How to call China from the UAE
- From mobile
- +86 xx xxxx xxxx
- From landline
- 00 86 xx xxxx xxxx
From $1.06/min in your browser, no plan needed
How to dial China from the UAE
How to make a call to China from the UAE: dial the exit code, the country code, and the number. Chinese numbers have 7 to 12 digits, not a fixed 10-digit number, so a long or short number can be right.
- 00The UAE exit code
- 86Country code of China
- 21Shanghai
- xxxx xxxxLocal number
- From a mobile: +86 xx xxxx xxxx
Paste or type a number here to see how to dial it from anywhere
Example: +86 10 1234 5678
- Mobile
- +86 10 1234 5678
- Landline
- 00 86 10 1234 5678
Main area codes in China
The area code comes right after 86, then the local number
- Shanghai00 8621then the local number
- Chongqing00 8623then the local number
- Chengdu/Ziyang/Meishan00 8628then the local number
- Beijing00 8610then the local number
- Guangzhou00 8620then the local number
- Tianjin00 8622then the local number
- Wuhan00 8627then the local number
- XiAn/Xianyang00 8629then the local number
Before you call China
Calling China cell phones
From a UAE mobile, type + and the phone adds the exit code for you.
- Press and hold 0 until + appears
- Dial 86
- Dial the number
Drop the 0 before the area code
Chinese contacts list the area code with a 0. Drop that 0 when you call from the UAE.
- Fails
- 00 86 010 xxxx xxxx
- Works
- 00 86 10 xxxx xxxx
Use the time difference
Call from 4:00 to 18:00 Dubai time. That is 8:00 to 22:00 in China.
Calling China from the UAE without an international plan
Suparelay calls China for $1.06/min from your browser, with no plan. Without one, carriers in the UAE charge up to $0.92/min. du includes China calls with its Flexi plan, and e& sells them as an add-on.
| Carrier | Per minute |
|---|---|
SuparelayNo plan needed | $1.06 |
 | $0.13$0.10 with plan |
 | $0.92$0.10 with plan |
Want to call China?
Type the number and call from your browser, with no app and no plan
When to call China
The time now in China, and the best hours to call
- Time difference
- All year: 4 hours ahead of Dubai
- Daylight saving time
- None, the clocks never change
- Time zones
- 2
Why a call to China fails
e& prepaid special rates need an opt-in
On e& Wasel prepaid, the special international rates apply only after you opt in to the International Calling Offer. Without it, calls abroad cost the standard tariff rate.
e&, International Calling: Overview & BenefitsFrom any country, a call to China also fails when
- The exit code is wrong for your country
- The number does not take calls from abroad
Questions
How to call China from the UAE cell phone or mobile?
Dial +86, then the number. It works from any mobile in the UAE
Are calls to China included in the UAE phone plans?
Not on most plans. No carrier in the UAE that we checked includes China in a plan
Does du include calls to China?
With the International Savings Offer. Without it, du charges $0.13 a minute to a landline and $0.13 to a mobile
How much does it cost to call China from the UAE?
With no plan, carriers in the UAE charge up to $0.92 a minute. Suparelay charges each started minute, from your browser
How to call Shanghai from the UAE?
For Shanghai, dial 00 86 21, then the local number
Do I need to dial 00 to call China?
From a landline, yes: dial 00, then 86. From a mobile, type + instead, and the phone adds the exit code
How do I dial a +86 number?
Press and hold 0 until + appears, then dial 86 and the number
Can I call China on my iPhone?
Yes. In the Phone app, press and hold 0 for +, then dial 86 and the number. Your plan must allow calls to China
Why isn't my call going through to China?
The usual causes: the exit code is wrong for your country and the number does not take calls from abroad. Each one is listed above, with a link to its fix
How to call China from the UAE for free, or make a free call to China?
An app calls for free only when both sides have it. A call to a landline, or to a phone without the app, costs money
How to call China from the UAE on WhatsApp?
WhatsApp and FaceTime call for free, but only someone with the same app. To ring a landline or a phone in China without the app, use your phone plan, a calling service, or Suparelay
How to call China landline from the UAE?
From a landline in the UAE, dial 00 86, then the number
How do I call China from the UAE, or make an international call to China?
Dial 00 86, then the number. From a mobile, +86 works too
When is the best time to call China?
Call between 8:00 and 22:00 in China. All year: 4 hours ahead of Dubai