Dubai: New to the UAE? Once you’ve found the right place to stay, one of the next big steps you need to take is setting up your landline and internet connection in the UAE.

Telecommunications providers in the UAE offer users a combination of home connection services, which include high-speed WiFi, a landline connection as well as TV connections at times. The provider and the type of combination of services you choose can depend on what your personal requirements are.

Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know and how you can apply for a landline and internet connection in the UAE.

What you should know about landline connections

Landline numbers in the UAE start with 02, 04, 06 etc. followed by a seven-digit landline number. The code in the beginning indicates which emirate the landline is in.

The dialing codes for the emirates:

  • 02 – Abu Dhabi
  • 03 – Al Ain
  • 04 – Dubai
  • 06 – Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain
  • 07 – Ras Al Khaimah
  • 09 – Fujairah and city of Khor Fakkan.

Landline to landline calls within the UAE are free of charge.

How to apply for a landline connection

Etisalat

You can apply for an Etisalat connection online or by visiting their business centre:

  • Website: www.etisalat.ae.
  • App: ‘e&’, available for Apple and Android devices.
  • Visiting an Etisalat business centre.
  • You can also call the Etisalat helpline on 101/800 101 to start the process.

Documents required

  • Valid original Emirates ID (if applying online, your UAE PASS is sufficient)
  • Ejari, or registered tenancy contract (https://www.emirates247.com/uae-guide/ejari-registration-in-dubai-documents-cost-and-step-by-step-process/3042)

Choose the type of home plan you need

Etisalat offers the following plans for home users:

  • Home Phone (standard landline phone connection)
  • Home Wireless (if you only require a wireless router)
  • Home Fibre (Internet+TV+landline phone connection)

If you’re only looking for a landline connection, packages start from AED 40 per month. However, if you prefer having the television, landline and internet connection, packages start from AED 315 per month.

As most of the packages may be on a one-year contract, make sure you check what the cancellation charges may be, in case you need to end your contract before it is completed.

Du

Du offers customers two options for an at-home connection:

  • Internet+TV (this includes a landline installation)
  • Internet only (where you will be given a SIM card and a wireless router)

You can complete the process online, or through a du store:

  • Website: https://www.du.ae/home-internet.
  • App: ‘du’ available for Apple and Android devices.
  • Visiting a du business centre.
  • You can also call the du helpline on 155/055 567 8155 to start the process

Documents required

According to du's home-service application requirements, you may need:

  • Valid Emirates ID.
  • Proof of residence, such as a tenancy contract (Ejari), property title deed or utility bill.
  • Additional supporting documents, depending on your residency status and the type of connection you are applying for.

Applicants must be at least 18 years old. Non-resident property owners may be able to apply using their passport and property title deed, subject to du's eligibility requirements.

Choose the type of home plan you need

Du offers the following home connection options:

  • Home Wireless: An internet-only connection using a SIM card and wireless router. This does not require a traditional fixed-line connection.
  • Home Internet and TV: A fixed broadband connection that can include television services and a landline connection, depending on the package selected.

Before choosing a package, you may have to check whether du's services are available in your area. An easy way to do so is to visit https://www.du.ae/home-internet and select the area you are living in. The website will then tell you if du services are available in your area. In some cases, while du services may be available, you may only have the option to get the wireless home connection service, instead of the Internet and TV package.

Packages for the Home Wireless Plan start from AED 206, while packages for the Home Internet and TV start from AED 327.

As most of the packages may be on a one-year contract, make sure you check what the cancellation charges may be, in case you need to end your contract before it is completed.

Virgin Mobile

Virgin Mobile also offers a home internet service, in the form of a data SIM with a 5G router, which can help you set up a wireless internet network at home, or a standalone data SIM, which you can use if you have your own compatible router.

You can apply for a home internet connection with Virgin by following these steps:

  • Visit https://www.virginmobile.ae/home-internet-join/#/coverage-map .
  • Enter your area name and click on ‘Check coverage’.
  • If Virgin Mobile’s Home Internet is available at your address, click on ‘continue’.
  • Select whether you would like to register with your Emirates ID or using your passport. If you have an Emirates ID, you can get the package delivered home, but in case you’d like to register with your passport, you would need to visit a Virgin store.
  • Select the home internet package you would prefer, with prices starting from approximately AED 166 per month. However, it is important to always read the contract details, as you may be required to pay upfront for the package you choose, or be charged separately for the router.
  • Create an account using your email address and by setting a password.
  • Enter your address details.
  • Confirm your package details and make the payment.
  • Once the payment is made, the SIM or the SIM and router will be delivered to you for free within 60 minutes.

What happens after you apply?

If you apply through Etisalat or du, once you have submitted your application, the provider will give you a date and time for when a technician will be able to visit your location to install the necessary devices (routers, set-top box etc.) and activate the service.

The processing time differs, depending on the service you request for, but for a typical home internet and landline connection, you can expect the service to be available within 24 to 48 hours of your application being approved.