International Calls from the UAE: Cheapest Packs and Legal Apps

The cheapest way to call home from the UAE depends on how much you call. For regular callers to South Asia, e&’s international minute packs are hard to beat: 2,000 minutes for AED 99 or 500 minutes for AED 49, valid 28 days, covering India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Egypt. Occasional callers can use a daily pack from AED 5. Internet calling is the alternative, but only through apps the TDRA allows, such as BOTIM, Zoom and Microsoft Teams. WhatsApp voice and video calls are still not available inside the UAE.

Your options at a glance

International calls from a UAE line are expensive at standard rates, so almost everyone who calls home regularly uses a pack. The question is which pack, or whether to skip the phone network altogether.

Option	Best for	Typical cost
28-day minute pack	Daily calls to one region	AED 49 or AED 99 on e&
Monthly international pack	Calls to a wider list of countries	AED 69 on e& prepaid
Daily pack	An occasional call	From AED 5 on days you call
Approved calling app	Calling another smartphone	Your data or Wi-Fi only
No pack	Avoid where possible	Standard per-minute rates

A phone call through a pack has one big advantage over an app: it reaches any phone, including a basic mobile or a landline back home, and it works without a data connection at either end.

e& international minute packs

e& publishes its international packs on its add-ons pages. The two 28-day packs are aimed squarely at the UAE’s largest expatriate communities.

Pack	Minutes	Validity	Price	How to buy
500 minutes	500	28 days, one-time	AED 49 including VAT	*135*80# or the app
2,000 minutes	2,000	28 days, one-time	AED 99 including VAT	*135*80# or the app
Monthly international pack	Pack allowance to 14 countries	Monthly	AED 69 including VAT	*135*90#

The 500 and 2,000 minute packs cover India, Pakistan (fixed lines, Jazz, Ufone and Zong), Bangladesh, Afghanistan (Etisalat and Roshan) and Egypt (Etisalat and Vodafone). When you dial *135*80#, you select the country. The monthly pack covers 14 countries, including India on all networks, Pakistan on Zong, Jazz and Ufone, Nepal, Indonesia, the UK, the US and Australia, and has no limit on how many different numbers you call. It is available to e& prepaid customers on Wasel and FIVE.

Daily packs for occasional callers

If you only call home once or twice a week, a monthly pack wastes money. e&’s daily international packs work differently.

Feature	Detail
Price	AED 5, excluding VAT
When you pay	On your first connected call to the chosen destination
Validity	24 hours from that first call
Renewal	Only on days you call that destination
How to subscribe	The app, *101*24#, or the destination code by SMS to 1012

Because it charges only on days you actually call, a daily pack costs nothing in a week when you do not call. Each destination group has its own SMS code, listed on e&’s daily international pack page.

du and Virgin Mobile

du sells international bundles through its app, and its help centre explains how Power Plan flexi minutes can be used for calls to 166 countries, alongside its out-of-bundle calling rates. Virgin Mobile offers a one-country calls add-on with 500 minutes through its app. Prices for both change with promotions, so compare them in the app against the e& packs above before buying. If you are thinking of switching network for cheaper calls home, our number porting guide explains how to keep your number.

Internet calling apps that work in the UAE

Internet calling, known as VoIP, is regulated by the TDRA, and only approved apps work for calls inside the UAE. Others may install and message normally but block voice and video.

App	Status in the UAE
BOTIM	Allowed, calls contacts saved on your phone
Zoom	Allowed
Microsoft Teams	Allowed
Cisco Webex and Slack	Allowed
WhatsApp voice and video	Not available in the UAE as of early 2026

WhatsApp messaging works normally. It is only voice and video calling that is unavailable, and that includes the newer WhatsApp Web calling feature, which still needs TDRA approval. The approved list changes from time to time, so check the TDRA’s current position if an app you rely on stops working. We do not recommend using a VPN to get around blocked calling features.

Which option costs least

Working out the cost per minute makes the choice clear. On e&’s 2,000 minute pack, AED 99 works out at about 5 fils a minute if you use the whole allowance. The 500 minute pack is about 10 fils a minute. A calling app costs only data, but needs a smartphone and a decent connection at both ends. For a parent on a basic phone back home, a pack is the only reliable option. For a sibling on fibre broadband, an approved app is cheaper. For the full picture on plans and networks, see our e& vs du comparison and our UAE telecom guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest way to call India from the UAE?

For regular callers, e&’s 2,000 minute pack at AED 99 for 28 days, about 5 fils a minute. Subscribe with *135*80# and choose India.

How do I call Pakistan cheaply from the UAE?

e&’s 500 and 2,000 minute packs cover Pakistan fixed lines, Jazz, Ufone and Zong for 28 days. Dial *135*80# and select Pakistan.

Are WhatsApp calls allowed in the UAE?

No. WhatsApp messaging works, but voice and video calls are not available inside the UAE as of early 2026. Approved apps such as BOTIM, Zoom and Microsoft Teams do work.

What is the e& international call pack code?

*135*80# for the 500 and 2,000 minute packs, and *135*90# for the AED 69 monthly international pack on prepaid.

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Last verified: November 2026 against e&’s international minutes pack pages and du’s support listings. The approved calling app list reflects published TDRA updates and recent reporting. Pack prices change, so confirm before buying.
Written by Roman Shah · Reviewed by the UAEexplained editorial team
Sources: e&, du, Virgin Mobile and TDRA updates
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