Before you start

A passport plus UAE entry stamp or visit/residence visa (enough for any prepaid line).
An unlocked phone, or an eSIM-capable device if you want to activate on arrival without a physical SIM.
For postpaid: a valid Emirates ID (i.e. your residence visa must already be issued and the ID printed or in process).
A UAE-issued credit/debit card or cash for postpaid billing; a local bank account helps but is not strictly required to start.

Step-by-step

1
Grab a prepaid Visitor Line on arrival (passport only)
At Abu Dhabi International Airport or any e&/du store you can buy a prepaid tourist/visitor SIM on just your passport and visa — no Emirates ID needed. e&'s 'Visitor Line' and du's tourist prepaid bundles include data and minutes and are valid for around 28-30 days. Many travellers also self-activate a free welcome eSIM straight after immigration.
In personWho: Anyone with a passport and valid visa (visitor or new resident)10-20 minutes at a kiosk; instant for a free welcome eSIMFree welcome eSIM, or roughly AED 50-125 for a paid visitor bundle
2
Get your Emirates ID first if you want postpaid
A real postpaid plan (monthly contract, device instalments, higher data) cannot be opened on a passport — UAE telecom rules require an Emirates ID linked to a residence visa. So sequence it: land, run prepaid, complete your residency medical and Emirates ID, then upgrade. Plan for the first 2-6 weeks on prepaid as a normal part of relocating.
In personWho: New residents once their residence visa and Emirates ID are issuedTied to your visa/Emirates ID timeline (typically a few weeks after arrival)
3
Open or convert to a postpaid plan with your Emirates ID
Visit any e& or du store (or use their app) with your Emirates ID and passport to open a postpaid plan, or to migrate an existing Visitor Line to Wasel prepaid or to postpaid. Postpaid plans bundle generous data, calls and often device instalments; entry plans start around AED 100-125/month. The staff complete the 'My Number, My Identity' registration that binds the number to your Emirates ID.
In personWho: Residents with a valid Emirates ID30-45 minutes in store; same dayEntry postpaid plans roughly AED 100-125/month and up
4
Verify what's registered to you via Hesabati
Log in to TDRA's free 'Hesabati' service through UAE Pass to see every fixed and mobile number registered under your Emirates ID across all operators. Do this after setup to confirm only your own lines are listed — it protects you against numbers wrongly or fraudulently registered to your ID, and helps you stay under the per-person SIM cap.
OnlineWho: Any Emirates ID holderA few minutesFree

Documents you’ll need

Original passport with valid UAE entry stamp or visa.
Emirates ID (mandatory for any postpaid plan; optional for prepaid).
Residence visa / e-visa copy where requested for the line.
UAE credit or debit card for postpaid billing and for online SIM purchases (3D-secure).

Things most newcomers don’t know

It is really a two-network country, not three. e&/Etisalat and du are the only physical networks; 'Virgin Mobile' is a digital-only brand that rides on du's network.

Knowing there are only two real networks sets expectations: coverage and pricing don't vary much between brands, and the limited competition is why UAE mobile costs more than in much of Asia. Pick on plan and app experience, not on imagined network differences.

Source: Gulf Business / What's On (Virgin Mobile launch coverage)

Prepaid first, postpaid later is the correct sequence for almost every new arrival — not a workaround.

Because postpaid legally needs an Emirates ID and your ID lands weeks after you do, trying to get a contract on day one just wastes a store visit. Buy prepaid on your passport, stay connected, and convert the same number to postpaid once the ID arrives.

Source: e& Visitor Line / Giraffy eligibility guide

Your SIM is legally bound to your identity under 'My Number, My Identity', and you can audit it yourself with Hesabati.

Anonymous SIMs don't exist here — every number is tied to your Emirates ID, and TDRA's free Hesabati tool (via UAE Pass) lists exactly what's registered to you. Checking it catches lines someone may have opened against your ID, which matters because you're accountable for them.

Source: TDRA Hesabati / u.ae

You can land connected for free via an airport welcome eSIM before buying anything.

If your phone supports eSIM, you can activate a free visitor eSIM right after immigration at Abu Dhabi airport and skip the kiosk queue entirely, then decide on a paid plan later once you've compared options in a store.

Source: Gulf News (free tourist eSIM on arrival)

Common mistakes to avoid

Expecting a postpaid contract on a passport — it will be refused; postpaid needs a valid Emirates ID, so you cannot skip the prepaid stage.
Assuming Virgin Mobile is an independent third network — it runs on du's infrastructure, so a 'du vs Virgin' coverage comparison is meaningless.
Ignoring the per-person SIM cap: residents are generally limited to a number of active SIMs, and old lines registered to your ID still count — check Hesabati and close ones you don't use.
Letting a prepaid visitor line expire before converting — the validity window is short (~28-30 days) and an inactive number can be reassigned.