PRE-PAID MOBILE
Mobile phone users can choose between du (prefix 055 and 052) and Etisalat (prefixes 050 or 056). Both providers offer monthly or pay-as-you-go packages.

Anyone visiting or living in Dubai, and above the age of 18, can apply for a pre-paid mobile phone account – you just need to buy a SIM card and then you can pay as you go by purchasing phone cards. Newcomers to Dubai and short-term visitors often opt for a pre-paid service: there are no monthly bills, you don’t sign a contract, you can cancel at any time, and you do not need a residence visa. Etisalat’s pre-paid Wasel card and du’s Pay As You Go cards can be topped up with credit to use on calls, SMS and internet.

Recharge cards are available in denominations ranging from Dhs.20-500 from fuel stations, supermarkets and electrical stores. You do not need to renew the line as long as you keep using it, and for du you get lifetime validity if you recharge the phone more than 20 times in four months.

POST-PAID MOBILE
Both companies also offer monthly post-paid services. To sign up for a post-paid plan through du or Etisalat, you will need to bring your passport and residence visa as well as either a UAE credit card, a recent utility bill with your physical address, your tenancy agreement, or a salary certificate that shows a minimum salary of Dhs.2,500 per month.

A new du post-paid line costs from Dhs.25 monthly plus a Dhs.125 connection fee, while an Etisalat line costs from Dhs.50 per month plus a Dhs.125 connection fee (covered by a Dhs.125 welcome credit). You can complete the application form online at
shop.du.ae/en/mobileplans or at etisalat.ae, or visit any phone outlet.
THAT'S MY NUMBER
All mobile phone customers now have to register their SIM card with Etisalat or du. Wait until you receive an SMS asking you to register, then take along your Resident ID or a passport with your residency visa to the nearest service provider outlet. You have three months to register your details, after which any unregistered SIM cards will be cancelled. Registration is free and once only. MOBILE SERVICES
Lost your mobile? For Etisalat, call 101, or for du call customer care on 055 567 8155 to temporarily disconnect your number (you will need to know your passport number for security). Your SIM card can be replaced and you can keep the same number, but you’ll lose the numbers you had saved in your phone’s memory. To replace a lost SIM card, du charges a flat rate of Dhs.55. Etisalat charges Dhs.25 to replace a lost SIM. You can also cancel your number permanently by simply filling out and submitting a cancellation form.

Etisalat and du launched a mobile phone number portability service at the end of 2013, which allows customers to switch between the two network operators while retaining their phone number. Enquiries about switching to du can be made on 800 242 643, and for Etisalat on 800 99.