A colorful concept art from the Disney announcement shows what Yas Island might look like with this park. It hints at vivid attractions and a futuristic castle spire on the water. Once open, the park will offer Disney rides, shows, hotels, restaurants and shops – all celebrating Disney stories alongside Abu Dhabi’s art and architecture.

Disney isn’t doing this alone – the local developer Miral (who built Yas Island’s current parks) will construct and run the park, with Disney’s Imagineers designing the experience. No date is set yet, but Miral says they want to move “as fast as possible” without cutting corners. In short, this new Disney park on Yas Island is huge news. Abu Dhabi’s leaders see it as another way to make the city a global tourist hotspot.

Why Abu Dhabi and Dubai are a Must-Visit

With Disney headed to Abu Dhabi, travelers everywhere will be planning UAE trips. Abu Dhabi already offers a ton of attractions. Yes, attractions like the stunning Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the Louvre Abu Dhabi, and Yas Island’s thrill rides are the must-see destinations. Now you can add a Disney theme park in Abu Dhabi to that list. Here are a few reasons why combining Abu Dhabi and Dubai makes a great trip:

Yas Island Fun: The new Disney resort will join Yas Island's entertainment hub, which today includes Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld and Warner Bros World.

Cultural Sights: Abu Dhabi’s landmarks like the grand mosque and Louvre make it more than just theme parks.

Dubai Nearby: Yas Island is only about a 90-minute drive from Dubai. Many tourists split time between the two cities. Dubai adds world-class hotels, shopping and beaches, so you get city life and theme-park thrills in one trip.

Easy Flights: The UAE is a major travel hub. About one-third of the world’s population is within a 4-hour flight, and 120+ million passengers fly through Dubai or Abu Dhabi airports each year. It’s really accessible from Europe, Asia or North America.

In other words, Disney and Yas Island are putting Abu Dhabi on the map, but don’t forget Dubai’s attractions either. Together they make a Dubai–Abu Dhabi theme park adventure that’s becoming the next big vacation idea. Whether you’re loving the idea of Disney Abu Dhabi or checking off famous skyscrapers in Dubai, both cities have plenty to offer.

Staying Connected in the UAE

With so much to see – and selfies to share – you’ll definitely want a solid internet connection during your trip. UAE hotels and many cafés offer Wi-Fi, but it can be spotty outside tourist areas. Plus, ride-hailing apps, maps and social media all need data. This is where getting a local UAE eSIM or Dubai eSIM becomes a game-changer for travelers. An eSIM is basically a digital SIM card already built into your phones. Instead of buying a tiny plastic SIM at the airport, you can purchase a prepaid plan online and install it in minutes.

Getting online is easy with an eSIM: you just scan a QR code from your provider and your phone downloads the profile. One traveler wrote that, after arrival, it took “less than two minutes to install and activate” their Airhub eSIM while they were even waiting in immigration line. No SIM card to lose, no shop to find. Once set up, it works like a local SIM – you get a local data number and can use data apps (including WhatsApp or Facetime for calls).

Tips for staying connected:

Check your phone: Make sure it’s unlocked and eSIM-compatible (most newer iPhones and Androids are).

Plan ahead: Buy a UAE/Dubai eSIM before your trip. There are lots of providers, but Airhub is one popular choice (more on that below).

Buy the right plan: Airhub sells both country-specific UAE eSIM packages and city-specific Dubai eSIM plans. If you’ll roam between emirates, a UAE-wide plan is safest.

Instant activation: After purchase, you’ll get a QR code. When you land (even on airport Wi-Fi), scan it in your phone’s settings. You’ll see a new “UAE” line appear alongside your home SIM.

Keep your home number: You can still get calls/texts on your usual number if your phone supports dual SIM mode, or use internet-calling apps instead.

Stay online: With an eSIM from a good provider, you’ll have 4G/LTE data across Abu Dhabi and Dubai (Airhub, for example, uses the Etisalat network for coverage).

