Updated September 28, 2026 · NomadCue Editorial Team
Etisalat by e& UAE vs Grameenphone
Etisalat by e& UAE
Grameenphone
Higher score in this comparison
What sets them apart
| Compare | Etisalat by e& UAEReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | GrameenphoneReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | AED 35 | BDT 194 |
| Countries covered | from 170 | 68 |
| Reference plan prices | Global: roaming packs from AED 35/day; Roam like Home from AED 100/week; Umrah and Hajj pack 7 days | US, Europe, UK, Japan, Turkey, Mexico: 30 Days Internet Pack BDT 4,167 for 11.25 GB; Thailand: 10 Days Travel Roaming Pack BDT 1,599 for 10 GB; global (68 destinations): Daily Internet Pack BDT 194 for 300 MB/1 day, 30 Days Internet Pack BDT 4,167 for 11.25 GB |
| Unlimited data | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Hotspot sharing | Not confirmed | Yes |
| 5G | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Fair use policy | Not confirmed | Unlimited internet throttled to 1 Mbps after 10 GB; roaming spend capped at BDT 6,000 per trip and BDT 30,000 per calendar year per Bangladesh Bank regulations |
| Networks | Not confirmed | Grameenphone |
| 10 GB in Europe | Not confirmed | BDT 4,167 |
| 10 GB in the US | Not confirmed | BDT 4,167 |
| 10 GB in Japan | Not confirmed | BDT 4,167 |
Same on both: Seller type (Carrier).
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Key differences
- Support channels: only Etisalat by e& UAE offers Chat.
- Support channels: only Grameenphone offers Email, Community.
- Features: only Grameenphone offers Unlimited data, 5G, Hotspot.
Our verdict on each
Etisalat by e& UAE
Etisalat by e& UAE is the carrier option in this group, with roaming across from 170 countries and packs from AED 35. It suits travelers who want one global plan bought from their own operator rather than a travel eSIM, and who are comfortable paying carrier roaming rates for wide reach.
Grameenphone
Grameenphone is the Bangladeshi carrier here, and its roaming packs fit travelers heading out of Bangladesh on short trips or longer stays. A daily internet pack starts at BDT 194, one global pack covers 68 destinations, and support runs through email, phone and help centre.
Score breakdown
| Area | Etisalat by e& UAE | Grameenphone |
|---|---|---|
| Offer | Not confirmed | 9.1Packs from BDT 194 with email, phone and help centre support and a fair use policy on unlimited data. |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 9.3 |
How they place
| Ranking | Etisalat by e& UAE | Grameenphone |
|---|---|---|
| Travel SIMs and eSIMs | 588 of 926 | 181 of 926 |
| Travel eSIMs | 592 of 918 | 189 of 918 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Etisalat by e& UAE | Grameenphone |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Global | Not confirmed |
| Features | Carrier plan | Unlimited data, 5G, Hotspot, Carrier planCovers more |
| Audience | Short trip, Long trip | Short trip, Long trip |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Grameenphone Limited |
| Headquarters | United Arab Emirates | Bangladesh |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1997 |
| Support channels | Help centre, Chat, Phone | Email, Phone, Help centre, Community |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Etisalat by e& UAE | Grameenphone | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Countries covered | from 170above the median | 68below the median | 120 |
Median across 492 listed travel providers.
Pros and cons
Etisalat by e& UAE
Pros
- Roaming reaches from 170 countries on a single global arrangement.
- Packs start at AED 35, with daily and weekly options plus a dedicated Umrah and Hajj pack.
- Support runs on help centre, chat and phone, so a help center, chat and a phone line are all listed.
Cons
- The entry price of AED 35 sits above the cheapest travel eSIM prices here, such as $0.99 for eSIMGo.is.
- Coverage of from 170 countries falls short of the 200 countries listed by Zwitchy.
- The daily pack is the headline figure at AED 35, so longer trips need the weekly option to keep costs down.
