UAE Phone Number Format With Calling Codes: A Quick Guide

Are you tired of navigating international calling and dealing with formats, dialing codes, and rules specific to a particular region?

You are not alone in that regard, as many people face that specific problem. 

Whether you are a business trying to go big in the UAE or just trying to call someone from the UAE for personal reasons, understanding the UAE phone number format is essential. 

Let’s look at a quick guide about the UAE phone number format, the providers, and Area codes. 🚀

A Brief Overview on the UAE Phone Number Format

Here is what a typical UAE phone number format looks like:

• +971 X XXXX XXXX (for mobile)
• +971 X XXX XXXX (for landline)

Let’s look at the number format in detail. If you are calling from outside the country, the number format contains:

• Exit Code: ‘+’ signaling that you are making an international call. 
• Country Code: The country code for UAE is 971.

• Area Code: You have to type the area-specific code based on where you want to call in the country. For example, the area code for Abu Dhabi is 2.

• Mobile Numbers: Mobile numbers in UAE start with 5, and an operator code follows them. 

A Dubai mobile number would look like +971 50 1234567, while a landline in Abu Dhabi would look like +971 2 1234567

UAE Landline Number Format with Example

A general landline number in the UAE follows the following format:

+971 X XXXXXXX

Where 

• +971 is UAE country code

• X represents an area-specific code. The code varies based on the special Emirate you are dealing with. 

• The remaining digits, XXXXXXX, represent the landline number. Landline numbers generally consist of 7 numbers. 

Here is a Dubai phone number example: 

• +971 4 1234567, as the area code for the Dubai Emirate. All the seven Emirate of the country have their region-specific area codes. 

What Are The Area Codes In UAE?

The UAE is made up of seven Emirates or regions, each with its area code. Whether you are dialing from inside the UAE or from outside, you have to dial the Area codes to connect to the right Emirate.

When you are dialing from inside the UAE, you can skip the Exit Code and Country Code (+971) and prefix the call directly with the Area Code. 

In this table, we look at all the Emirate and their Area Codes: 

The XXX prefixing the Phone number examples refer to the exit code. Exit codes differ based on the country you are calling from. Let’s look at some examples of Exit codes around the world: 

South Korea: 001, 002

USA: 011

Russia: 810

India: 0

Most countries use 0 as their exit code; however, there are some exceptions, as we saw in the above examples. 

Special Prefix for UAE Numbers

One of the most used prefixes for UAE numbers is the country code +971. People calling from outside the country need to dial the prefix before they can connect to people in the the UAE. 

After the country code, phone numbers also need to be prefixed by the region-specific area code. This number is assigned uniquely to each of the country’s seven Emirates. 

Example: While calling a resident of Sharjah from outside the country you have to dial three prefixes. 

• The exit code of your country
• Country code of UAE (971)
• Sharjah area code (6)

UAE Mobile Network Operator Codes 

In the United Arab Emirates, there are primarily two major mobile network operators: Etisalat and Du. While Virgin Mobile is also a popular operator, it is just another subsidiary of Du.

Each operator has their own unique Mobile Network Codes (MNCs), which distinguish them within the UAE’s communication infrastructure. 

Let’s look at the operators and their unique phone number prefixes:

1. Etisalat

Founded in 1976, Etisalat is one of the oldest and largest telecom providers in the UAE. It offers extensive network coverage alongside services on 2G, 3G, 4G LTE, and 5G networks.

It is one of the most popular choices among the general public and businesses. The phone numbers under Etisalat typically start with the prefixes 050, 054, or 056. 

2. Du

Du was launched in 2006 and is today the second-largest telecom provider in the UAE. Similar to Etisalar, Du also provides services on 2G, 3G, 4G LTE, and  5G networks.

With their competitive pricing and customer-centric business plan, they have stayed relevant in the market for so long.  

Du phone numbers start with prefixes 052 and 058. 

