Is 056 DU or Etisalat? The Complete UAE Mobile Prefix Guide (2025)

When I first moved to Dubai, one of the first numbers I received was 056 xxxx xxx — and, honestly, I had no idea whether it was a DU or Etisalat line.
If you’ve asked the same question — “056 DU or Etisalat?” — you’re not alone.

After living and working in the UAE for years (and using both DU and Etisalat SIM cards), here’s the definitive 2025 guide to help you understand which network owns which prefix, how to verify it online, and why sometimes a “DU number” might actually belong to Etisalat today.

1. Why Everyone Asks: “056 DU or Etisalat?”

In the UAE, your mobile number’s first three digits (the prefix) usually tell you which operator you’re on.
That’s why people often search for:

• “056 Etisalat or DU?”

• “Is 056 Etisalat or DU?”

• “056 code DU or Etisalat?”

It matters because calling within the same network (DU-to-DU or Etisalat-to-Etisalat) is often cheaper or even free under certain bundles.

✅ Quick Answer:
The prefix 056 belongs to DU (Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company) — unless the number was later ported to Etisalat.

☎️ 2. 056 Etisalat or DU — The Short Answer

• 056 = DU (by default).

• Etisalat numbers typically begin with 050, 052, 054, and 059.

• DU numbers start with 055 and 056.

• Virgin Mobile, which uses DU’s network, may also have 058 prefixes.

So, if you see a number like 056-123-4567, it’s a DU number unless the user has switched operators.

🔢 3. UAE Mobile Number Prefixes List (2025 Updated)

These prefixes are assigned by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA UAE).

🌐 4. How to Check If a Number Is DU or Etisalat Online

Even though 056 means DU, people sometimes port their numbers to Etisalat.
To be sure, check using the official operator tools:

🔍 Method 1 – Via DU Website

1. Visit https://www.du.ae

2. In the search bar, type “Check Mobile Network Operator.”

3. Enter the number (e.g., 056 xxxx xxx).

4. The system will display whether it’s DU or Etisalat.

🔍 Method 2 – Via Etisalat Website

1. Go to https://www.etisalat.ae.

2. Navigate to Mobile Number Portability (MNP) page.

3. Enter the mobile number.

4. You’ll see its current network.

🔍 Method 3 – TRA Checker (UAE Government Portal)

The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) offers an official checker at https://www.tra.gov.ae.

🧭 5. Why There’s Confusion About 056 Numbers

Before 2013, your prefix always told you your network.
Then the UAE introduced Mobile Number Portability (MNP) — which lets you switch from DU to Etisalat (or vice versa) without changing your number.

That’s why your friend’s 056 number could now be running on Etisalat even though it “looks” like a DU line.

🧩 Example Scenario

Ahmed registered a DU 056 number in 2015. Later, he switched to Etisalat for better coverage. His prefix remained 056, but the network changed to Etisalat.

So prefix is a starting point, not a guarantee.

📱 6. How to Know if 056 Is DU or Etisalat From Your Phone

✅ Option 1 – Call Display

When you call a 056 number, some phones show DU or Etisalat briefly on screen.

✅ Option 2 – Check Carrier Settings

On Android:
Settings → About Phone → SIM Status → Network.
On iPhone:
Settings → Mobile Data → Network Selection.

✅ Option 3 – Check Balance Recharge App

If you recharge through apps like Botim or Smiles, the app usually shows the network after you type the number.

💸 7. DU vs Etisalat Pricing for 056 Numbers

So if you’re in Dubai, Sharjah, or Ajman, a DU 056 SIM is great value.
In remote areas like Al Ain or Fujairah, Etisalat may have stronger coverage.

⚙️ 8. Can You Switch Your 056 DU Number to Etisalat?

Yes — thanks to Mobile Number Portability (MNP).

🧾 Steps to Port 056 DU to Etisalat:

1. Visit an Etisalat store with your Emirates ID.

2. Ask to port your existing 056 number from DU.

3. Fill the MNP form and verify with OTP.

4. Receive your new Etisalat SIM.

5. Within 24 hours, the network switches automatically.

💬 No charges for porting if you don’t have outstanding DU bills.

🔄 9. Can 056 Be Etisalat Now?

Technically yes — only if ported.
In that case, it’s still 056 but operates under Etisalat’s backend network.

That’s why prefix alone is no longer 100 % accurate in 2025.
However, more than 90 % of 056 numbers in UAE remain with DU.

📶 10. DU and Etisalat Coverage in Dubai and Other Emirates

Both operators invest heavily in 5G expansion — by 2025, there’s virtually no black spot across the seven emirates.

🔐 11. Safety Tip – Avoid 056 Phone Scams

056 numbers are local, so scammers sometimes use them to look trustworthy.

✅ Never share OTP codes over the phone.
✅ DU and Etisalat will never ask for bank details on calls.
✅ If you receive a “you won a prize” call from 056, report it to DU (155) or Etisalat (101).

🧠 12. FAQs — 056 DU or Etisalat (UAE 2025)

Q1: Is 056 DU or Etisalat?

✅ 056 is a DU prefix issued by the TRA to Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company.

Q2: Is 056 Etisalat or DU in Dubai?

✅ DU — though some users may have ported it to Etisalat.

Q3: Can a 056 number be Etisalat?

✅ Yes, if it was moved through Mobile Number Portability.

Q4: What is the code for Etisalat numbers?

050, 052, 054, and 059.

Q5: What is the code for DU numbers?

055 and 056.

Q6: Is 058 Etisalat or DU?

Shared between DU and Virgin Mobile; Etisalat also issues some corporate 058 ranges.

🧾 13. Official References

• Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA UAE):
  https://www.tdra.gov.ae

• DU Official Website: https://www.du.ae

• Etisalat UAE: https://www.etisalat.ae

These sources confirm the official prefix allocation in the UAE.

🧭 14. Practical Example — Calling 056 From Etisalat

If you’re on Etisalat and call a DU 056 number, the call goes through an inter-operator connection and may cost slightly more.

Many Etisalat plans now offer free minutes to DU numbers, so check your bundle details.

💬 15. My Experience as a 056 User in Dubai

Personally, I’ve used a DU 056 number since 2016 — and it’s been reliable through every major upgrade (3G → 4G → 5G).
I’ve ported it once to Etisalat for a trial, then back to DU because of their better downtown coverage and pricing.

If you’re new to the UAE, I recommend getting a DU 056 SIM first — they offer excellent visitor and residency plans, and customer support in multiple languages.

📞 16. DU and Etisalat Customer Support Contacts

Save these in your contacts if you ever need to confirm operator details or report spam 056 calls.

🧾 17. Summary – Is 056 DU or Etisalat?

🏁 18. Final Verdict — 056 Means DU (Unless Ported)

So the next time someone asks, “Is 056 Etisalat or DU?”, you can confidently answer:

056 is a DU number by default.
But if the user has ported their SIM, it could now run on Etisalat.
Always check via the official DU or Etisalat portability page before recharging or sending money.