Grameenphone
Pros
- Sold direct by the network operator (carrier), so packs are billed in BDT alongside a normal mobile balance, with one balance to top up.
- A global pack covering 68 destinations, plus reference packs for the US, Europe, the UK, Japan, Turkey, Mexico and Thailand.
- Unlimited data and hotspot sharing are both supported, so a laptop and several phones can share one connection.
Cons
- The fair use policy throttles unlimited data after a set data threshold and caps roaming spend per trip and per calendar year, so heavy use abroad is limited.
- Coverage of 68 destinations is well short of Zwitchy at 200 countries.
- Prices are quoted in BDT, which makes them awkward to weigh against a $0.99 US dollar entry price elsewhere.
Who each suits
Etisalat by e& UAE
Who it suits
- Travelers leaving the UAE who want roaming arranged by the operator they already use.
- Anyone crossing several regions on one global plan instead of stacking regional eSIMs.
- Pilgrims and long stays, since the range includes a weekly option and a dedicated Umrah and Hajj pack.
Who should look elsewhere
- Budget-first travelers, who may find a lower entry price at eSIMGo.is on $0.99.
- Travelers chasing the widest country list, where Zwitchy lists 200 countries.
- Anyone buying for one destination, who can pick a single market plan on eSIMGo.is from $0.99 instead of paying for global reach.
Grameenphone
Who it suits
- Travelers leaving Bangladesh who already hold a Grameenphone plan and want data on the same network while abroad.
- Short stops where the daily pack at BDT 194 is enough for maps, messaging and a little browsing.
- Travelers working from a laptop, since hotspot sharing is supported and the fair use policy caps heavy use.
Who should look elsewhere
- Zwitchy, if 68 destinations is too few for a route crossing many countries and 200 is closer to what you need.
- eSIMGo.is, if a $0.99 US dollar entry price suits your currency better than a BDT carrier roaming pack.
- SimToIsrael, if a $25 US dollar starting price is easier to budget than a BDT roaming pack for a longer route.
Current offers
Etisalat by e& UAE
Current offer
Bonus
Get up to 3x more data on selected roaming packs plus travel benefits: Up to 3x more data on selected roaming packs
Selected roaming packs only
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Grameenphone
Current offer
Bonus
GP Pocket Router: ZTE U10S Pro purchase offer: Router at MRP BDT 4,099 plus 30-day limitless internet up to 15 Mbps for BDT 809
All new and existing prepaid and postpaid products (except Skitto) eligible; SIM and device must be tagged together; 4G-enabled SIM and 4G coverage required; after pack expiry maximum PayGo charge 6.95 Tk inclusive of VAT, SD and SC
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Etisalat by e& UAE | Grameenphone |
|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | No | Yes |
| United Arab Emirates | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Etisalat by e& UAE
How much do Etisalat by e& UAE roaming packs cost?+
Packs start at AED 35. The reference prices show a global roaming pack sold by the day, a Roam like Home option sold by the week, and a separate Umrah and Hajj pack. If the trip runs past a short break, the weekly option is the number worth comparing against daily rates.
How many countries does the roaming cover?+
Roaming reaches from 170 countries on a global plan, so one arrangement covers a multi-country trip rather than a single market. Zwitchy lists coverage across 200 countries, so the very widest list sits with a different provider.
Grameenphone
What does a Grameenphone travel data pack cost?+
The global daily internet pack starts at BDT 194. The monthly global pack and the packs for the US, Europe, the UK, Japan, Turkey and Mexico are all listed at the same higher price, while Thailand is sold separately at a lower price. Everything is quoted in BDT by the carrier.
How much data is in a pack and how long does it last?+
The daily global pack carries a small allowance for a single day of browsing and costs BDT 194. The monthly pack carries a larger allowance and runs for a full month. Thailand is sold on a shorter validity window at a lower price than the monthly global pack.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Other rankings
Etisalat by e& UAE
Grameenphone