I am already out of the country and the SMS did nothing - why?

That is the classic case. From abroad, an SMS only works if the line already has a roaming service on it. With no International Roaming and no Easy Roaming, the message may never leave the visited network. Three ways out: dial *155# on the du number while abroad, have someone call the roaming helpdesk from another number and ask them to switch Easy Roaming on, or the authorised account holder signs into the business account portal and subscribes the line to Easy Roaming there. The portal route is the one to use when the traveller cannot get the SIM to act.

Do I need Easy Roaming to buy a roaming data pack?

You need one of the two: International Roaming active on the line, or Easy Roaming active. Buy the pack only after one of them shows as active, otherwise the pack sits there unused while the phone charges standard rates.

I bought a pack abroad and my data still does not work.

Nine times out of ten the phone is on a non-preferred partner network. The travel packs are built for the operator's preferred networks in each destination; on any other operator the bundle does not apply and you are on standard rates. Turn off automatic network selection, pick a preferred partner from the country list, then restart the phone. Also check that Data Roaming is enabled in the phone's settings and that the line has the pack confirmed by SMS.

Will I be charged out-of-bundle rates on a non-preferred network?

The bundle will not work there, so usage is billed at the applicable standard roaming rates rather than out-of-bundle pack rates. That is why the preferred-partner check before you fly matters more than the price of the pack.

Can I stack two roaming packs?

You can hold several one-off packs at the same time, with one exception on the sheet: the 15-day AED 350 voice-and-data pack is bought after the pack you are using has expired, not alongside it.

When does the validity clock start?

Immediately at activation, not when you land. Buy the 1-day and 7-day packs on the day you fly, not a week early, and the 60/365-day packs can be bought whenever.

Home / Easy Roaming activation: in the UAE, abroad, … published 2026-08-01 · updated 2026-08-04

activation flow

Easy Roaming: how to turn it on from here, there, or neither

One service, five situations, and the one that ruins trips is "I am already abroad and the SMS does nothing".

The flow

Check what is on the line. SMS Roaming to 5102. If International Roaming is active - normal on a corporate contract - you do not need Easy Roaming, and packs work now.
In the UAE: SMS Easy to 5102 from the du number. No deposit is required for Easy Roaming; the service confirmation arrives by SMS.
Abroad, with a roaming service already on: the same SMS works, or buy the pack directly with its keyword.
Abroad, with nothing on the line: the SMS has no path, so it will look ignored. Dial *155# on the du handset to self-activate; if that is not offered, someone calls +971 555 678155 (corporate: +971 555 678188) from another number and asks for Easy Roaming to be switched on for that number.
Business line, traveller far away: the authorised account holder signs into the business account portal, opens the line and subscribes it to Easy Roaming there - this is the route that works when nobody holding the SIM can act. Then send the traveller the pack keyword to text on arrival.
Prepaid: the wallet needs enough balance for the service, and roaming data stays off by default - dial *135*20# abroad to buy a roaming data pack or enable pay-per-use.
Then buy the pack and wait for the confirmation before using data: bars without a confirmation SMS is how a week of background sync becomes a bill.

Why the pack will not count even after this

The line is registered on a network the pack does not cover. Restart, select the preferred partner manually, and check the phone has Data Roaming switched on and VoLTE enabled where the destination has retired legacy voice networks. If you are on a corporate line with self-service disabled, the subscription has to go through the account holder or the account manager - the handset cannot do it, however many times you text.

Every code on this page, in one table

roaming service and pack codes
Task	How
Check Roaming Status	SMS 'Roaming' to 5102
List Data Packs	SMS 'Data' to 5102
List Voice Packs	SMS 'Voice' to 5102
Activate Easy Roaming	SMS 'Easy' to 5102 (from the du number, in the UAE or abroad)
Ussd Abroad No Ir	Dial *155# while abroad to activate Easy Roaming
Abroad Helpdesk	+971 555 678155 (ask from another number to have Easy Roaming switched on)
Corporate Helpdesk	+971 555 678188 (corporate / business lines)
Lost Or Stolen	+971 555 678155 - the line can be suspended for 5 days to stop misuse
Prepaid Roaming Data	Roaming data is off by default on prepaid: dial 13520# abroad to buy a pack or enable pay-per-use (balance must cover it)
Balance Check	the du app or the self-care data portal
Alerts	SMS at 70%, 80% and 100% of the bundle

Packs and prices on the sheet

The full table sits on the roaming page with the notes; what matters here is that the pack choice is made after activation works, not before.

Roaming packs, allowances and validity Ask us to check it

Where to check it yourself

The operator's own plan and support pages - the text your order form was written from

These pages belong to the operator and the regulator - open them side by side with your own bill or app before acting on anything here.

Verify this yourself in two minutes

Prices and inclusions: the operator's own plan page for your emirate, then the same figure on the order form you signed.
Your line state: the My du app - Account > Services shows suspension, bar, data cap and contract end.
Faults in your area: My du app > Support > Outage status, or 155 from a du mobile (free).
Anything regulatory (billing disputes, escalation): TDRA - your complaint must cite the ticket number du gave you, dated.

Short codes and service codes move; the app shows the same options and is always the current answer.

If a number on this page and a number in your app disagree, the app wins - and we would like to know: WhatsApp us the screenshot and we correct the page.