UAE Country Code and Area Dialing Codes List (2026)

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To make calls to friends, family and business associates in the UAE, you need to know how the national telephone network works. From calling a business in Downtown Dubai to a residential line in Abu Dhabi and updating contact lists for mobile messaging apps, understanding exactly how international calling numbers are structured ensures you won’t experience any call dropouts.

The comprehensive UAE Country Code: Operational Guide is for the calling from overseas to UAE in 2026, it explains everything about the UAE Country Code, the UAE City Area Codes, the Telecom Operator Prefixes and the Step-by-Step Dialing Formats used for calling the UAE from anywhere in the world.

What Is the UAE Country Code?

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has given the United Arab Emirates the country prefix of 971 for international phone calls. This number sequence is used when making calls from outside the UAE to tell your local phone company that the called network is in the UAE.

The international prefix is in two common formats depending on your device settings and origin. The first is +971 which is the standard international format, with the + symbol indicating your country exit code. The second is 00971, which is the standard international exit sequence used throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

Both formats are for the same country destination. Using +971 on a phone number is treated as the correct exit code automatically when saving the phone numbers to the smartphones, no matter what country you pass through. 

How the UAE Telephone Numbering Plan Works

To dial any telecommunications device in the United Arab Emirates successfully, you must understand the distinction between landline numbers and mobile phone numbers. The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) oversees all numbering allocation across the seven emirates.

The standard phone structure consists of four main elements:

  1. International Exit Code: The prefix required by your home country to place an outbound international call (such as 011 from North America, or 00 from India and the UK).
  2. UAE Country Code: The digits 971.
  3. Area Code or Mobile Prefix: A two-digit city code for landlines (such as 04 for Dubai or 02 for Abu Dhabi) or a two-digit operator prefix for mobile devices (such as 050, 052, 054, 055, 056, or 058).
  4. Subscriber Number: A unique seven-digit telephone number assigned to a specific account.

When placing a domestic local call within the UAE, you always retain the leading zero in the area code or mobile prefix. However, when placing an international call from abroad into the UAE, you must drop the trunk prefix zero entirely.

Complete UAE Area Codes List (2026)

Landline telephone numbers across the United Arab Emirates are categorized geographically by city and emirate. Each major region is governed by a dedicated two-digit area code.

Dubai Area Code (04)

Dubai serves as the financial and commercial powerhouse of the region. All fixed-line residential numbers, corporate headquarters, hotel front desks, and government offices situated across Dubai utilize the area code 04 domestically, which converts to 4 when dialing from abroad.

Domestic Dialing: 04 XXX XXXX

International Dialing: +971 4 XXX XXXX

Abu Dhabi Area Code (02)

As the capital city of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi and its surrounding eastern administrative zones (including Al Ain and Al Dhafra) operate under the regional area code 02.

Domestic Dialing: 02 XXX XXXX

International Dialing: +971 2 XXX XXXX

Sharjah, Ajman, and Umm Al Quwain Area Code (06)

The northern administrative region encompassing the emirates of Sharjah, Ajman, and Umm Al Quwain shares a unified landline area code of 06.

Domestic Dialing: 06 XXX XXXX

International Dialing: +971 6 XXX XXXX

Ras Al Khaimah Area Code (07)

Located in the northernmost section of the UAE, Ras Al Khaimah utilizes its own independent regional fixed-line network identifier under the area code 07.

Domestic Dialing: 07 XXX XXXX

International Dialing: +971 7 XXX XXXX

Fujairah Area Code (09)

Situated along the eastern coast of the Gulf of Oman, the emirate of Fujairah operates its dedicated landline communications through the area code 09.

Domestic Dialing: 09 XXX XXXX

International Dialing: +971 9 XXX XXXX

UAE Regional Fixed-Line Summary

For quick reference across the emirates, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain use area code 02 domestically (+971 2 internationally). Dubai Metropolitan, Jebel Ali, and Business Bay use area code 04 domestically (+971 4 internationally). The emirates of Sharjah, Ajman, and Umm Al Quwain share area code 06 domestically (+971 6 internationally). Ras Al Khaimah City, Al Hamra, and Jebel Jais use area code 07 domestically (+971 7 internationally). Fujairah Port and Dibba Al-Fujairah operate under area code 09 domestically (+971 9 internationally).

UAE Mobile Number Formats and Operator Prefixes

Mobile phone usage across the United Arab Emirates is handled primarily by two major telecommunications providers: Etisalat by e& and du (Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company), along with digital brand operators such as Virgin Mobile UAE (operating on the du network).

Mobile telephone numbers in the UAE do not depend on physical geographic location or city boundaries. Instead, they use a three-digit operator network code starting with 05.

Common Mobile Operator Prefixes

Etisalat prefixes include 050, 054, and 056. The network prefixes assigned to du include 052, 055, and 058. Digital brand providers like Virgin Mobile utilize du network blocks, which typically begin with 058.

