Calling UK from Dubai doesn’t have to drain your budget. With the right strategy, you can reduce your international calling costs by more than half while maintaining crystal-clear call quality.
Which is why, you’d require the best possible process for conducting business, one of the best approaches for managing your business communication is FreJun.
Table of contents
Why Choose the Right Calling Method Matters
Whether you’re a business professional managing UK clients, an ex associate staying connected with family, or an entrepreneur expanding operations, understanding your options can save you hundreds of dirhams monthly.
Pro Tip: The cheapest option isn’t always the best. Consider call quality, reliability, and additional features when making your choice.
Local Telecom Provider Options
1. Du International Savings Offer
Best for: Regular personal calls to UK landlines and mobiles
Du’s International Savings Offer provides the most competitive rates among traditional telecom providers in the UAE.
Key Features:
- Rate: 1.26 AED per minute (charged per second)
- Setup Fee: None
- Activation: Dial *135*70# and select International Savings Offer
- Eligibility: Prepaid customers on Pay As You Go, Easy Social, Extra Social, or other plans
How to Activate:
- Dial *135*70# from your Du mobile
- Select the International Savings Offer from the menu
- Wait for SMS confirmation (usually within 2 minutes)
- Start calling immediately
Key Takeaway: Du’s International Savings Offer cuts standard international rates by nearly 20% with zero hidden fees or monthly commitments.
2. Standard Du Call Rates
Rate Structure:
- Per-minute charge: 1.49 AED
- Setup charge: 1.05 AED per call
- Total cost for 10-minute call: 16.95 AED
When to Use: Emergency calls when you haven’t activated the savings offer
3. Hotel and Payphone Options
Hotel Room Calls:
- Day Rate (9am-9pm): 16.14 AED per minute
- Night Rate (9pm-9am): 11.46 AED per minute
- Hidden costs: Service charges and connection fees
Payphone Alternative: Use prepaid phone cards from local shops for rates around 3-5 AED per minute – significantly better than hotel rates but still expensive compared to other options.
Internet-Based Calling Solutions
VoIP Apps and Services
- FreJun: provides competitive international calling rates to UK numbers at approximately 0.35-0.50 AED per minute through their mobile app, while also offering the flexibility of both internet-based calls and traditional phone network options. Furthermore, it features a user-friendly interface with prepaid credit system, eliminating monthly commitments and allowing users to control their spending.
- Rebtel: operates without requiring internet on the receiver’s end, consequently offering rates ranging from 0.50-0.80 AED per minute to UK numbers. Therefore, it’s best suited for calling people who don’t have smartphones or reliable internet access.
- Google Voice: provides calling UK at approximately 0.40 AED per minute, although it requires Wi-Fi or data connection for both parties. However, its main advantage lies in transparent pricing with no hidden fees.
- WhatsApp Voice Calls: are free with internet connection, yet both parties need WhatsApp and internet access. Moreover, call quality depends entirely on connection strength.
- Skype: offers free Skype-to-Skype calls, while UK landline/mobile rates range from 0.45-0.60 AED per minute. Additionally, monthly subscriptions are available starting from 15 AED/month for unlimited UK calling.
Comparison: VoIP vs Traditional
| Feature | Traditional Telecom | VoIP Solutions |
| Per-minute cost | 1.26-1.49 AED | 0.40-0.80 AED |
| Setup requirements | SIM card activation | App download + internet |
| Call quality | Consistent | Variable (depends on internet) |
| Reliability | High | Medium to High |
| Additional features | Basic | Recording, video, messaging |
Business Virtual Number Solutions
FreJun Virtual UK Numbers
Best for: Businesses with regular UK communication needs
FreJun offers a comprehensive solution for businesses calling UK from Dubai, including virtual UK numbers that create a local presence.