3. Virgin Mobile

Virgin Mobile is a subsidiary of Du that primarily targets tech-savvy users. Mobile apps can manage the services offered by Virgin Mobile, which provides flexibility and simplicity. 

Virgin Mobile operators use 055 prefixes.

What is the Best Time to Call UAE?

The best time to call UAE can vary depending on where you are calling from.

You must consider factors like your time zone and the difference between the time zones to check the most appropriate time to call the country.

If you consider the time difference, the chances of your call being picked up instantly increase by a lot.

The weekdays in the UAE are Sunday to Thursday. Businesses are open from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM GST.

Taking into factor the business hours, the best time to call would be 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM GST on Sunday to Thursday.

Most businesses are closed on Friday as well because it is a day of prayer. 

Let’s look at the best time to call UAE if you are in one of the following business hotspots:

I. From the United States

II. From Australia

III. From India

IV. From Russia

Top 3 UAE Phone Number providers

There are numerous virtual phone number providers out there, but for the sake of safety and reliability, it is essential that you only pick the best of the bunch. 

With reliable phone number providers, you can safely trust them to find numbers and don’t have to worry about fraudulent activities. 

Here are three of the market-trusted number providers you should turn to if you want to find a UAE number: 

1. Dialaxy

Dialaxy is a virtual phone number company with an easy-to-navigate interface designed to provide users with only the basic necessary features for a business.

It provides local and toll-free numbers in different countries, including the UAE, and crucial VoIP services to everyone searching for communication services.

Features:

• Local & toll-free virtual numbers.
• Redirection of calls to several other devices.
• IVR (Interactive Voice Response) systems.
• Voicemail services.
• Call recording.

Pros:

• Easy to use: Dialaxy is intended to be a simple application that does not require its users to undergo a long training process to master their application. This ease of use allows businesses to focus on more important factors than training primarily. 
• Global coverage: It provides numbers in the different countries, which will be favorable for international organizations and companies
• Affordability: Cheap cost of the products, particularly to small businesses and other start-up business entities.
• Good customer support: Provides 24/7 customer service, and it is relatively easy to set up.

Cons:

• Limited advanced features: Dialaxy offers primary services, but as the services for bigger companies might require more customizable and complex features, such as analytics, Dialaxy is not equipped with them.
• No mobile app: Unlike some Dialaxy competitors, the service does not have a specific mobile application, which means that some work cannot be done on the go. However, they are currently working on launching a mobile app, and it is imminent. 

2. AVOXI

AVOXI is a cloud communications service provider that provides virtual phone numbers, toll-free numbers, and VoIP Service.

It is designed for international companies seeking an efficient and adaptive means of communication. 

The advanced calling features and global access available make AVOXI suitable for small businesses, medium-sized Organizations, and large organizations.

Features:

• Free local and toll-free numbers are available in more than 160 countries, including the United Arab Emirates.
• Automatic and smart call routing together with IVR systems.
• Call analytics and performance tracking.
• Integrations with other customer relationship management tools such as Salesforce Hubspot.

Pros:

• Scalability: AVOXI provides solutions for companies of different sizes, meaning that companies do not have to worry about finding other means of communication as they adopt new structures.
• Global presence: It offers great global availability with virtual numbers in more than 160 destinations.
• Advanced features: That is why AVOXI stands out as the best service for call management and reporting with integrations with top CRMs.
• Good security features: A very positive factor associated with cloud computing is the emphasis on data security, especially for businesses that deal with sensitive information.

Cons:

• Higher cost: Although AVOXI offers a rich number of features and inclusive options, its premium services cost more, making it unreasonably priced for small businesses.
• Learning curve: Many features may require time for new users to familiarize themselves with the platform’s operation.
• Overkill for small businesses: Some of the main drawbacks of using AVOXI may include; Many small businesses may be overwhelmed by these features since they are unlikely to use most of the services offered by this company.

3. United World Telecom

United World Telecom (UWT) has been a world communication service expert since it was established on the Internet in 1996.

