URL: https://esimgo.ae/how-much-data-do-i-need/
Source: eSIM Go (esimgo.ae)
Author: Nadezhda Semenova, entrepreneur, co-founder of the Trippy travel service, https://esimgo.ae/author/
Updated: 15 Oct 2026

# How much data do I need abroad? A week, a month at home, Umrah

Plan on about **0.3GB** a day for maps and messaging, **0.8GB** for social media and photos, and **1.7GB** for video and video calls. A week is then about **2.1GB**, **5.6GB** or **11.9GB**. These are our estimates, not measurements, and the calculator above uses the same numbers (15 Oct 2026).

## Data per day: messaging, maps, photos, video

Four profiles cover most trips: about **0.3GB**, **0.8GB**, **1.7GB** and **3.0GB** a day, shifting with network, apps and Wi-Fi time.

| Profile | GB a day | Same data as standard-definition video (our arithmetic) |
|---|---|---|
| Maps and messaging | **0.3GB** | about 24 min |
| Social media and photos | **0.8GB** | about 1 h 04 min |
| Videos and video calls | **1.7GB** | about 2 h 16 min |
| Working on a laptop (hotspot) | **3.0GB** | about 4 h |

Vodafone UK's [data calculator](https://www.vodafone.co.uk/mobile/data-calculator) says 1GB lets you "Watch one hour and 20 minutes of video at Standard Definition" (15 Oct 2026). We divide each daily figure by 0.75GB an hour.

## Three days, a week, two weeks, a month

Multiply the daily figure by the days: a week at 0.8GB is **5.6GB**. India plans come in **1, 2, 3, 5, 10 and 20GB**, so round up to the next size. The smallest fixed-GB plans for India and the Gulf run **7 days**; on a 3-day trip choose by size and let the spare days go.

| Profile | **3 days** | **7 days** | **14 days** | **30 days** |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maps and messaging | **0.9GB** | **2.1GB** | **4.2GB** | **9GB** |
| Social media and photos | **2.4GB** | **5.6GB** | **11.2GB** | **24GB** |
| Videos and video calls | **5.1GB** | **11.9GB** | **23.8GB** | **51GB** |
| Working on a laptop | **9GB** | **21GB** | **42GB** | **90GB** |

Our arithmetic. Past **20GB**, the largest fixed size for most home countries, look at unlimited: full speed up to **3GB** a day, then 1 Mbps. It fits the first three profiles; the laptop profile has no margin. Plan days start at your first connection in the destination country.

## A month at home with family

A month at 0.8GB a day is about **24GB**, more than the **20GB** that fixed plans for India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Egypt stop at. Family Wi-Fi cuts mobile use by an amount we have not measured; size for the profile and top up if needed. Each [country guide](/sim-card/) lists the plans for that destination.

| Country (catalogue, 15 Oct 2026) | Largest fixed plan | Unlimited days | A month at 0.8GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Philippines | **20GB** | 3 to **30** | unlimited, **30 days** |
| Sri Lanka | **20GB** | none | 20GB plus a top-up |
| Egypt | **20GB** | **3, 5, 10** | 20GB plus a top-up |
| Nepal | **10GB** | **3, 5, 7, 10** | three 10GB packs |

For a month in Nepal, Sri Lanka or Egypt there is no 30-day unlimited plan; buy two packs or top up. Over a month, Nepal's largest pack of 10GB covers only the lightest profile (**9GB**). The [Nepal SIM card guide](/sim-card/nepal/) sets it against a local SIM and roaming.

## Umrah and longer stays

Seven days of Umrah at 0.8GB a day is about **5.6GB**; at 1.7GB it is **11.9GB**. For Saudi Arabia we list up to **20GB** for 30 days, **25GB** for 45 days and **50GB** for 30 days, and unlimited for **1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 15 or 30 days**.

| 7-day Umrah pack | Data | Covers 2.1GB | Covers 5.6GB | Covers 11.9GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| e& prepaid | **7GB** | yes | yes | no |
| du Umrah bundle | **10GB** | yes | yes | no |
| e& postpaid | **15GB** | yes | yes | yes |

Snapshot: [e&](https://www.eand.ae/en/c/promotions/umrah-hajj-weekly-pack.html) 15 Oct 2026, [du](https://www.du.ae/personal/mobile/roaming) 15 Oct 2026; coverage is our arithmetic. The packs include minutes, so for many calls home an operator pack is hard to beat ([Umrah roaming](/roaming/umrah-hajj/)). Over 45 days, **25GB** is about **0.56GB** a day; at 0.8GB you need **36GB** (our arithmetic). The 50GB plan and the longest unlimited plan both run **30 days**, so a 45-day stay takes a second plan or a top-up ([unlimited eSIM](/esim-unlimited/)).

## Sharing with family: hotspot or a second eSIM

[Hotspot use](/help/esim-hotspot/) counts against your plan's data, and on unlimited plans towards the daily fair-use limit. Tether a second phone at 0.8GB a day and a week becomes **11.2GB** (our arithmetic). We have no confirmed hotspot rule for our plans, so check the plan details on the country page.

Or buy one eSIM per phone, which needs a free eSIM line on each. Apple lists two eSIMs on iPhone 13 models and later; Samsung says "Only one eSIM can be active at a time on most Samsung Galaxy devices" (15 Oct 2026), so on most Galaxy phones a UAE line that is itself an eSIM and the travel eSIM can't be active together.

## FAQ

### How much data do I need for a week abroad?

About **5.6GB** at 0.8GB a day, **2.1GB** with only maps and messaging, **11.9GB** with daily video. Round up: **10GB** for 5.6GB, **20GB** for 11.9GB.

### Do video calls use a lot of data?

Our video profile is **1.7GB** a day, about 2 h 16 min of standard-definition video. We have no measured figure for calls alone.

### Can I share data with my family from one eSIM?

Hotspot use counts against your plan's data. We have no confirmed hotspot rule, so check the plan details on the country page, or buy one eSIM per phone.

### How much data do pilgrims need for Umrah?

About **5.6GB** for **7 days** at 0.8GB a day, **11.9GB** with daily video. The Saudi Arabia 25GB plan lasts **45 days**.

## Sources

- Vodafone UK, data calculator: vodafone.co.uk/mobile/data-calculator (15 Oct 2026)
- e&, Umrah Pack: eand.ae (15 Oct 2026); du, Umrah bundles: du.ae (15 Oct 2026)
- Apple Support UAE, eSIM: support.apple.com/en-ae/118669 (15 Oct 2026)
- Samsung UAE, Galaxy eSIM: samsung.com/ae/support (15 Oct 2026)