EE Roaming Cost in Dubai, Turkey and Morocco: Day and Week Passes vs an eSIM (2026)
Condividi
Last verified: 8 November 2026. EE figures come from EE's pay monthly price guide (charges from 4 November 2026) and EE's roaming page, both checked that day. SimSwift prices are live store prices in US dollars.
On EE and heading to Dubai, Istanbul or Marrakech? None of them sits in EE's Europe zone. Dubai and Turkey fall in EE's ROW Zone 1, where a 24-hour pass costs £6 and a 7-day pass £30. Morocco is in ROW Zone 2, at £8 a day or £40 a week. Some guides still quote £5 a day, but EE's current price guide says £6.
A 3 GB data eSIM for a week in Turkey costs about £2.23. This guide sets out what EE charges, the rules that catch people out, and when staying on EE is the better choice.
Quick links: Dubai / UAE eSIM (1 GB / 7 days, $3.49, about £2.61) · Turkey eSIM (1 GB / 7 days, $1.49, about £1.11) · Morocco eSIM (1 GB / 7 days, $2.49, about £1.86)
What EE charges in Dubai, Turkey and Morocco
EE's pay monthly price guide splits the world outside Europe into ROW zones. In Zones 1 and 2, a pass lets you use your UK plan allowance, which EE calls Roam Like Home.
| Destination | EE zone | 24-hour pass | 7-day pass | 15-day pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates (Dubai, Abu Dhabi) | ROW Zone 1 | £6 | £30 | £50 |
| Turkey | ROW Zone 1 | £6 | £30 | £50 |
| Morocco | ROW Zone 2 | £8 | £40 | £60 |
Source: EE price guide, page 13, with the country lists on page 14. EE's pay monthly roaming page shows the same 24-hour and 7-day prices and the same zones. It doesn't list the 15-day pass, which appears only in the price guide.
Turkey is not in EE's Europe allowance. The guide's EU zone list covers the EU countries plus places such as Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Gibraltar. Turkey isn't on it. The UAE and Morocco aren't either.
The small print that matters
- No data without a pass. The guide says you need to buy a pass to use data outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland.
- Calls and texts still work without one, at a price. Making or receiving a call costs £2.46 a minute, with a one-minute minimum. Sending a text costs 98p.
- Voicemail costs too. Listening to voicemail in a ROW zone is charged at the roaming call rate.
- Passes run on the clock. A 24-hour pass lasts 24 hours from purchase. A 7-day pass lasts exactly 168 hours.
- Not on Safer SIM. The guide says ROW roaming isn't available on Safer SIM plans.
The guide doesn't state a data cap for ROW passes or a hotspot rule. If either matters to you, check your plan terms in the My EE app.
What 3, 7 and 14 days cost: EE vs an eSIM
This assumes you use your phone every day and buy the cheapest EE pass for each trip. The eSIM columns show the plan size most travellers need for that length of trip.
| Trip | EE, Dubai or Turkey | EE, Morocco | UAE eSIM | Turkey eSIM | Morocco eSIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days | £18 (3 day passes) | £24 (3 day passes) | 1 GB / 7 days: $3.49 (about £2.61) | 1 GB / 7 days: $1.49 (about £1.11) | 1 GB / 7 days: $2.49 (about £1.86) |
| 7 days | £30 (7-day pass) | £40 (7-day pass) | 3 GB / 15 days: $7.99 (about £5.97) | 3 GB / 15 days: $2.99 (about £2.23) | 3 GB / 15 days: $5.49 (about £4.10) |
| 14 days | £50 (15-day pass) | £60 (15-day pass) | 5 GB / 30 days: $12.99 (about £9.70) | 5 GB / 30 days: $3.99 (about £2.98) | 5 GB / 30 days: $8.49 (about £6.34) |
Our prices are in US dollars, read from our store on 8 November 2026. Pound figures use the European Central Bank reference rates for 6 November 2026 (USD 1.1165 and GBP 0.83415 per euro). That gives $1 = £0.7471. Your card's exchange rate may differ slightly.
This isn't a like-for-like swap. An EE pass unlocks your full UK allowance, including calls and texts on your own number. Our plans are data only, with no local number for ordinary calls.
