ariskar

I am due to move to the UAE from the UK in about a month, followed a month or two later by my family.

I got my employment visa, however until I get the residence visa and Emirates ID (15-30 days?), to my understanding I am constrained to the Visitor SIM bundles.

Unfortunately, those offer very limited flexi minutes with a limited validity (2 weeks or so) and the recharge standard calling rates above the initial allowance seem to be extortionate compared to any pre/post paid plans. VoIP bans exaggerate this issue and BOTIM or similar access offers do not appear to be available as add-ons for visitor packages (I may be mistaken though).

Do you know which is the best deal for initial sim card for the first month?

I need to make many calls back to UK during my initial stay, including video (sending or calls) to show flats I would be viewing for rent etc. to my family.

Thank you in advance!

Binoclard

Hi Ariskar

As long as you do not have your emirates ID your possibilities of contract are NIL.
Their offers will consist basically of pay as you go cards of roughly £20 = 20mn (local) + 100MB

Good luck!

ariskar

Sounds horrid. I'd rather ask for a phone/sim from my soon to be employer...

Binoclard

You will find that those employers are usually not as generous as you might think

ariskar

Probably not, but at least borrowing you a sim for a few weeks till you sort out documents would not be a high ask...

jam25mack

They give out free temporary ones just after customs in T1. Dunno about T3.

ariskar

Sure, though these are pretty useless for people wanting to use them for a month or so till they get their residency sorted. They have allowance for 1-2 calls and maybe a day or two using google maps to find your way around town.

jam25mack

Just go to one of the small independent phone shops (which are everywhere).... the guys in there will sort you out with a PAYG one without ID. Try Bur Dubai, Diera etc.

UKMS