How Airhub eSIM Plans Help

Since you asked about Airhub’s UAE and Dubai eSIM plans, here’s why many travelers trust them. Airhub is an online eSIM store that serves 190+ countries, and it gets good reviews for value and flexibility. Travel blogs say Airhub often has the best deals on Dubai and UAE eSIMs. For example, Airhub’s site lists UAE plans starting at just $1.50. Even its budget plans have useful data – one review mentions a 15 GB/30-day UAE eSIM for about $24 (roughly $1.60 per GB). Other blogs note Airhub offers “up to 15 plans for a single country,” so you can pick the one that fits your trip.

Airhub’s process is straightforward: after payment you get a QR code right away. According to one traveller, setting up an Airhub eSIM was a breeze – “quite easy to set up” and ready to use as soon as they turned on the phone. They say it connected quickly to 4G in a new city, avoiding any SIM card hunt. If anything goes wrong, Airhub even promises 24/7 support and a money-back guarantee (not all eSIM sellers do).

For actual plans, Airhub’s UAE eSIM page lists everything from a tiny 1GB/1-day pass up to unlimited data options. (You can see their available plans here: Airhub UAE eSIM plans.) There are options labeled “Dubai eSIM” too, which cover Dubai specifically if you only need that city. In any case, you’ll have fast internet to navigate the city, grab an Uber, post photos, and never worry about surprise roaming fees.

Tips for Using Your eSIM

Keep your home SIM too: Once your eSIM is working, you can still use your regular number on your phone. Just make sure to label which one is which in settings (so you don’t accidentally use the wrong line for data).

Monitor data: If your plan isn’t unlimited, keep an eye on usage. Airhub often shows your usage in their app. You can top up an extra GB if needed.

Use Wi-Fi when you can: Hotels and malls have decent Wi-Fi. When in Wi-Fi range, turn off mobile data for your UAE eSIM to save on data.

Switch eSIMs later if needed: If you plan to travel to other countries after UAE, you can buy another eSIM later. Some travelers even preload a second eSIM for the next stop. The Airhub app (or other eSIM apps) lets you switch profiles in seconds.

In short: get that eSIM before you fly, and you’ll land and poof – you’re online. It’s a huge time-saver and makes the trip feel seamless.

Disney on Yas Island is going to bring a lot of excitement, but don’t overlook the practical side of travel. A good data plan means you can focus on the fun, fast directions to the park, sharing rides with friends, and looking up attraction tips on the fly. Airhub’s UAE/Dubai eSIM plans are an easy way to stay connected. With the park’s opening on the horizon, now’s a great time to make sure your next trip to Abu Dhabi and Dubai is well-planned, including reliable internet. Have a magical (and well-connected) trip!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does my iPhone support eSIMs?

iPhones support eSIM starting with the XR and XS models (2018). Thus, every iPhone 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and SE models (2020/2022) can all have eSIM support. You may note that iPhones 14/15 purchased in the United States only offer eSIM capability and no longer offer physical SIMs). So, you should buy eSIM online from Airhub eSIM for smoother connectivity and quick activation.

2. What kind of devices are compatible with eSIMs?

Many modern devices support eSIM. Besides smartphones (Apple, Samsung, Google, etc.), cellular tablets (like iPads with LTE) and even some laptops and wearables have eSIM chips. Generally, any recent flagship phone or cellular device from major brands likely supports eSIM. You can also search your device model online along with “eSIM” to see if it’s listed among eSIM-compatible devices.

3. Can You Use an eSIM and a Physical SIM at the Same Time?

Indeed, modern dual-SIM smartphones typically offer the option of using a single eSIM and a single traditional SIM simultaneously. As a result, users are able to maintain an active physical SIM for the purpose of making and receiving telephone calls and sending and receiving text messages while simultaneously using an eSIM with a data plan (e.g., a local mobile service provider) when traveling abroad.

4. Are all iPhones eSIM compatible?

No. The only iPhones that support eSIM are the iPhone XR/XS (released in 2018) and later models, while older models, such as the iPhone X, 8, or 7, do not support eSIM.