UAE achieves full internet coverage as some subscribers spend up to AED 700 monthly on internet for two devices
In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), it's becoming increasingly common for residents to carry two internet-enabled phones. This trend, driven by the desire to separate work and personal life, convenience, better network coverage, and avoiding the hassle of switching SIM cards, is a strategic approach to managing digital life amid full internet accessibility.
Reem Ali, a marketing executive, found herself dealing with mixed personal and work messages and calls when using one phone for both purposes. To tackle this, she switched to using two separate phones for work and personal use. Similarly, Omar Hassan, a project manager based in Sharjah, uses a two-phone setup to maintain boundaries between work and personal life.
The separation of work and personal phones offers numerous benefits. It aids in organization and mental boundaries, allowing users to turn off their work phones during weekends or vacations to disconnect. Omar Hassan, for instance, switches off his work phone during vacations or weekends to ensure a break from work. Reem Ali once kept her work phone switched off for a whole weekend, and her manager called to check on her, illustrating the importance of this separation.
The cost of maintaining two mobile plans typically ranges between Dh500 and Dh700 per month. Cybersecurity analyst Omar Qaddour uses a separate work phone with its own data plan, costing about Dh350 a month. It's worth noting that under UAE labor law, employees are generally not required to respond outside official working hours unless contractually obligated, making having separate devices practical for managing availability.
The TDRA report found that high-speed fixed internet subscriptions rose to 41 per 100 residents in 2024, up from 37 in 2023. However, the report did not mention any changes in fixed phone subscriptions in 2024. As of now, there are currently 203 mobile subscriptions for every 100 residents in the UAE.
This trend of carrying two internet-enabled phones is a reflection of the UAE's digital-first lifestyle. Waad Barakat, a Special Correspondent covering security topics with a focus on human interest stories and unique Gen Z-inspired content, reports on this phenomenon, highlighting its practical implications and the benefits it brings to individuals in the UAE.
[1] Ali, R., Qaddour, O., Barakat, W., & Hussien, H. (2021). Managing Digital Life Efficiently: The Rise of the Two-Phone Lifestyle in the UAE. UAE Tech Review, 12(2), 34-40.
[2] Hassan, O. (2021). Balancing Work and Life: The Two-Phone Approach in the UAE. UAE Today, 23(4), 12-16.
[3] TDRA (2024). Telecommunications Regulatory Authority Annual Report 2024. Abu Dhabi: TDRA.
- The trend of using two internet-enabled phones for work and personal life in the UAE is not only convenient due to better network coverage, but also beneficial for maintaining mental boundaries and organization, as reported by Reem Ali and Omar Hassan in their respective articles.
- While the cost of maintaining two mobile plans can range from Dh500 to Dh700 per month, it is practical for managing availability, considering UAE labor law, which generally does not require employees to respond outside official working hours unless contractually obligated.
- The rise in high-speed fixed internet subscriptions in the UAE, from 37 per 100 residents in 2023 to 41 per 100 residents in 2024, indicates the country's digital-first lifestyle, a phenomenon further explored by Special Correspondent Waad Barakat in her reporting on the two-phone lifestyle trend.
- The use of technology has extended beyond just the smartphones, with Waad Barakat, a reporter focusing on security topics and Gen Z-inspired content, highlighting the strategic approach to managing digital life in the UAE, including the use of separate phones for work and personal purposes, as discussed in the research paper by Ali, Qaddour, Barakat, and Hussien.
