Quick Answer
Dial 00 + 971 + area/mobile prefix + local number from any Indian phone. On a mobile, use +971 instead of 00 971. Sayfone lets you call the UAE for $0.08/min directly from your browser.
$0.08
Per minute
+971
Country code
HD
Call quality
Landline rate
$0.08/min
Mobile rate
$0.08/min
Same per-minute Sayfone rate for landline and mobile.
Average call quality
With nearly 3.9 million Indians living and working in the UAE, this is one of the busiest calling corridors from India. Whether you're coordinating a remittance, checking on family, or handling business, Sayfone connects your call at $0.08/min — no app install required.
Steps at a glance
Sources
Country code reference for +971 assignment
India exit code reference
DIALING GUIDE
Follow these steps to dial any UAE landline or mobile number from India. The format is the same whether you're calling Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, or any other emirate.
From a landline, dial 00. From a mobile phone, you can press and hold the 0 key to get the + symbol, which replaces 00.
00 or +
Enter 971, the international country code assigned to the United Arab Emirates by the ITU. This routes your call to the UAE telephone network.
00 971 or +971
For landlines, dial the 1-digit area code for the emirate you're calling (e.g., 2 for Abu Dhabi, 4 for Dubai, 6 for Sharjah). For mobile numbers, dial the 2-digit mobile prefix (e.g., 50, 55, 56). Important: drop the leading 0 that is used for domestic calls within the UAE.
00 971 4 (Dubai landline) or 00 971 50 (mobile)
Complete the call by entering the 7-digit subscriber number. UAE landline and mobile subscriber numbers are always 7 digits.
00 971 4 123 4567 (Dubai landline) or 00 971 50 123 4567 (mobile)
Dialing format reference
+971
Use these patterns when entering a full international number to +971.
Mobile
+971 5X XXX XXXX
Landline
+971 X XXX XXXX
Major city area codes
Sources
UAE numbering plan structure and area codes
India international access code (00)
Official ITU documentation for UAE numbering
IMPORTANT RULES
Keep these rules in mind to make sure your call connects on the first try.
UAE domestic numbers start with 0 (e.g., 04 for Dubai, 050 for Etisalat mobile). When dialing from India, you must remove this leading 0 and use the area/mobile prefix directly after +971. For example, 04 123 4567 becomes +971 4 123 4567.
A UAE mobile number after the country code is 9 digits: a 2-digit mobile prefix (50, 52, 54, 55, 56, 58) plus 7 subscriber digits. If you count fewer or more digits, double-check the number.
A UAE landline number after the country code is 8 digits: a 1-digit area code (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, or 9) plus 7 subscriber digits.
India's international access code is 00. On mobile phones, the + symbol works as a universal replacement. Both 00 971 and +971 will route your call to the UAE.
UAE mobile prefixes indicate the carrier: 50, 54, and 56 are Etisalat; 52, 55, and 58 are Du. This can be useful for troubleshooting or understanding network-specific connectivity.
TIMING & TIPS
India (IST, UTC+5:30) is only 1 hour and 30 minutes ahead of the UAE (GST, UTC+4). This small gap means overlapping hours are generous — great news for families coordinating remittances or business contacts in Dubai.
Best for Family Calls
7:30 PM – 10:00 PM IST
6:00 PM – 8:30 PM in UAE — after working hours for most workers
Best for Business Calls
10:30 AM – 5:00 PM IST
9:00 AM – 3:30 PM in UAE — standard Gulf business hours
Avoid Calling
Before 5:30 AM IST
Before 4:00 AM in UAE — too early
Sources
Time zone overlap reference
TROUBLESHOOTING
If your call to the UAE isn't connecting, check these common problems before trying again.
The most common mistake. If the UAE number starts with 04, 050, etc., remove the first 0 before dialing internationally. Dial +971 4 … or +971 50 … instead.
A UAE landline should be 8 digits after +971 (1-digit area code + 7 subscriber digits). A mobile should be 9 digits after +971 (2-digit prefix + 7 subscriber digits). Count your digits if the call fails.
Indian carriers sometimes have congestion on Gulf routes during peak evening hours. If your call drops, wait a moment and try again. Using a browser-based service like Sayfone over a Wi-Fi connection can bypass carrier congestion.
The UAE regulates certain VoIP applications. Some consumer calling apps may be blocked or have limited functionality within the UAE. Sayfone operates as a browser-based calling service, but if the person you're calling in the UAE reports issues receiving VoIP calls, a standard voice call may be more reliable.
Some Indian prepaid SIM plans do not have ISD (International Subscriber Dialling) enabled by default. Contact your carrier to activate international calling, or use Sayfone's browser-based service which doesn't depend on your carrier's ISD pack.
Sources
Number format reference for troubleshooting
Savings
Adjust the tools below to compare Sayfone with typical retail pricing for calls to United Arab Emirates. Start with one call, then layer on monthly volume to see the bigger picture.
How to use these tools
Set duration and country. See Sayfone vs. an illustrative retail rate for the same call.
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Your call
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$0.96
$0.080 per minute
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220
min / month
~$3.92/min
~$2.96/min
~$1.76/min
~$0.40/min
$0.080/min
Annual saving vs. AT&T
Based on 220 min/month
Before you go
Open the full India to United Arab Emirates guide, check rates, or browse other how-to guides from India.
India to United Arab Emirates calling guide
Per-minute rates, savings calculator, and what to expect on this route.
What it costs to call United Arab Emirates
See Sayfone’s per-minute rate for United Arab Emirates and how it compares before you dial.
Route guides from India
FAQ
Quick answers to the most common questions about calling the United Arab Emirates from India.
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