Updated September 28, 2026 · NomadCue Editorial Team
Etisalat by e& UAE vs Smart Axiata
Etisalat by e& UAE
Smart Axiata
Higher score in this comparison
Etisalat by e& UAE vs Smart Axiata: the differences
| Compare | Etisalat by e& UAEReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Smart AxiataReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | AED 35 | $2 |
| Countries covered | from 170 | 143 |
| Reference plan prices | Global: roaming packs from AED 35/day; Roam like Home from AED 100/week; Umrah and Hajj pack 7 days | SmartRoam daily spend caps: US 5 USD, Europe 5 USD, UK 5 USD, Japan 5 USD, Malaysia/Singapore/Vietnam/Indonesia/India/Philippines 2 USD, China/Jordan/Norway 10 USD; roaming in 143 countries. Smart Traveller SIM in Cambodia: 5 USD for 30 GB, 15 days |
| Unlimited data | Not confirmed | Yes |
| 5G | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Fair use policy | Not confirmed | Worry-free data after the daily roaming spend cap is reached: 2 USD/day in most of Asia (Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Philippines, Bangladesh, Brunei, Laos, Nepal, Sri Lanka), 5 USD/day in Europe, UK, Japan, South Korea, China Hong Kong/Macao/Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand and the USA, 10 USD/day in China, Jordan and Norway |
| Top-ups | Not confirmed | Yes |
Same on both: Seller type (Carrier).
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Key differences
- Support channels: only Etisalat by e& UAE offers Help centre, Chat.
- Support channels: only Smart Axiata offers Email, Community.
- Features: only Smart Axiata offers Unlimited data, 5G.
- Audience: only Etisalat by e& UAE offers Long trip.
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.
Smart Axiata
Smart Axiata suits short trips that cross Asia and Europe, with roaming across 143 countries and entry prices at $2. It is a carrier based in Cambodia, and unlimited data continues after a daily spend cap, which keeps a heavy data day predictable, though a long stay means paying that cap every day.
Score breakdown
| Area | Etisalat by e& UAE | Smart Axiata |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Not confirmed | 9.7 |
| Offer | Not confirmed | 9.1 |
How they place
| Ranking | Etisalat by e& UAE | Smart Axiata |
|---|---|---|
| Travel SIMs and eSIMs | 588 of 926 | 121 of 926 |
| Travel eSIMs | 592 of 918 | 130 of 918 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Etisalat by e& UAE | Smart Axiata |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Global | Global |
| Features | Carrier plan | Unlimited data, 5G, Carrier planCovers more |
| Audience | Short trip, Long tripCovers more | Short trip |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Smart Axiata Co., Ltd. |
| Headquarters | United Arab Emirates | Cambodia |
| Support channels | Help centre, Chat, Phone | Email, Phone, Community |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Etisalat by e& UAE | Smart Axiata | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Countries covered | from 170above the median | 143above 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.
Smart Axiata
Pros
- Roaming reaches 143 countries, above the site median of 74 for travel plans.
- Entry prices at $2 sit under the site median of €5.
- Unlimited data keeps working once the fair use policy's daily cap is reached, so a trip never cuts out mid stream.
Cons
- The fair use policy caps daily roaming spend by region, so a heavy data day can cost the cap again the next day.
- Aimed at short trip travel, so a long multi-month stay is not the shape it is built around.
- Support runs on email, phone and community only, with no live chat or help centre in the list.
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.
Smart Axiata
Who it suits
- Travellers on a short holiday or business run who want one roaming plan across Asia and Europe rather than a purchase per country.
- Anyone heading out of Cambodia, since Smart Axiata is the home carrier and top-ups work on its own network.
- Heavy data users content to hit a daily cap, since data carries on after it without further charge.
Who should look elsewhere
- Travellers who need a wider map: Zwitchy reaches 200 countries.
- Budget-first buyers who only want to test a connection: eSIMGo.is starts at $0.99.
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
Smart Axiata
Current offer
Discount code
Smart eSIM 50% off special number: 50% off a special number
Every new eSIM purchase
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Get 1GB data in SmartNas for FREE every day: 1 GB free data per day
For Smart Laor! plan subscribers who register on the EBC website
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Subscribe, Save, and Win: S-Coins to unlock vaults and win prizes
Earn S-Coins with plan subscriptions
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Etisalat by e& UAE | Smart Axiata |
|---|---|---|
| Cambodia | 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.
Smart Axiata
What does Smart Axiata cost for roaming data?+
Entry prices start at $2, and the roaming offer runs on a daily spend cap rather than a data allowance. The fair use policy sets a lower cap for most of Asia and higher caps across Europe, the UK, Japan, South Korea, China, Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Jordan and Norway.
Is the data really unlimited?+
Unlimited data is listed among unlimited data, 5g and carrier plan for the roaming offer. The fair use policy explains the catch: data keeps flowing after the daily roaming spend cap is reached, so a heavy user simply pays the cap again on the next day instead of losing service or being cut off mid trip.
Other options to compare
Other rankings
Etisalat by e& UAE
Smart Axiata