UAE phone number checker
Paste any number to tidy it up and see what kind it is: UAE mobile, landline and its area, toll-free, 600, an emergency code, or a number from abroad and its country.
Any format works: +971, 00971, 0, spaces, dashes or Arabic digits.
This checks the format only. Nothing is looked up online, and nothing you type is uploaded or saved. It can't tell you who owns a number, or whether a call really came from it: caller ID can be faked.
Scam signs on the phone
- "Police" or "the bank" asks for a code
Dubai Police say no real organisation in the UAE will ask for passwords or one-time codes (OTP) by phone or SMS. Hang up and call the bank on the number printed on your card.
- A foreign number claiming to be local
A number starting with + or 00 and a code other than 971 is calling from outside the UAE, whatever the caller says. A UAE police station, ministry or bank does not need a foreign number to reach you.
- A familiar number can still be fake
Scammers can fake the number shown on your screen. A real-looking UAE or 800 number is not proof. If in doubt, end the call and phone the organisation yourself on its official number.
- "Government" accounts on chat apps
A profile picture with a police or ministry logo proves nothing. The Ministry of Interior warns that fake "government" messages usually carry a link or ask for a code. Official services use their own apps and websites.
- Pressure and threats
"Pay now or you'll be arrested", "your account will be frozen", "your visa is cancelled": TDRA says real government bodies don't threaten fines or legal action on a call to get your details.
- Missed calls from abroad
A single ring from an unknown international number can be bait to make you call back at a high rate. Don't call back numbers you don't know.
How to report
- In danger or a crime happening now: call 999.
- Fraud or cybercrime anywhere in the UAE: the Ministry of Interior's eCrimes platform in the MoI UAE app, or the Federal Public Prosecution's My Safe Society app.
- Dubai: the Dubai Police eCrime website, the Police Eye service in the Dubai Police app, or 901 (non-emergency).
- Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Police's Aman service, 800 2626.
- Spam or telemarketing calls: send the caller's number by SMS to 2211 in the format 05XXXXXXXX (TDRA). Text DNCR to 2211 to join the Do Not Call Registry.
- Gave a code or card details already? Call your bank at once on the number on your card, then report.
How UAE numbers are built
From abroad you dial +971 (or 00971) and drop the first 0. So 050 123 4567 becomes +971 50 123 4567.
Mobile numbers start with 05 and have 10 digits in all, like 05X XXX XXXX.
02 Abu Dhabi, 03 Al Ain, 04 Dubai, 06 Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain, 07 Ras Al Khaimah, 09 Fujairah, then 7 digits.
800 numbers are free to call. 600 numbers are not: TDRA says they are charged per minute and usually not part of your plan's free minutes.
Last checked: 27 Oct 2026
Sources: area codes as listed by The National ("971 country code", updated August 2026), matching the UAE numbering plan summary on Wikipedia; TDRA has no simple public list, so for 08, 053, 057 and other rare ranges check with the authority. TDRA guidance on 800 and 600 numbers (reported by Gulf News, November 2024). Emergency and police numbers as on our emergency page (u.ae, Abu Dhabi Police, Dubai Government Media Office). Dubai Police warning on fake calls posing as officials and banks (Gulf News, April 2026). TDRA warning on official-looking scam calls (Gulf News, November 2025). Ministry of Interior warning on fake government messages (Khaleej Times, June 2022). TDRA spam reporting to 2211 and the Do Not Call Registry (The National, August 2026). Reporting channels from u.ae, "Report cybercrimes online". Premium-rate numbers (such as 900): we could not confirm the UAE rules, so check with TDRA. Country names come from international calling codes; +1 and +7 are shared by several countries.