Mobile Dialing Rules

A standard UAE mobile telephone number consists of ten digits domestically (for example, 050 123 4567). When dialing this mobile line internationally, you must omit the leading zero from the mobile prefix.

Domestic Mobile Format: 050 XXX XXXX

International Mobile Format: +971 50 XXX XXXX

Step-by-Step: How to Call the UAE from Around the World

Placing an international voice call to a telephone line in the United Arab Emirates requires combining your country exit code, the 971 country code, the target city area code (without zero), and the subscriber line number.

How to Call the UAE from the USA or Canada

First, dial the North American exit code 011. Second, dial the UAE country code 971. Third, dial the city area code or mobile network identifier after dropping the leading zero. Finally, dial the seven-digit local phone number.

Example (Calling a Dubai landline): 011 + 971 + 4 + 123 4567

Example (Calling a UAE mobile line): 011 + 971 + 50 + 123 4567

How to Call the UAE from the UK, Europe, or Africa

First, dial the international standard exit code 00. Second, dial the UAE country code 971. Third, dial the city area code or mobile network identifier after dropping the leading zero. Finally, dial the seven-digit local phone number.

Example (Calling an Abu Dhabi landline): 00 + 971 + 2 + 123 4567

Example (Calling a UAE mobile line): 00 + 971 + 52 + 123 4567

How to Call the UAE from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, or Nepal

First, dial the standard outbound international code 00. Second, dial the UAE country code 971. Third, dial the city area code or mobile network identifier after dropping the leading zero. Finally, dial the seven-digit local phone number.

Example (Calling a Sharjah landline from India): 00 + 971 + 6 + 123 4567

Example (Calling a UAE mobile line from Pakistan): 00 + 971 + 56 + 123 4567

Formatting UAE Numbers for WhatsApp and Digital Messaging

To register or message a UAE-based mobile subscriber on instant messaging platforms like WhatsApp, Telegram, or Signal, the phone number must be saved using the standardized international format (E.164 standard).

Proper WhatsApp Contact Format

Begin by including the plus sign (+). Next, add the country code (971). Follow this with the mobile network prefix without the initial zero (such as 50, 52, 54, 55, 56, or 58). Finish by entering the remaining seven-digit individual subscriber line.

Correct Format: +971501234567

Incorrect Format: 009710501234567 or 0501234567

Adding brackets, spaces, hyphens, or additional leading zeroes can disrupt automatic synchronization on global messaging platforms.

Common Errors to Avoid When Dialing UAE Numbers

Keep your voice calls error free and without dead voice on the other end of the line by being mindful of these common call-dialing errors.

The most common mistake for calling the UAE is omitting the zero at the beginning of the area code and/or the mobile prefix (for example, dialing +971 04 as opposed to +971 4). When dialing an international number, be sure to clear the leading zero.

The other common mistake is using a mobile number instead of a city landline number. Landline area codes are single digits after the country code (2, 4, 6, 7, 9) while mobile prefix codes are two digits (50, 52, 54, 55, 56, 58).

If you dial a phone number from a non-plus enabled line (such as a traditional landline in North America), you will not be able to place the call without including your country exit code (011 for North America, 00 for Europe and Asia).

Last but not least, consider UAE toll free numbers (usually beginning with 800), which are mainly for local calls in the UAE. These customer support lines can only be accessed from overseas by dialing the number, which is the international direct dial (IDD) equivalent offered by the business.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is the country code for the United Arab Emirates?

A1. 971 is the country code of UAE. From abroad, dialing the telephone number starts with +971 or 00971 followed by the specific regional area code or mobile network code (without the first zero).

Q2. Is the UAE country code 971 or 00971?

A2. The UAE code of the UAE’s central number is 971. Many countries around the world use 00 before any overseas telephone number. Thus, when dialing from countries with the 00 exit protocol, 00971 is the entire combination required.

Q3. What is the area code for calling Dubai?

A3. Dubai’s local telephone area code is 04. For international calls to Dubai, omit the initial zero in the Dubai telephone numbers, dial +971 4 then the local seven-digit phone number.

Q4. How do I save a UAE phone number for WhatsApp?

A4. The number to be dialed is entered as follows in UAE: Plus sign (+), followed by the mobile prefix (which is either 50 or 55) and the seven-digit phone number (for example, +971501234567).

Q5. What is the difference between Etisalat and du mobile codes?

A5. The mobile phone numbers of the two providers Etisalat and du are generally prefixed with 050, 054 and 056, and 052, 055 and 058 respectively. There is a Mobile Number Portability (MNP) system in the UAE, which enables users to change their network without losing their prefix.

Final Thoughts & Stay Connected

Once you understand the fundamental numbering systems, you should be able to communicate with the United Arab Emirates without any problems. With the international prefix, country code 971 and the appropriate local area code or mobile prefix, you can create clear connections between Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates.

Please check our latest picks on Dubai Key Insights for more up-to-date business directories, regulatory information and travel guides to the UAE and beyond. Use our communications guide to bookmark all necessary areas code to have on hand whenever you’re connected worldwide.