obtain your residency status, the only way you can obtain an Etisalat SIM is through another person who IS a resident, or your employer (assuming they are licensed) can buy one and provide it to you.
Incidentally, if you have an Apple iPhone, you will encounter a lot more dramas 've not yet told you. If you haven't, no worries.
Be warned - you are going to find your patience tested to the limit over all of this . . .
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dolphinseagirl
10/21/2008 13:25 EST
Is a resident visa different from the work visa? My company is arranging the visa for me and I will not be flying over until my visa has cleared. So with that will I be able to get the phone within the first few days there?
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Hadthomas
10/21/2008 13:37 EST
Ah, yes, Du - I'd forgotten about them. Du is a supposedly competitive mobile 'phone service to Etisalat, but is owned by a member of the ruling family and charges pretty much the same fees as Etisalat. Both companies offer internet service too, but both companies will block you from using Skype or any other VOIP system on your laptop. Why do they get way with it? Because you have no choice.
Incidentally, Du DOES sell SIM cards to foreign visitors, but they are only valid for 90 days.
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Hadthomas
10/21/2008 14:18 EST
Ah, OK. You will have no problems if you have a work visa, which also will grant you residency automatically. All you need do is take your visa along to an Etisalat shop (there are loads of them in Dubai), and they'll sell you a SIM straightaway. the cost is about 165 AED for the SIM itself plus a year's subscription, and you can opt either for pre-pay or post-pay, like in the USA/Canada/Europe. But if you have an Apple iPhone, beware - you'll have dramas.
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dolphinseagirl
10/21/2008 18:40 EST
wait wait wait. I cant use skype while in UAE? Is there any way around this? Everyone else I have talked to there said to get skype.....is there anything else I cant use and how do I get through that block? Skype will be the only way to communicate with my family.....
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mishmumkin
10/22/2008 01:12 EST
Download skype BEFORE entering the UAE and all will be well. The Skype to Skype calls will be ok, but when I try to call Skype to a US phone I have loads of problems-almost never works yet manages to eat up all the credit I put on there.
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mishmumkin
10/22/2008 01:21 EST
Well-prepared employers will get your work visa ready, so that when you arrive in the country you can collect it before passing through passport control. Less well-prepared companies will bring you in on a visit (NOT TOURIST-THIS IS DIFFERENT AND IT CANNOT BE CHANGED TO A WORK VISA). Once you arrive on your work visa you can automatically get your SIM card sorted. Buying a phone doesn't require any kind of visa-shop around.
Your employer will send you for a medical. Once you're proved to be clear of HIV and TB your residency can be processed. Residency is generally required for setting up home phone, internet, and other related accounts, although Etisalat has been known to take letters from employers (typically governmental) that show that the residency process is underway. Those working for private companies might not be granted this favour, but it depends on who you work for.
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Hadthomas
10/22/2008 01:37 EST
Rather than my writing a long-winded explanation re Skype, read this link, particularly the entry about censorship. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Du_(telco)
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dolphinseagirl
10/22/2008 01:48 EST
Thanks for the info! I have skype already and will be using it 90% of the time for skype to skype calls. My employer is providing housing and internet and such i just need my own phone. Again thanks for the info, I cant wait to get there!
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eminentuae
From: United Arab Emirates
10/28/2008 08:29 EST
just to correct some info and thoughts here !
there are 2 providers here .. Etisalat which is a public listed company and Du which is mainly owned by Dubai... I do not care really about this part :)
Etisalat will give best coverage in the country .. if u r planning to become an off-raoder or so .. its the best cz the coverage covers every inch of the country almost ..
Du have a costing scheme by seconed which is cheaper sometimes, but thier coverage is really an issue out side and around the cities !
as a visitor, you can buy the Sim Card in the Airport or anywhere almost ... no need for any papers (or residancy) but a proof of identity !
Residance visa, took 3-4 days as a whole process and was hassle free!
Firas
eminent_uae@yahoo.com
let me know if u need further info :)
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SassyPilotsWife
10/29/2008 23:03 EST
Ummmm Hat.. You're giving her the wrong information I assure you. I have been in AL Ain.. via flying into Dubai on the 22nd and I went to the Carrefour today and bought my cell phone and at a Kiosk there, took a copy of my passport and they gave me a sim card no problem. My phone is hooked up already. You do not need a RV to purchase a cell phone nor get a sim card. We went thru Etisalat and bought a Quad 4 ( works in all countries although you do have to pay higher minute fees when calling from another country. Let me know how it goes. I am finally over here now in Al Ain. and its definitely an experience... having a great time so far !
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IrishConst
10/31/2008 17:04 EST
Hi, I just arrived here last week, and needed a phone, so i visited a shopping centre, and walked up to the etislat shop. To buy a sim card coasts 165 aed, it wouldn't work in my exsisting phone so I bought a new phone, the cheapest i could get, and hey presto, I was up and running in 15 mins.
Etislat, required a copy of my passport, they photographed it there and then, and i signed up.
phonecalls in the uae are cheap, but the international calls are very costly.
hope this helps
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Fiaz
10/12/2015 10:36 EST
Apple related services may not work if it's an official product due it being blocked by the networks.
If you have any enquiries let us know at www.consultmac.ae
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Dianafox
11/22/2015 05:19 EST
Join expatconnect, you will meetup with people from your home country and have an easier stay in U.A.E .They will provide all the information you need.
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