du recharge
from anywhere.

A du recharge online puts credit on a UAE prepaid line without a shop visit. You enter the du number, choose an amount, and pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. The operator is detected from the number itself, so there is nothing to select by hand. Amounts run from AED 5 to AED 300, and the lowest price on the page starts at $3.32.

This works for two kinds of people. Residents in the UAE top up their own prepaid line when the balance runs low. Family in India and elsewhere top up a du number for someone at home in the Emirates. Both use the same flow and the same payment methods.

How to top up a du number online

The process takes a few minutes and needs only the du number and a payment card. You start by entering the number, the operator is identified automatically, then you pick an amount and pay. The credit is delivered to the phone, not to an account, so the person holding the phone does not need to do anything.

1. Enter the du number in national or international format, for example 050 123 4567 or +971 50 123 4567.
2. Check that the operator shown is du, since the number is matched automatically.
3. Choose the recharge amount you want, from AED 5 up to AED 300.
4. Pay with a card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. The price includes a service fee shown before payment.
5. Wait for delivery. Top-ups are sent to the number in minutes.

After payment, the balance appears on the prepaid line. The person in the UAE can then use it for calls, data or whatever their prepaid plan allows.

The plans and what lands on the phone

The recharge amounts are AED 5, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 100 and 300. Each one lands on the phone as the full amount in AED, with no operator tax deducted from the figure shown. So an AED 50 recharge adds AED 50 of credit to the prepaid balance.

The amount you choose is the amount that arrives. There is no separate tax line taken out of the recharge value, which makes it simple to match what you pay for with what the phone receives.

What the credit can be used for depends on the prepaid line and its current plan. A recharge adds credit to the balance. If the line is on a monthly plan, the credit can go towards it. If it is a simple prepaid line, the balance sits there for calls, data and other charges the operator applies.

Entering the number correctly

A du number in the UAE has 9 digits and uses the 971 country code. The national format starts with a leading zero, as in 050 123 4567. In international format the zero is dropped, giving +971 50 123 4567. Getting this right is the main thing that decides whether the recharge lands.

The operator is detected from the number, so a correctly entered du number will show du before you pay. If the number belongs to another UAE operator, that operator will be shown instead.

If you are topping up from India, you can type the number the way it appears in your contacts. The leading zero is dropped when the country code is added, so 050 123 4567 becomes +971 50 123 4567. Double check the last four digits before paying, because credit sent to a wrong number cannot be pulled back.

If a top-up does not go through

Most top-ups arrive in minutes. When one does not, the usual causes are a mistyped digit, a number that is not an active prepaid line, or a payment that was declined by the bank. Checking the number first solves most cases.

If the payment was declined, the bank may be blocking an overseas transaction. Trying another card or a wallet such as Apple Pay or Google Pay often clears it.

If the number was correct and the payment went through but nothing arrived, the line may not be an active prepaid line. Recharges apply to prepaid numbers. If the balance still does not appear after a reasonable wait, keep the payment confirmation ready, since it carries the details needed to trace the order.

Paying safely

Payment is made by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, and the price shown includes a service fee that is displayed before you confirm. The card details are used for that one transaction, and the recharge goes straight to the du number rather than to any account you have to manage.

Paying by wallet keeps the card number out of the form entirely, which some people prefer when topping up from another country. Either way, the confirmation you receive is the record of the recharge.

Before paying, check three things: the du number, the operator shown, and the amount. Those three are what the order is built on. Once the credit lands, the person in the UAE can use the balance straight away.