business phone · 7 min read
How to Call the UAE from the US
Dial 011 + 971 + area code (drop leading 0) + local number to call the UAE from the US. Dubai and Abu Dhabi examples, time zones, costs, and business tips.
To call the UAE from the US, dial 011 + 971 + area code (drop leading 0) + local number. Dubai example: 011-971-4-XXXXXXX. Abu Dhabi: 011-971-2-XXXXXXX. UAE mobile: 011-971-50-XXXXXXX (prefix 050/052/054/055/056/058, no leading 0).
The 011 is the US international exit code. The 971 is the UAE’s country code.
This pattern works from any US landline or mobile — on a smartphone you can substitute + for 011, dialing +971 4 XXXXXXX.
How to dial the UAE from the US
Follow these four steps every time:
- Dial 011 — the US exit code for all international calls. On a mobile keypad, long-press
0to enter+as a shortcut;+works identically to011on smartphones. - Dial 971 — the UAE’s ITU-assigned country code, used across all seven emirates.
- Dial the area code without its leading 0. UAE numbers in domestic format start with a 0 trunk prefix. That 0 is dropped for international dialing. Dubai’s domestic prefix
04becomes4; Abu Dhabi’s02becomes2; a mobile prefix050becomes50. - Dial the local subscriber number exactly as written. UAE landline subscriber numbers are 7 digits; mobile subscriber numbers are 7 digits after the 2-digit operator prefix.
The complete pattern: 011 971 <area or mobile prefix minus leading 0> <local number>.
If you see a UAE number already formatted with +971 (common on business cards and websites), replace the + with 011 from a US landline, or dial it as-is from a smartphone.
UAE area codes by emirate
UAE landlines use geographic area codes assigned per emirate by the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA). The leading 0 shown in domestic format is dropped for all international calls.
| Emirate / city | Domestic prefix | Dial from US (after 011 971) |
|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi | 02 | 2 |
| Al Ain | 03 | 3 |
| Dubai | 04 | 4 |
| Sharjah / Ajman / Umm Al Quwain | 06 | 6 |
| Ras Al Khaimah | 07 | 7 |
| Fujairah | 09 | 9 |
UAE mobile numbers do not use emirate area codes.
Mobile prefixes (in domestic format) are 050, 052, 054, 055, 056, and 058 — assigned by the TDRA to operators including Etisalat (e&) and du.
Example: a number beginning 050 is dialed from the US as 011 971 50 XXXXXXX.
How UAE numbering works
The UAE telephone numbering plan is administered by the TDRA across all seven emirates under the single +971 country code.
Geographic landlines use a one-digit emirate area code (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, or 9) shown domestically with a leading 0, followed by a 7-digit subscriber number.
Mobile numbers carry a two-digit operator prefix in the 5x range (50, 52, 54, 55, 56, 58), again shown domestically with a leading 0, followed by a 7-digit subscriber number. There is no separate area code for mobiles — the prefix identifies the network operator.
In every case, the domestic leading 0 is a trunk prefix that you drop and replace with 011 971 (or +971) when dialing from the US.
Time zones: Gulf Standard Time
The UAE observes a single time zone year-round:
- GST (Gulf Standard Time) — UTC+4, applied across all seven emirates.
- The UAE does not observe daylight saving time, so its clock stays fixed all year.
| US time zone | Offset during US standard time (winter) | Offset during US daylight time (summer) |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern (ET) | UAE +9 h | UAE +8 h |
| Central (CT) | UAE +10 h | UAE +9 h |
| Mountain (MT) | UAE +11 h | UAE +10 h |
| Pacific (PT) | UAE +12 h | UAE +11 h |
Important for business callers: because only the US clock changes, the gap to the UAE shrinks by one hour each US summer. A 9 AM ET call reaches the UAE at 6 PM in winter and 5 PM in summer.
