971 is the country calling code for United Arab Emirates.
United Arab Emirates is a country on the continent of Asia. The capital city of United Arab Emirates is Abu Dhabi.
How to Call United Arab Emirates from the UK
To call a telephone number in United Arab Emirates from the UK:
- Dial the international call prefix. For calls from the UK, this is 00 (or '+' from mobile phones).
- Dial the country code for United Arab Emirates - 971.
- Dial the number of the person/business, omitting the first zero if there is one.
Landline Numbers and Area Codes
Area codes for the emirates of the UAE are:
- 02 Abu Dhabi
- 03 Al Ain
- 04 Dubai
- 06 Sharjah, Ajman and Umm al-Quwain
- 07 Ras Al Khaimah
- 09 Fujairah
When dialling a landline number from another part of the UAE or from a UAE mobile, the area code is preceded by a 0 prefix.
When calling from a landline in the same emirate, do not use the 0 prefix or area code.
When phoning the United Arab Emirates from another country, do not use the 0 prefix with the area code.
To dial a number XXXXXXX in Dubai from overseas:
- Dial the international call prefix (00/+), the 971 country code, the area code (with no 0), and the subscriber number e.g., 00-971-4-XXXXXXX or +971-4-XXXXXXX.
Mobile Phone Numbers
Mobile phone numbers in the UAE begin with 05.
To make a call to a UAE mobile number from within the UAE, dial the full number and include the 0 prefix e.g. 05XXXXXXXX.
To call a mobile telephone number in the UAE from the UK or another country, dial the international dialling code (00/+), the United Arab Emirates country code (971), and then the customer number without the 0 prefix e.g. 00-971-5XXXXXXXX or +971-5XXXXXXXX.
Landline Usage
Data from the World Bank shows that in 2023 there were 21.20 landline telephone subscribers for every 100 people living in the UAE.
In 2009 there were 23.60 fixed-line telephone subscriptions for every 100 people living in the UAE.
The table below shows how fixed-line phone subscription statistics have changed in recent years.
| Year | Landline Telephone Subscriptions (per 100 People) in the UAE |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 21.20 |
| 2022 | 22.30 |
| 2021 | 22.90 |
| 2020 | 25.20 |
| 2019 | 25.20 |
| 2018 | 25.10 |
| 2017 | 25.10 |
| 2016 | 25.30 |
| 2015 | 26.00 |
| 2014 | 25.50 |
| 2013 | 26.60 |
| 2012 | 26.20 |
| 2011 | 25.40 |
| 2010 | 21.30 |
| 2009 | 23.60 |
Mobile Phone Usage
According to the World Bank, there were 212.22 mobile phone subscribers per 100 people in 2022.
In 2008 there were 133.90 mobile phone subscriptions for every 100 people living in the UAE.
Mobile telephone subscription statistics by year for the UAE are shown in the table below.
| Year | Mobile Phone Subscriptions (per 100 People) in the UAE |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 212.22 |
| 2021 | 194.73 |
| 2020 | 197.84 |
| 2019 | 212.80 |
| 2018 | 219.70 |
| 2017 | 218.63 |
| 2016 | 221.31 |
| 2015 | 201.22 |
| 2014 | 190.35 |
| 2013 | 183.54 |
| 2012 | 158.98 |
| 2011 | 136.76 |
| 2010 | 128.82 |
| 2009 | 133.52 |
| 2008 | 133.90 |
The UAE has one of the highest mobile phone usage rates in the world.
The UAE has a large expatriate population and many of them use mobile phones to stay in touch with their families back home. It also has a young population and many of them use mobile phones for social networking and gaming.
The UAE is a wealthy country and its citizens have no problem affording mobile phones.
Internet Usage
According to statistics from the World Bank, in 2023 100.00 per cent of the population of the UAE used the internet.
In 2009, only 64.00 per cent of the population were active internet users.
Internet usage statistics in recent years are shown in the table below.
| Year | Individuals Using the Internet in the UAE (% of Population) |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 100.00 |
| 2022 | 100.00 |
| 2021 | 100.00 |
| 2020 | 100.00 |
| 2019 | 99.20 |
| 2018 | 98.50 |
| 2017 | 94.80 |
| 2016 | 90.60 |
| 2015 | 90.50 |
| 2014 | 90.40 |
| 2013 | 88.00 |
| 2012 | 85.00 |
| 2011 | 78.00 |
| 2010 | 68.00 |
| 2009 | 64.00 |
Time Difference
When calling the UAE from the UK, please note there is a time difference between the UAE and the UK.
The time right now in the UAE is . The date is .
The current time in the UK is . The date is .
The time difference between UAE and UK (United Kingdom) is 3 hours.
Exchange Rate
The currency used in the UAE is the United Arab Emirates dirham (AED).
The current exchange rates between the UAE dirham and the British pound (AED to GBP, GBP to AED) are:
- 1 UAE dirham (AED) = 0.201 GBP
- 1 British pound (GBP) = 4.974 AED
Exchange rates on this page were last updated on .
United Arab Emirates – Facts and Figures
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a country located in the eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula on the Persian Gulf.
It is an elective monarchy consisting of a federation of seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah. The federation was formed in 1971 when the British withdrew from the Persian Gulf.
The capital city is Abu Dhabi, while the largest city is Dubai.
The UAE is a culturally diverse country, with a large expatriate community. Around 90% population are expatriates. They come from countries such as India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, the Philippines, and Indonesia.
The UAE is a Muslim country and Islam is the official religion. However, the constitution guarantees freedom of religion. There are also large Hindu and Christian communities in the UAE.
Arabic is the official language. However, English is widely spoken and is the language of business and commerce.
The UAE has a diversified economy that is based on revenues from oil and gas, tourism, and international financial services.
The UAE is a popular tourist destination for its luxury hotels, shopping malls, and theme parks. Dubai is home to the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, as well as the iconic Palm Jumeirah artificial island. Attractions in Abu Dhabi include Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi, and Ferrari World Abu Dhabi.
Useful information about the UAE:
- Two-letter Country Code (ISO 3166-1 alpha-2): AE
- Three-letter Country Code (ISO 3166-1 alpha-3): ARE
- Region: Asia
- Sub-region: Western Asia
- Capital: Abu Dhabi
- Area: 83,600 square km
- Language(s): Arabic
- Borders: Oman, Saudi Arabia
Data from the World Bank shows that in 2023 the population of the UAE was 9,516,871.
In 2009, the population was 7,992,644. Over the last 15 years, the population grew by 1,524,227 (19.1%).
The table below shows how the total population has changed in recent years.
| Year | Total Population of the UAE |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 9,516,871 |
| 2022 | 9,441,129 |
| 2021 | 9,365,145 |
| 2020 | 9,287,289 |
| 2019 | 9,211,657 |
| 2018 | 9,140,169 |
| 2017 | 9,068,296 |
| 2016 | 8,994,263 |
| 2015 | 8,916,899 |
| 2014 | 8,835,951 |
| 2013 | 8,751,847 |
| 2012 | 8,664,969 |
| 2011 | 8,575,205 |
| 2010 | 8,481,771 |
| 2009 | 7,992,644 |
Map of the UAE
The location of the UAE is shown on the map below.
