Each provider on the scorecard gets a score from 1 to 10 on six criteria that matter for a trip to the UAE. The overall score is the simple average of the six, rounded to one decimal place.
The six criteria
| Criterion | What we look at |
|---|---|
| UAE plan range | How many UAE-only plan sizes and lengths are listed, from short stopovers to a month. |
| Price per GB | Published prices for comparable plans, such as 5 GB and 20 GB for 30 days. |
| Payment options | Which checkout methods the provider shows: cards, mobile wallets, cryptocurrency. |
| Setup before arrival | Whether you can buy and install before the trip, and when the plan clock starts. |
| Unlimited data | Whether unlimited plans exist for the UAE, their lengths, prices and daily speed rules. |
| Terms clarity | Written refund conditions, activation rules and limits such as hotspot caps. |
Where the facts come from
We read each provider's UAE plan page, terms and app store listing, and we record the date. Where an official page does not load, we use a named listing site and say so. We do not publish claims about speed or reliability that we cannot source.
What scores do not show
Network quality depends on where you are, your phone and the time of day. A score cannot predict that, so we describe coverage only as each provider states it.
Updates
Prices change often. We re-check provider pages when we hear of a change and at least once a month, and we update the date on each page when we do.