The reliable overlap window for standard business hours is 8 AM–10 AM ET, reaching UAE offices in the late afternoon before they close. The UAE work week runs Monday–Friday, and many private-sector offices wind down early on Friday — worth confirming before scheduling a late-week call.
US to UAE calling costs
Costs vary significantly by calling method:
- US carrier per-minute (no plan): AT&T and Verizon charge roughly $2–$5 per minute to the UAE without an international add-on — one of the pricier destinations. Fine for a call or two per month.
- Carrier international add-on packages: a monthly fee reduces the per-minute rate, worthwhile above a modest volume of minutes.
- VoIP providers (including DialPhone): flat per-minute rates to the UAE that typically undercut carrier add-ons, with no monthly minimum. For recurring US–UAE business calling, a VoIP plan on DialPhone business phone pays for itself quickly.
- Free app-to-app (WhatsApp, etc.): works if the UAE side also uses the app and has data. Note that some VoIP calling apps have historically faced restrictions inside the UAE, so confirm with your contact rather than assuming an app will connect.
Calling UAE mobile vs landline from the US
From a US perspective, the dialing procedure is the same: 011 971 <number without leading 0>.
The difference lies in the number format itself:
- Landlines have a single-digit emirate area code (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, or 9) followed by a 7-digit local number.
- Mobiles start with a two-digit operator prefix (50, 52, 54, 55, 56, 58) and have no emirate area code, followed by a 7-digit number.
Identifying the type from the number: any UAE number whose prefix (domestic format) is 050, 052, 054, 055, 056, or 058 is a mobile.
Numbers beginning 02, 03, 04, 06, 07, or 09 are geographic landlines.
VoIP providers including DialPhone typically apply a single flat rate to the UAE regardless of landline vs mobile destination, which simplifies budgeting compared with carrier plans that price mobiles higher.
SMS to the UAE and business use cases
US-to-UAE SMS works from most US mobile plans — the same international add-on that covers calls usually covers texts. Business-grade SMS (A2P, bulk, or CRM-triggered) requires a provider supporting international SMS routing to UAE networks.
US–UAE B2B context where this matters most:
- Trade and logistics: US exporters and freight forwarders coordinate constantly with Dubai-based partners around Jebel Ali Port and the DMCC free zone. The wide time-zone gap makes reliable scheduling and a recognizable caller ID essential.
- Energy and construction: US engineering, oilfield-services, and infrastructure firms with Abu Dhabi counterparties benefit from a setup that reaches the UAE during its afternoon while the US team is starting its day.
- Finance and professional services: US firms serving DIFC-based clients in Dubai find that a verified, consistent caller ID improves answer rates when calling into a market where unknown international numbers are screened.
DialPhone’s AI receptionist helps with the steep US–UAE time-zone asymmetry: when a UAE contact calls your US DialPhone number outside US business hours, the AI receptionist answers, qualifies the inquiry, and routes or escalates based on rules you set — so an 8-to-12-hour offset never means a missed opportunity.
FAQ
Calling the UAE FAQ
What is the country code for the UAE?
The UAE's country code is +971. From a US landline or mobile, you reach it by dialing the US international exit code 011 first, making the full prefix 011 971. From a smartphone that supports E.164 dialing you can substitute + for 011, so +971 works identically.
Do I need to drop the leading 0 when calling the UAE from the US?
Yes. UAE numbers in domestic format start with a 0 — for example, a Dubai landline is written 04 XXX XXXX locally and a mobile as 050 XXX XXXX. That leading 0 is the UAE's trunk prefix and is only used for calls placed inside the UAE.
When calling from the US, replace the entire leading 0 with 011 971. So 04 123 4567 becomes 011 971 4 123 4567. Leaving the 0 in place is the most common reason a US-to-UAE call fails to connect.
How do I call a UAE mobile number from the US?
UAE mobile numbers start with 050, 052, 054, 055, 056, or 058 in domestic format. Dial 011 + 971 + the mobile number without its leading 0.
