The UAE has two mobile networks, e& (formerly Etisalat) and du, and both sell prepaid and postpaid packages from AED 35 a month. e&’s Wasel Monthly Combo 35 gives 500MB and 15 flexi minutes for AED 35, while du’s Power Plan 200 gives 13GB and up to 800 national minutes for AED 200. This guide compares them side by side.
UAE Mobile Packages at a Glance
| Plan | Network | Price | Data | Minutes | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wasel Prepaid Line | e& | AED 40 one-time (AED 40 credit included) | Pay as you go | Pay as you go | Prepaid SIM |
| Wasel Monthly Combo 35 | e& | AED 35/month + VAT | 500MB | 15 flexi minutes | Prepaid |
| Wasel Monthly Combo 100 | e& | AED 100/month + VAT | 1.5GB | 100 flexi minutes | Prepaid |
| New Freedom 150 Local | e& | AED 150/month + VAT | 4GB | 200 local + 100 flexi minutes | Postpaid |
| New Freedom 200 Flexi | e& | AED 200/month + VAT | 13GB | 400 flexi minutes | Postpaid, 12 months |
| Prepaid Flexi | du | Depends on the bundle you build | 2GB to 50GB (your choice) | 30 to 1,000 flexi minutes | Prepaid |
| Power Plan 125 | du | AED 125/month + VAT | 4GB | 200 national minutes | Postpaid, 12 months |
| Power Plan 200 | du | AED 200/month + VAT | 13GB | 800 national minutes or 400 flexi minutes | Postpaid, 12 months |
All prices below exclude the UAE’s 5% VAT, which is how both operators list them. Flexi minutes can be used for calls inside the UAE and to many international destinations; national minutes are for UAE numbers only.
e& (Etisalat) Prepaid: Wasel Packages
A Wasel prepaid line costs AED 40 to buy, and the SIM comes with AED 40 of credit included. On top of the line, the Wasel Monthly Combo packs are the simplest way to get data and minutes together. Combo 35 (AED 35) suits light users with 500MB and 15 flexi minutes, Combo 100 (AED 100) steps up to 1.5GB and 100 flexi minutes, and the range tops out at Combo 200 with 5GB and 200 flexi minutes. Wasel Flexi is the build-your-own option: you pick a data size and a minutes allowance, and the price follows your choices.
Manage Wasel packs in the e& UAE app or through the *101# menu on your phone.
e& Postpaid: New Freedom Plans
New Freedom is e&’s postpaid range. New Freedom 150 Local costs AED 150 a month plus VAT and includes 4GB of data with 200 local minutes and 100 flexi minutes. New Freedom 200 Flexi, at the AED 200 tier, raises data to 13GB with 400 flexi minutes and 100 UAE Wi-Fi hours on a 12-month plan. Postpaid sign-up needs an original Emirates ID plus a supporting document such as a salary certificate, a recent utility bill or a tenancy contract.
du Prepaid: Prepaid Flexi
du’s prepaid answer is Prepaid Flexi, a configurator rather than a fixed list of packs. You choose between 2GB and 50GB of data and between 30 and 1,000 flexi minutes, on four-week or yearly options, and the price follows the combination. That suits people whose usage changes month to month, because you can rebuild the bundle instead of jumping between fixed packs. du prepaid menus run through *135#, and balance checks work by SMS as well.
du Postpaid: Power Plans
Power Plan 125 is du’s entry postpaid plan at AED 125 a month plus VAT, with 4GB of national data and 200 national minutes on a 12-month contract. Power Plan 200 (AED 200 plus VAT) is the one most people compare with e&’s New Freedom 200: it carries the same 13GB of national data, and you pick either 800 national minutes or 400 flexi minutes. The flexi version also adds 100MB of roaming data a month, 26GB of WiFi UAE hotspot data, data carry-over of up to 6.5GB, and a Disney+ subscription for 12 months. An extra 13GB of national data runs for the first four months on current offers.
Which Network Should You Pick?
For cheap prepaid, e&’s fixed Combo packs are easier to understand and start lower, at AED 35. For postpaid at AED 200, the two networks are closely matched on data; the choice turns on minutes. Pick du’s 800 national minutes if your calls stay inside the UAE, and pick flexi minutes on either network if you call family abroad. Heavy prepaid users who want control should look at du Prepaid Flexi’s larger data options.
Visiting or moving within the region? Our mobile packages hub collects every guide we publish. If you also keep a Pakistani SIM active, see how to check your remaining MBs and balance and how to unsubscribe any package before you travel.
FAQs
Which is better in the UAE, e& (Etisalat) or du?
Neither wins on every plan. e& has the cheaper fixed prepaid packs, starting at AED 35 a month, while du’s Power Plan 200 matches e&’s 13GB postpaid data and adds carry-over data and WiFi UAE access. Compare the minute type as well as the data before you decide.
What is the cheapest monthly mobile package in the UAE?
The e& Wasel Monthly Combo 35 is the cheapest fixed monthly pack we found on the official sites: AED 35 plus VAT for 500MB of data and 15 flexi minutes. du’s Prepaid Flexi can also be built small, with data starting at 2GB.
Do UAE mobile package prices include VAT?
No. Both e& and du list their package prices excluding the UAE’s 5% VAT, so the amount you actually pay is 5% higher than the headline price. This guide follows the operators and quotes prices before VAT.
How do I activate an e& or du package?
On e&, use the e& UAE app or dial *101# and pick a pack from the menu. On du, use the du app or the *135# menu. Postpaid plans from either network are activated in store or online after an Emirates ID check.
Last verified: November 2026
