Buzz
To reach Dubai from a UK phone, start by dialing 00—the UK’s international exit code—then add 971, the UAE’s country code, and finally input the number you’re calling. Depending on how often you call and your budget, there are other options available. While popular apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Skype are blocked in the UAE, you can still find affordable alternatives for staying connected.
Instructions
Calling via Mobile or Landline
Start by dialing 00, the UK’s international dialing prefix. Each country has a unique exit code for making international calls—00 is the code used in the UK.
Dial 9-7-1. This is the UAE’s country code, which is unique to every nation. Country codes typically range from 1 to 3 digits. In this case, 971 is specifically for the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the country where Dubai is situated.
Press 4 followed by the 7-digit landline number. In Dubai, 4 is the area code for landlines. If you've been given a 7-digit number for a Dubai landline without an area code, just press 4 before dialing the number.
Dial 50, 55, or 56, then the 7-digit cell phone number. If the number starts with the prefixes 050, 055, or 056, it’s a cell phone. Don’t forget to drop the leading 0 when dialing from the UK.
- The operator prefix will typically be included in the cell phone number when it’s provided to you.
Calling via an Online Service
Use Skype or Google Voice to call landlines or mobile phones. While Skype and Google Voice are unavailable in the UAE for free internet calls, you can still use them in the UK to dial landlines or mobile phones in Dubai for a per-minute fee.
- Fixed rates apply, so check if these compare favorably with rates offered by your mobile or landline provider.
- If you make frequent calls to Dubai, consider subscribing to one of Skype’s monthly plans, which offer between 60 and 800 minutes of calling to UAE phones and landlines.
Use social media to stay in touch. You can send text and voice messages through social media apps. However, calling features in popular platforms like Facebook, Snapchat, Viber, and WhatsApp are currently restricted in the UAE.
- All VoIP-based apps are blocked at present, though widely used platforms like Skype and Facetime could be permitted in the future.
Try an online service focused on international calling. Providers like Vonage use the internet instead of traditional phone lines to connect calls. You can even connect Vonage to a landline, offering an alternative to using your standard mobile or landline phone.
- Vonage offers a variety of plans to suit your needs, and their services work both for domestic and international calls.
Helpful Tips
Check the time difference before calling. Dubai follows Gulf Standard Time (UTC +4), while the UK uses Greenwich Mean Time (UTC +0) and shifts to British Summer Time (UTC +1) from March to October. Depending on the season, Dubai is either 3 or 4 hours ahead.
- Dubai doesn’t observe Daylight Savings Time.
- If in doubt, visit https://time.is/Dubai to see the local time.
- Scheduling your call in advance can help avoid reaching someone at an inconvenient hour.
Buy an international calling card ahead of time, if necessary. These cards offer competitive rates for overseas calls and can be purchased with a set amount of minutes. You’ll find them online or at newsagents and mobile shops.
- Always check the card details to ensure it supports calls to the UAE.
Check with your landline provider for international calling rates. Your landline provider might offer specialized packages for calling the UAE. They could also have fixed pricing for calls to Dubai, so you won’t have to sign up for a package or add extra monthly fees to your bill.
Talk to your mobile provider if you plan to call Dubai frequently. Many mobile networks provide international calling add-ons. If you make frequent calls to Dubai, adding an international calling plan may be more cost-effective than using regular pay-as-you-go rates, and it could be cheaper than landline options.
Use 18185 if you don’t need to call Dubai often. 18185 is a service that lets you bypass the standard international rates on your landline or mobile phone and instead use their fixed rates listed on 18185.co.uk. To use the service, you’ll need to create an account and provide payment details, then dial their access number followed by the Dubai number you want to reach.
- 18185 offers fixed rates for various countries, which can be a cheaper alternative, especially if you don't call Dubai frequently.
