The UAE country code is +971, the emergency number for police is 999, the time zone is UTC+4 all year, and the currency is the dirham (AED), pegged at 3.6725 to the US dollar. Mobile networks are run by e& (formerly Etisalat) and du and regulated by the TDRA. This page collects the facts a visitor needs before landing, with sources and dates, and ends with what they mean for a travel eSIM.
Key takeaways
- To call a Dubai landline from abroad, dial +971 4 and the seven-digit number, dropping the leading 0 of the area code. Mobile numbers start with 05 inside the UAE and +971 5 from abroad.
- Police 999, ambulance 998, fire 997. Dubai Police non-emergency line: 901.
- The UAE uses UTC+4 with no daylight saving. The federal government weekend is Saturday and Sunday.
- A data-only travel eSIM has no phone number and cannot receive SMS. Keep your home SIM active if you need text codes.
UAE facts at a glance
This table gives the short answer for each topic. Details and sources follow in the sections below. Checked 2026-10-27.
| Topic | Fact |
|---|---|
| Country calling code | +971 |
| Dubai landline area code | 04 (4 when dialing from abroad) |
| Mobile numbers | Begin with 05x (5x from abroad) |
| Mobile operators | e& (formerly Etisalat) and du; Virgin Mobile runs on du |
| Telecom regulator | TDRA |
| Emergency numbers | Police 999, ambulance 998, fire 997 |
| Time zone | Gulf Standard Time, UTC+4, no daylight saving |
| Weekend | Saturday and Sunday for federal government |
| Currency | UAE dirham (AED), 3.6725 per US dollar |
| Power | 230 V, 50 Hz, type G sockets |
Country code and how to dial UAE numbers
The UAE country code is +971. From abroad, replace the leading + with your country's international access code (00 in many countries, 011 from the US) or simply use + on a mobile phone.
When you dial from abroad, drop the leading 0 of the local number. The UAE uses a trunk prefix of 0 for domestic calls, so the same number is written two ways.
| Number type | Inside the UAE | From abroad |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai landline | 04 xxx xxxx | +971 4 xxx xxxx |
| Abu Dhabi landline | 02 xxx xxxx | +971 2 xxx xxxx |
| Sharjah landline | 06 xxx xxxx | +971 6 xxx xxxx |
| Mobile | 05x xxx xxxx | +971 5x xxx xxxx |
Area codes follow Wikipedia's numbering-plan summary: 02 Abu Dhabi, 03 Al Ain, 04 Dubai, 06 Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain, 07 Ras Al Khaimah, 09 Fujairah. Landline numbers have seven digits after the area code.
Mobile number prefixes
All UAE mobile numbers begin with 05. Wikipedia lists 050, 054 and 056 for e&, 052, 055 and 058 for du, and 053 and 058 for Virgin Mobile, with 058 shared. Other sources group some of these prefixes differently, so treat a prefix as a hint rather than proof of which network a number is on. The operators' own pages are the place to check.
Operators and the regulator
The UAE has two national mobile operators, e& (formerly Etisalat) and du. The regulator is the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), according to a GigSky guide published 2026-07-29 and updated 2026-09-17.
Virgin Mobile sells tourist SIMs at airport kiosks with 7, 10 or 15 day durations, according to Gulf News (updated 2022-06-29). The same article says Etisalat's visitor line needs only a passport and stays active for 90 days, and that du sells a Tourist SIM pack booked online and collected at airport stores in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah. These are dated details, so check each operator before you rely on them. For how a travel eSIM compares, see eSIM vs tourist SIM in Dubai.
Which network does my eSIM use?
Some providers name their UAE partner network and some do not. Our scorecard records only what each provider states on its own page.
Emergency numbers
In the UAE, call 999 for police, 998 for an ambulance and 997 for the fire department (Civil Defence). Dubai Police list 901 for non-emergency matters. A data-only eSIM has no phone number, so keep your home SIM active as a voice line for calls like these.
| Service | Number |
|---|---|
| Police, emergency | 999 |
| Police, non-emergency (Dubai Police) | 901 |
| Ambulance | 998 |
| Fire (Civil Defence) | 997 |
| Coast Guard | 996 |
| Search and rescue | 995 |
Numbers as listed on Wikipedia, checked 2026-10-27. We could not open an official page for this list on that date, so confirm on the UAE government portal or the Dubai Police site if it matters.
Time zone and weekend
The UAE is on Gulf Standard Time, UTC+4, and does not use daylight saving, so the offset from UTC never changes. When Europe or the US change their clocks, your time difference with Dubai changes by an hour.