Key Features:
- Virtual UK numbers (+44 prefix)
- Call forwarding to Dubai numbers
- CRM integration capabilities
- Call recording and analytics
- Multi-user access for teams
Pricing:
- Standard Plan: $14.49 per user/month
- Professional Plan: $16.69 per user/month
- Includes: Unlimited UK calls, call recording, basic CRM integration
Business Benefits:
- Local Presence: UK customers see a local number when you call
- Professional Image: Dedicated business features like IVR and call routing
- Cost Efficiency: Unlimited calling plans reduce per-minute costs
- Team Management: Monitor and manage multiple users from one dashboard
When Virtual Numbers Make Sense
- Making 50+ UK calls per month
- Need professional business features
- Require call recording for compliance
- Managing a sales or support team
- Want to establish UK market presence
Cost Comparison Between Different Methods
Per-Minute Rate Analysis
| Method | Rate (AED/min) | Best Use Case | Monthly Cost (100 mins) |
| Du International Savings | 1.26 | Personal calls | 126 AED |
| Standard Du Rate | 1.49 + setup | Emergency only | 254 AED |
| Hotel Calls | 11.46-16.14 | Avoid if possible | 1,146-1,614 AED |
| Rebtel | 0.50-0.80 | Mixed personal/business | 50-80 AED |
| Google Voice | 0.40 | Tech-savvy users | 40 AED |
| Free | Both have internet | 0 AED | |
| FreJun Business | Unlimited* | Business users | 53-61 AED* |
*Converted from USD pricing
Break-Even Analysis
For Personal Use:
- 0-30 minutes/month: WhatsApp (free) or Google Voice
- 30-100 minutes/month: Du International Savings Offer
- 100+ minutes/month: Consider VoIP subscriptions
For Business Use:
- 0-50 minutes/month: Du International Savings Offer
- 50+ minutes/month: FreJun or similar business VoIP solution
- Professional features needed: FreJun regardless of volume
Pro Tips for Cheaper International Calls
- Timing Your Calls strategically can significantly reduce costs and improve connection quality. Off-peak advantages include lower rates from some VoIP providers during UK off-peak hours, while consequently offering better internet connection quality during UAE evening hours. Furthermore, this timing provides a higher chance of reaching UK contacts during their business hours.
- Bundle Strategies offer multiple cost-saving opportunities through Du Bundle Options, which involve checking for monthly international add-ons and combining with data plans for better overall rates. Additionally, monitoring usage helps avoid overage charges. Meanwhile, VoIP Subscription Benefits show that monthly unlimited plans are often cheaper than per-minute rates for heavy users, while family plans can cover multiple users. Moreover, annual payments usually offer 10-20% discounts.
- Call Quality Optimization requires specific techniques for VoIP calls, such as using Wi-Fi instead of mobile data when possible and closing other apps to dedicate bandwidth to calling. Furthermore, consider ethernet connection for desktop apps and test different apps to find the best quality for your location.
- Cost Tracking involves monitoring your usage by setting up monthly spending alerts with your telecom provider and using call logging apps to track international call patterns. Additionally, review bills monthly to identify unexpected charges, and consequently compare actual costs across different methods.
Key Takeaways
The most cost-effective approach depends on your usage pattern:
- Light users (under 30 mins/month): WhatsApp or Google Voice
- Regular personal users: Du International Savings Offer
- Heavy personal users: VoIP monthly subscriptions
- Business users: FreJun or similar virtual number solutions
Final Recommendations
For Personal Use
When choosing personal calling UK solutions, your primary choice should be activating Du’s International Savings Offer (13570#), while your backup option involves installing Google Voice or Rebtel for even cheaper rates. Furthermore, you can use WhatsApp as a free option when both parties have good internet connectivity.
For Business Use
Professional solutions require FreJun virtual numbers for complete business features, although budget-conscious businesses can alternatively use Du International Savings Offer for basic business calls. Moreover, a hybrid approach allows you to combine methods based on call type and recipient needs.
Further Reading: How to Call Dubai from India: Affordable Methods 2025
Red Flags to Avoid:
Never use hotel phones for international calls since they’re more expensive, and consequently avoid standard rates without checking for available offers. Additionally, don’t rely solely on free apps for important business calls, and furthermore skip providers without clear pricing or hidden fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
A: WhatsApp voice calls are free with internet connection. For traditional calls, Google Voice offers the lowest per-minute rates at approximately 0.40 AED per minute.
A: Dial *135*70# from your Du prepaid number, select the International Savings Offer option, and wait for SMS confirmation. The service activates immediately with no monthly fees.
A: Yes, services like FreJun provide UK virtual numbers (+44) that forward calls to your Dubai number, making you appear local to UK contacts while maintaining Dubai-based operations.
A: VoIP call quality depends on internet connection stability. For critical business calls, maintain a backup traditional calling method and test VoIP quality during off-peak hours.
A: Most providers charge the same rate for UK landlines and mobiles. However, some VoIP services may have slightly different rates – always check the specific rate card.
A: Use local UAE SIM cards with international add-ons, or rely on internet-based calling apps when you have Wi-Fi access. Avoid using your home country SIM for international calls while in Dubai.
Subhash is the Founder of FreJun, the global call automation platform. With 8+ years of entrepreneurial experience, FreJun was established to help customers with their voice communication needs. The goal of FreJun is to develop cutting edge technology and solutions to help customers.