Telephone services while in Dubai

Although internet is available in the airports, hotels and malls, it is best to activate your roaming to be able to receive SMS while abroad.  It is useful when doing online banking and for emergencies.

You can activate your roaming 24 hours prior to your departure instead of doing it at the airport at the last minute.  Just make sure you have the required load before boarding the plane.  Your request will only be approved once you arrive in Dubai.  While in the Philippines, you can still enjoy local services.

Here are the codes for the various mobile prepaid service providers in the Philippines with incoming messages usually free of charge.

Smart / Talk N Text - Text ROAM ON to 333 with P100 load.
https://help.smart.com.ph/article/prepaid-how-do-i-activate-roaming-for-smart-prepaid

Globe - Text GROAM ON to 2884 or dial *143# choose ROAMING & INT'L > ACTIVATE ROAMING.
http://www.globe.com.ph/help/roaming/about-international-roaming

Touch Mobile - Dial *143# choose ROAMING > i-ON.
http://www.republikatm.ph/roaming.html

Sun Cellular - Text ROAM ON to 222.
http://suncellular.com.ph/news/international/roaming/traveling-abroad

However, it is usually cheaper to get a local sim to make calls and the internet packages will be cheaper especially when you go to places without free wifi like the desert.  Dubai has two main telephone service providers:  Etisalat and Du. You need to present your passport and visa whenever buying a sim card.

Etisalat offers a service called ‘Visitor Line’, which is valid for 90 days after activation. Subscribers get a local number as well as access to a range of services such as SMS, MMS, caller line identification, call waiting and a location finder. It costs AED 60 which includes AED 25 credit that you can use to make calls.  For more details, visit the following link:
http://www.etisalat.ae/nrd/en/generic/visitor_line.jsp

If you know a local resident in Dubai, inquire about the Etisalat Pinoy Pack which offers free 20 minutes to call back home to Philippines, free 20 minutes to call across the UAE, free 210 minutes to call your friend on the Pinoy Pack, 250 Flexi SMS and internet which allows you to chat when you want with no restrictions on any websites or apps.  It costs around AED20/week.  For more details, visit the following link:
http://www.etisalat.ae/nrd/en/personal/mobile/prepaid_mobile/pinoy_pack.jsp

Du offers a service called Tourist Plan, which costs just AED 55 to activate and is valid for 90 days. Features include 200Mb, 20 minutes call, 20 Flexible SMS and free vouchers worth AED1500 from Uber, the Entertainer and Dollar Rent-a-Car.  For more details, visit the following link:
http://www.du.ae/personal/mobile/prepaid-plans/tourist-sim

Bringing an extra phone unit will be advisable or using a mobile with double SIM feature.