The federal government moved to a Saturday and Sunday weekend on 1 January 2022, with a half-day on Friday, according to WAM, the national news agency. Private companies were free to choose their own schedule. For a visitor, this means government offices are closed Saturday and Sunday, while shops, malls and attractions generally stay open; check hours for specific places.
Currency
The UAE currency is the dirham, written AED or Dh. It has been pegged at 3.6725 dirhams to the US dollar since November 1997, according to The National (2024-11-22). That means 1 USD is 3.6725 AED, so a $4.00 eSIM plan equals about 14.69 AED at the peg.
Prices on our pages are in US dollars as each provider lists them, so your card may convert them at its own rate.
Plugs and voltage
The UAE uses 230 V at 50 Hz with the British-style type G three-pin socket. Travelers from the UK can use their plugs as they are. Travelers from the US, Canada, Japan and other 110 to 120 V countries need an adapter and should check that each charger is rated for 100 to 240 V; most phone and laptop chargers are. This is general knowledge rather than a figure from a specific source we opened, so confirm with your device label.
Older buildings may have other socket types, so a universal adapter is a cheap precaution.
Telecom rules visitors run into
Voice and video calls on WhatsApp and FaceTime are restricted on UAE networks (e& and du, and most Wi-Fi), according to the GigSky guide above. It describes this as a long-standing federal rule enforced by TDRA. Text messages, photos, voice notes and status updates work.
On a foreign travel eSIM, app calls sometimes connect because traffic routes outside the UAE, but the same source says this is not reliable. We therefore never promise that WhatsApp or FaceTime calls will work. Botim is a licensed calling app in the UAE, and C'Me is described as another licensed option. Gulf News lists more apps allowed for calls (updated 2024-09-09), including GoChat Messenger, Voico, Comera, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, Cisco Webex and Slack.
Our full guide is WhatsApp calls in Dubai, and the apps are covered in apps to install before you land. This site does not give legal advice; if you rely on calling, check the current TDRA position.
What this means for your eSIM
Most UAE travel eSIMs are data only. TonMobile's terms say its eSIM has no phone number and cannot receive SMS, and Nomad and Holafly are listed as data-only too. You get internet, not a +971 number.
- Keep your home SIM active as a second line if you need SMS codes from banks or apps. Apple's guidance is that with both lines on, the primary line keeps working while the travel eSIM carries data (Apple Support).
- Check roaming charges on the home line before you switch data to the eSIM, and turn off data roaming for the home SIM.
- Install the eSIM before you fly. Saily says its eSIMs cannot be purchased from within the UAE, and Roamless says installation is not permitted once you are in the country. See how to set up an eSIM before Dubai.
- Do not expect WhatsApp or FaceTime calls to work. Use messages, or a licensed calling app.
- Pick a plan size using how much data you need in Dubai, or the plan finder.
For provider prices, see the eSIM provider rating; for how we score, see our methodology. Terms such as eSIM and carrier lock are explained in the glossary.
FAQ
What is the UAE country code?
The UAE country code is +971. From abroad, dial +971, then the number without its leading 0. For example, a Dubai landline is +971 4 followed by seven digits.
What is the emergency number in Dubai?
Call 999 for police, 998 for an ambulance and 997 for the fire department. Dubai Police list 901 for non-emergency matters.
What time zone is Dubai in, and does it change clocks?
Dubai uses Gulf Standard Time, UTC+4. The UAE does not use daylight saving, so the offset stays the same all year.
What is the weekend in the UAE?
The federal government weekend is Saturday and Sunday, with a half-day on Friday, since 1 January 2022. Private companies can choose their own schedule, so check opening hours for specific places.
What is the exchange rate between the dirham and the US dollar?
The dirham has been pegged at 3.6725 AED per US dollar since November 1997, according to The National. Your bank or card may add its own conversion margin.
What plug do I need in Dubai?
The UAE uses 230 V, 50 Hz and type G sockets. UK plugs fit; travelers from other regions need an adapter, and 110 to 120 V devices should be rated for 230 V.
Do I get a UAE phone number with a travel eSIM?
Usually not. TonMobile, Nomad and Holafly sell data-only eSIMs with no local number or SMS. Keep your home SIM active if you need text messages.
Can I call home on WhatsApp in the UAE?
Voice and video calls on WhatsApp and FaceTime are restricted on UAE networks, and results on a travel eSIM vary. Messages work, and licensed apps such as Botim handle calls.