du international call offer (UAE, 2026): best options & how to activate?

If you’re in the UAE and call overseas often, the du international call offer can cut your bill—especially to high-traffic destinations like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Philippines. Below I compare du’s main international offers (per-second promos, “Call Home for Less”, and country bundles), show exactly how to activate/cancel, and flag gotchas like setup fees and auto-renew.

Do this next (quick wins)

1. Pick your fit: Short calls to many countries → International Savings Offer; longer calls to one country → Country Bundle; daily family chats with one number → try Call Home for Less.
2. Activate safely: Prefer the du app; confirm setup fee and auto-renew status before you tap “Subscribe”.
3. Control it: Check usage and cancel renewals a day before expiry (via app/USSD); keep screenshots of confirmations.

What counts as a du international call offer?

The three building blocks

• International Savings Offer (prepaid): Discounted per-second rates to 100+ countries, from 38 fils/min (incl. VAT), no hidden fees; activate via code or app.
• Call Home for Less (prepaid): Flat 38 fils/min to any network, but with a per-call setup fee of AED 1.05; good for long, uninterrupted calls.
• Country Bundles (prepaid/postpaid add-ons): Fixed minutes for one destination (e.g., India 500 min for AED 49 / 28 days); excellent if you consistently call the same country.

If no offer is active, standard international rates can be much higher (e.g., a generic base around AED 2.52/min). Always activate an offer before calling.

When the du international call offer is the right choice

• Short, scattered calls across different countries → International Savings Offer (pay-per-second, no setup fee).
• Long weekly catch-ups to one person/country → Call Home for Less (accept the AED 1.05 setup, benefit from long duration).
• Same country every month with predictable minutes → Country Bundle (e.g., India 500).

Compare your options (quick picker)

Pick the best du international call offer for your habit
(All AED prices include 5% VAT; availability and country lists can change—confirm in the app before purchase.)

Habit	How it bills	Typical headline rate	Activation (fastest)	Notes
Many short calls to different countries	Per second	From 38 fils/min	Dial *135*70# or use app	Great for sub-1–2-minute calls.
Long call to the same person	Per minute	38 fils/min	Dial *135*30# → 1 (or app)	Setup fee pays off on long calls.
One country all month	Bucket minutes	Example: India 500 min / AED 49 / 28 days	App (Bundles)	Often recurring; check auto-renew.
You mainly use Botim/Voico	Uses data	Included with some plans from AED 99	Via app/plan selection	Unlocks legal VoIP; not voice minutes.

How to activate a du international call offer? (step-by-step)

Method 1 — du app (recommended)

Step 1: Open du app → log in with your mobile number (OTP).
Step 2: Go to Shop / Offers / Bundles.
Step 3: Choose International Savings Offer, Call Home for Less, or a Country Bundle (e.g., India 500).
Step 4: Review rate, setup fee (if any), validity, and auto-renew.
Step 5: Tap Subscribe → wait for confirmation SMS.

Method 2 — USSD (works offline)

Step 1: Dial *135# to open the offers menu.
Step 2: For specific offers:

• Savings Offer: *135*70#
• Call Home for Less: *135*30#
  Follow on-screen prompts to activate / deactivate.

Method 3 — SMS (when provided)

Some bundles allow SMS keywords to 1355 to stop or manage an active pack (the exact keyword appears in the bundle’s T&Cs inside the app).

Manage, track, and cancel (avoid bill shock)

Card — Control panel

• Check balance & usage: App (Usage tab) or *135# → Usage.
• Turn off auto-renew: In app (My Plans → plan → Do not renew) or the same USSD path you used to subscribe.
• Deactivation shortcuts:
  • Call Home for Less: dial *135*30# → 3 (Deactivate).
  • Country bundles: see “Deactivation keyword → 1355” in the bundle page

Mini-case: If you call India three times a week for ~12 minutes each, the setup fee on Call Home for Less adds AED 3.15/month (3 calls × AED 1.05). If your sessions are short, the Savings Offer (no setup fee, per-second) is usually cheaper.

Country bundle (example) — India

Example destination bundle
(Exact bundles vary; below is a current official example.)

Country	Minutes	Price	Validity	Type	Notes
India	500	AED 49	28 days	Recurrent	Grace period 7 days; manage renewals in app.

Tip: Bundles work best if you’ll use ≥ 70–80% of the minutes. Otherwise, per-second Savings Offer can win on cost.

The math that matters: per-second vs setup-fee vs bundle

Per-second (Savings Offer)

• Best for: Short calls, multiple countries.
• Watch for: Country coverage list—confirm your prefix is included.

Setup-fee plan (Call Home for Less)

• Best for: Long calls where a single setup fee gets spread over many minutes.
• Watch for: Make fewer, longer calls to reduce the impact of AED 1.05 per call.

Bundles

• Best for: One country, predictable routine.
• Watch for: Auto-renew defaults; set a reminder to cancel a day before expiry if needed.

Pro Tip
Before subscribing, place a test 20–30-second call using your target prefix while on the International Savings Offer. If the rate looks right and call quality holds, you’ve validated coverage and avoided committing to an unnecessary bundle.

Final thoughts

The du international call offer isn’t one thing—it’s a toolkit. Use per-second for quick check-ins, Call Home for Less for long talks, and bundles when you live on one route (e.g., UAE↔India). Activate in the app, confirm fees & renewals, and track usage. That’s how you get reliable connections without surprise charges.

FAQs on du international call offer

Last updated: October 2026

Reviewed by: Telecom Editor (GCC) — 8+ years covering UAE consumer tariffs
Compliance: Information only; fees may change; not legal/financial advice.