When EE roaming is fine
An eSIM isn't always worth the effort. Staying on EE makes sense if one of these fits you:
- Your plan already includes a pass. EE's guide says Full Works plans taken after 29 August 2024 include a Roam Abroad Pass. It doesn't say which countries that pass covers. EE's roaming page marks Zone 1 as available as an Inclusive Extra and Zone 2 as not, without explaining further. Check My EE before you fly.
- It's a one-day trip. A single 24-hour pass costs £6 in Dubai or Turkey. The saving from an eSIM is a few pounds.
- You need ordinary calls on your UK number. A pass covers calls and texts. A data eSIM gives you no phone number for ordinary calls.
- You use a lot of data in Dubai. If your UK plan has a big allowance, EE's £30 week is close to our 20 GB UAE plan ($40.99, about £30.62). In Turkey, 20 GB costs $10.99 (about £8.21), so the eSIM still wins there.
Beyond a couple of days, the gap grows quickly. A fortnight in Morocco costs £60 on EE's 15-day pass, against about £6.34 for a 5 GB eSIM.
How much data you need
These are rules of thumb. Maps, ride-hailing, messaging and booking apps use little data. Video calls, streaming and uploading lots of photos use the most. Hotels and riads usually have Wi-Fi, so most people need less than they expect.
- Weekend or stopover: 1 GB for 7 days.
- A normal week: 3 GB for 15 days.
- Two weeks, or sharing a hotspot: 5 GB for 30 days.
- Heavy use: 10 GB for 30 days. That's $22.99 in the UAE (about £17.18), $5.49 in Turkey (about £4.10) and $13.99 in Morocco (about £10.45).
All three countries have top-ups, so starting small is low risk. Hotspot is supported. Validity starts when the eSIM first connects to a network in the destination, so you can install it at home.
Ready to buy? Dubai / UAE eSIM (du network) · Turkey eSIM (Vodafone Turkey network) · Morocco eSIM (Orange Morocco network)
Keeping your EE number for bank texts
UK banks still send passcodes by text, so keep your EE SIM switched on. Dual-SIM iPhones and Android phones run both lines at once.
- Before you fly, check your phone is unlocked and supports eSIM. Install the eSIM over Wi-Fi from your order email.
- Turn data roaming off for the EE line, and don't buy an EE pass.
- Set the eSIM as your mobile data line, with data roaming on for that line only.
- Let calls on your EE number go unanswered. Answering one costs £2.46 a minute, and so does listening to voicemail.
EE's guide lists charges for sending texts abroad but none for receiving them. WhatsApp messages keep arriving on your usual number while the eSIM carries your data.
More on each destination
For Dubai, our guide to Dubai from the UK compares EE, Vodafone, Three and O2. For Turkey, the Turkey eSIM guide covers coverage and the BTK rules. For Morocco, see Morocco eSIM for 7 or 14 days.
FAQ
How much does EE roaming cost in Dubai?
In the UAE, EE charges £6 for a 24-hour pass, £30 for 7 days or £50 for 15 days. Each pass lets you use your UK allowance. Without a pass you can't use data, and calls cost £2.46 a minute.
Is Turkey included in EE's Europe roaming?
No. EE puts Turkey in ROW Zone 1, outside its EU zone. Roaming there costs £6 for 24 hours, £30 for 7 days or £50 for 15 days.
What does EE charge for roaming in Morocco?
Morocco is in EE's ROW Zone 2. A 24-hour pass costs £8, a 7-day pass £40 and a 15-day pass £60. Calls without a pass cost £2.46 a minute and texts 98p.
Can I use data in Dubai on EE without a pass?
No. EE's price guide says you need a pass to use data outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland. Calls and texts work without one at standard roaming rates.
Does EE Full Works include roaming in Dubai?
It may. EE's guide says Full Works plans taken after 29 August 2024 include a Roam Abroad Pass, but it doesn't list the countries covered. Check the My EE app before you travel.
Will I still get bank texts if I use an eSIM?
Yes, if you keep your EE line switched on with data roaming off. EE's guide lists charges for sending texts abroad but none for receiving them. Use the eSIM for data only.