topic Re: Calls & SMS not working in UAE in Roaming

Calls & SMS not working in UAE

Octavius — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 21:31:09 GMT

Hello

I am in UAE and my phone doesn’t connect to any network. No SMS and no Calls. I am on a contract, and don’t need Data in UAE as I have a local sim, just need to receive SMS. I didn’t send ROAMING to 150 as I didn’t need I need it as I won’t use Data.

Tried 3 times to contact EE but they keep replying saying there is no network coverage issue in my area in London. How pathetic, do better EE.

Any idea what can I do? Thanks

Re: Calls & SMS not working in UAE

XRaySpeX — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 22:04:51 GMT

I suppose you didn't receive a Welcome text upon arrival.

As you are on contract, by not texting ROAMING to 150 before leaving UK you did not activate roaming on your EE a/c. Having roaming activated on your EE a/c, not just on your device, is crucial to using your contract SIM abroad. The ROAMING text is to allow all roaming, not just data roaming.

You need to call CS to get your roaming activated. Try calling CS on the Freephone no. in my sig. using a web-calling app over WiFi.

Re: Calls & SMS not working in UAE

bristolian — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 22:41:32 GMT

@Octavius wrote:
I am in UAE and my phone doesn’t connect to any network. ...I didn’t send ROAMING to 150 as I didn’t need I need it as I won’t use Data.

Regardless of whether you want to use data-roaming, by not enabling roaming, you have prevented your phone from accessing any foreign networks.

That prevents text-roaming & voice-roaming... you need network coverage to roam. Roaming enables foreign network access. Network coverage enables calls, texts & mobile data. Reverse the equation and your symptoms are explained.