Dubai: Not all hotline numbers are created equal – while the contact number for your bank or go-to restaurant delivery might seem like it is toll free, look again. Depending on whether the hotline starts with an 800 or a 600, you may or may not be paying for the call you make.
800 Toll Free Service
Etisalat offers companies the option to choose an 800 number, which is toll free for customers calling in. The ‘800-‘ is usually followed by easy to remember digits, normally three or more. If a UAE hotline starts with 800, you can be rest assured that you will not be charged for the call you are making, whether from a landline or a mobile.
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‘600-‘ hotlines
Etisalat’s ‘Service 600’ package is another option available to companies in the UAE, where organisations can have easy to remember numbers for their customers, but these are not toll free. Normal call rates would apply if you are ringing in the company, depending on whether you are calling from a landline or mobile, and these charges can add up, especially if you are on hold for long.
Landline numbers in the UAE
Landline to landline calls in the UAE are free, regardless of the telecom service provider you are using, or the emirate you are calling.
These are the emirate codes for landlines in the UAE:
02 – Abu Dhabi
03 – Al Ain
04 – Dubai
06 – Sharjah, Ajman and Umm al-Quwain
07 – Ras Al Khaimah
09 – Fujairah