Example: a number written as 050 123 4567 is dialed from the US as 011 971 50 123 4567. Mobile numbers do not use a city area code — the prefix (05x) identifies the operator network such as Etisalat (e&) or du.
What is the best time to call the UAE from the US?
The UAE is 9 hours ahead of US Eastern Time when the US is on standard time (GST UTC+4 vs EST UTC-5) and 8 hours ahead when the US is on daylight saving time. The UAE does not observe daylight saving, so its clock never changes.
The most reliable overlap is early morning US Eastern: 8 AM–10 AM ET reaches the UAE around 4 PM–6 PM local, near the end of the UAE business day. Note the UAE work week runs Monday–Friday, with many private offices closing early on Friday.
How much does it cost to call the UAE from the US?
Standard US carrier rates without an international plan run roughly $2–$5 per minute to the UAE — among the higher international destinations. Carrier international add-on packages reduce this to a lower per-minute rate for a monthly fee.
VoIP providers including DialPhone charge flat per-minute rates to UAE destinations that are typically lower than carrier add-on plans, with no monthly minimum for low-volume callers.
Can I call UAE toll-free (800) numbers from the US?
UAE 800 freephone numbers are free only when dialed from within the UAE. Calling them from the US will usually fail to connect or connect at a standard international rate. Ask your UAE contact for their geographic +971 number (for example a Dubai 4 or Abu Dhabi 2 line) or a direct mobile as an alternative.
What does GST mean for calling the UAE?
GST is Gulf Standard Time, the UAE's single year-round time zone at UTC+4. Unlike Europe or North America, the UAE does not switch to a summer time, so GST applies all year.
Because the US shifts between EST (UTC-5) and EDT (UTC-4), the gap to the UAE is 9 hours from US Eastern in winter and 8 hours in summer. The UAE side never moves — only the US clock changes the offset.
How do I save a UAE number in my phone contacts?
Save UAE numbers in full E.164 international format: +971 followed by the area or mobile prefix without its leading 0, then the local number. For example, a Dubai landline 04 123 4567 should be saved as +971 4 123 4567, and a mobile 050 123 4567 as +971 50 123 4567.
This format works from any country without modification, prevents dialing errors when roaming, and is the standard format expected by CRMs and VoIP platforms including DialPhone.
Start calling the UAE today
Whether you make occasional calls to a Dubai supplier or run a team with daily US–UAE volume, the right setup eliminates per-minute sticker shock and missed calls.
- DialPhone pricing — compare per-minute UAE rates across plans
- Start a free trial — call the UAE from day one, no commitment
- DialPhone business phone — full VoIP platform for international calling
- AI receptionist — handle inbound calls from the UAE 24/7
Related guides
- How to call internationally from the US — exit code 011, country codes, and per-country mobile rules
- Number porting guide — bring your existing number to DialPhone
- STIR/SHAKEN explained — why caller ID attestation matters for international calls
Call other countries from the US
Part of the How to Call Internationally from the US hub — exit code 011, country codes, and the per-country mobile rules.
About the author
Growth Operations Lead at DialPhone
Darshan leads Growth Operations at DialPhone, where he owns three interconnected programs: the comparison content operation, the open VoIP Pricing Dataset, and the test-call methodology used to verify every pricing claim published on the site.
His research process starts with hands-on product trials and live vendor quotes — not marketing pages. Pricing figures are cross-checked against actual invoices and re-verified on a rolling quarterly cycle, with the underlying dataset kept public for independent re-verification. That dataset now covers 40+ VoIP and virtual-number providers across the US and Canada market.
Darshan also leads DialPhone's AI receptionist evaluation program, running structured test-call scenarios across English, Spanish, and French to assess transcription accuracy, intent routing, and escalation behavior. Methodology notes and raw scoring are archived in the research section.
For factual corrections or dataset discrepancies, Darshan can be reached at the DialPhone editorial address. Verified corrections are published as errata with a changelog date — no silent edits.