This company provides international virtual numbers with flexible call forwarding and voice services. They focus on working closely with clients, making it easy for sellers to enter new markets.

Features:

• National, national toll-free or UIFN – available in more than 140 states around the world.
• There is also flexibility in call forwarding depending on the preferences of the user.
• Features such as IVR, voicemail to email, and other forms of SMS forwarding services.
• Call recording and detailed call reports of all the communication with the customers.
• A customer support service, available 24/7 with the possibility of arranging a communication in several languages.
• API integration for the complex requirements of specific companies.

Pros:

• Excellent customer service: United World Telecom has excellent training facilities. A multilingual crew is always available to handle all customer care.
• Flexible pricing: As mentioned above, it has flexible plans that can satisfy the needs of any business of any size.
• Ease of use: Further, the solutions it offers are packed with user-friendly tools and interfaces to allow engagements by non-technical working crowds.
• Custom solutions: They provide additional services for business needs that extend far beyond simple virtual phone numbers and can incorporate higher-level API capabilities as well.

Cons: 

• Limited Advanced Features: Although United World Telecom offers basic features necessary to sustain an organization, it doesn’t offer flexible pricing. Businesses sometimes need sophisticated features to perform analysis. 
• Higher added-up cost: UWT’s prices are initially very competitive and flexible. However, with time, the costs can add up to a higher amount. 
• Less suitable for large enterprises: Because they lack advanced features like analytics and reporting tools, large enterprises sometimes can find it difficult to sustain their organization only on the features offered by them. 

Get A UAE Phone Number From Dialaxy

Dialaxy is your number one source for getting international phone numbers, including one from UAE.

With a user-friendly interface, you can follow simple steps to get the number and be ready to use it for your professional benefits or to boost your sales.

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to obtain a UAE phone number in minutes with Dialaxy: 

1. To access the features of buying an international number, you must first have a Dialaxy account. Create an account, choose your plans and then get started. 
2. A button with “Try for Free” will show up in the user interface. Click and register an account.
3. Enter your details (name, email, and phone number.)
4. Verify your account with the link sent to your email address. 
5. Pick UAE as the country and pick the number from the list of available ones. 
6. Select a proper plan for you, and make the payment. 

Like that, you are ready to use a UAE phone number in just minutes. 

Conclusion

With the proper knowledge of area codes and formats, making an international call to the UAE or any other country is not a hard task.

However, if you are not well-informed about the details, you might encounter problems such as wrong codes. 

You can clear your doubts by referring to the formatting details and area codes mentioned above.

Knowledge about the phone numbers is not enough, as you also need to consider factors like time zone differences to ensure call connectivity. 

Choose a trusted number provider like Dialaxy, pick a number, and connect to the UAE in minutes. 

FAQs

How long are the UAE phone numbers?

Excluding all the prefixes, UAE phone numbers are fixed at seven numbers long. However, there are many prefixes that can alter the length of the phone numbers. The country code is three digits long (971). 

Callers from outside the country don’t have to dial the country code, but they have to dial area-specific codes, which are one digit long. International callers also have to dial the exit code, which generally is just 0, but some countries have their unique exit codes. 

How to get UAE virtual phone number?

Getting a virtual UAE phone number for your business is very easy. Various phone number providers specialize in the task. 

You just need to sign up with a number provider of your choice and select UAE as the country. After making the payments, you can use a UAE virtual phone number in minutes. 

What is the format for calling UAE?

If you are dialing from outside the country, you’d dial something like this: 

XXX 971 X XXXXXXX: where XXX is the exit code, X is the area code, and XXXXXXX is the seven-digit phone number.

And if you are dialing from inside the country, you would dial something like this:

X XXXXXXX: Where X is the area code, and XXXXXXX is the phone number. 

How do I know if I have Etisalat or Du?

Etisalat phone numbers start with 050, 054, and 056, while Du phone numbers start with 052, 055, or 058.