Best Etisalat Plan for Calling Philippines from UAE in 2026
For most Filipinos in the UAE, the Etisalat Unlimited 1 Country Plan 325 at AED 325/month is the best plan for calling home. You set the Philippines as your preferred country and get unlimited calls to Philippine mobiles and landlines, plus 27 GB data and 700 flexi minutes for local and other calls. If you also call other countries often, the Unlimited Calls Plan 600 Flexi at AED 360/month covers every destination with 50 GB data.
Filipinos are one of the largest communities in the UAE, with hundreds of thousands working across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. For most OFWs, a weekly call home is not optional, so the real question is which Etisalat plan gives you clear, unlimited calls to the Philippines without paying per minute.
Etisalat has a few postpaid plans in 2026 that include calls to the Philippines, and on paper they look similar. The difference comes down to two things: whether the plan uses flexi minutes (which work for local and international calls) or gives you an unlimited preferred country. Here is how they compare, with a straight recommendation at the end.
Etisalat Plans That Cover Calls to the Philippines
You need a plan with flexi minutes or a preferred-country benefit. These four are the ones worth comparing.
| Plan | Monthly Price | Data | Calling | Philippines Calling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Freedom Plan 260 | AED 195AED 260 | Included data | 600 flexi mins (local + intl) | Uses flexi mins |
| Unlimited 1 Country Plan 325 Best for Philippines | AED 325 | 27 GB | 700 flexi mins (local + intl) | Unlimited to Philippines |
| Unlimited Calls Plan 600 Flexi | AED 360AED 600 | 50 GB + 2 GB roaming | Unlimited flexi mins (local + intl) | Unlimited (all countries) |
| Local Data & Calls Plan 1200 Flexi | AED 600AED 1,200 | Unlimited max-speed + 40 GB roaming | Unlimited flexi mins (local + intl) | Unlimited (all countries) |
Prices are monthly, exclusive of 5% VAT, and subject to Etisalat terms. Accurate as of July 2026 and may change.
The Two Plans Worth Your Money
Unlimited 1 Country Plan 325 — best if the Philippines is your main call
- 27 GB mobile data
- 700 flexi minutes for local + international calls
- Unlimited calls to 1 preferred country (set the Philippines)
- Works with Philippine mobiles and landlines
Set the Philippines as your preferred country and every call home becomes unlimited, mobile or landline, with no minute counting. You keep 700 flexi minutes on top for local UAE calls and other countries. At AED 325 a month that is about AED 10.80 a day for unlimited calls home plus a solid data allowance, which is cheaper than buying calling credit once you call daily.
Unlimited Calls Plan 600 Flexi — best if you call more than one country
- 50 GB mobile data
- Unlimited flexi minutes for local + international calls
- 2 GB roaming data
- Calls to the Philippines and every other supported country
If you call the Philippines and also India, Bangladesh or elsewhere, this plan removes the single-country limit for only AED 35 more than the 1 Country Plan. You get unlimited calls everywhere, 50 GB data, and 2 GB roaming that keeps you connected if you fly home for a visit.
Calling Home: WhatsApp or a Plan?
Most OFWs already use WhatsApp and Messenger, and there is nothing wrong with that. The honest split is simple:
- WhatsApp and Messenger: free on your data, great for long video catch-ups on Wi-Fi, but quality drops on weak connections and is not ideal when the call has to go through.
- Etisalat calls: clear and instant every time, no dependence on the other side having internet. This matters when you are calling a parent on a landline in the province, or when something is urgent.
Use your plan's unlimited or flexi minutes for the calls that have to be reliable, and WhatsApp for the long relaxed ones. With 27 GB or 50 GB of data in the plan, you have more than enough for video calls too.
Dialing the Philippines from your Etisalat line
Dial 00 63 (or +63) then the number without the leading zero. For a Manila landline that is 00 63 2 followed by the local number; for a mobile it is 00 63 then the 10-digit number. Every call to the Philippines, mobile or landline, uses the same flexi minutes or your preferred-country benefit.
Our Recommendation
If the Philippines is the country you call most, take the Unlimited 1 Country Plan 325 at AED 325/month. Unlimited calls home, 27 GB data, and 700 flexi minutes for everything else. You stop watching the clock on every call.
If you regularly call more than one country, pay the extra AED 35 for the Unlimited Calls Plan 600 Flexi at AED 360/month and call anywhere with no limit, plus 50 GB data.
Get Your Philippines Calling Plan
Message our authorized Etisalat team on WhatsApp. We will set the plan up with the Philippines as your preferred country and deliver the SIM anywhere in the UAE.
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Summary
A quick way to decide:
- Occasional calls, tight budget: New Freedom Plan 260 at AED 195/month (600 flexi minutes).
- Daily calls to the Philippines: Unlimited 1 Country Plan 325 at AED 325/month (unlimited home calls + 700 flexi mins).
- Philippines plus other countries: Unlimited Calls Plan 600 Flexi at AED 360/month (unlimited everywhere + 50 GB).
- No limits at all: Local Data & Calls Plan 1200 Flexi at AED 600/month (unlimited everything + 40 GB roaming).
The gap between the cheapest and the best-value option is AED 130 a month, and that buys you calls home you never have to ration.
Talk to a Live Etisalat Specialist
We will help you pick the right plan, activate it, and deliver the SIM across the UAE. Want a VIP number with your plan? Browse available numbers.
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