How to Transfer Balance from Etisalat to Etisalat: Codes, Limits and Fees (2026 Guide)

You are at Jebel Ali Metro Station with a dead phone balance and a ride to book. A colleague offers to help, but neither of you is sure how the transfer works. Moments like this are exactly why knowing how to transfer balance from Etisalat to Etisalat is worth two minutes of your time.

Quick answer: To transfer balance from Etisalat to Etisalat, dial *100*recipient numbeHow to Transfer Balance from Etisalat to Etisalat: Codes, Limits and Fees (2026 Guide)r*amount# and press call, then confirm. The recipient must hold a prepaid number. You can send AED 2 to AED 150 per day, and the sender pays a 5.25% fee, which includes 5% VAT.

The service is simple, but a few rules trip people up. Some guides online say both numbers can be postpaid. That is not what Etisalat’s own support page says. This guide uses the official etisalat by e& rules, last checked in October 2026, and explains each step in plain language.

What Is an Etisalat to Etisalat Balance Transfer?

An Etisalat balance transfer, also called credit transfer or credit sharing, moves airtime from your mobile account to another number on the same network. The money leaves your balance and lands in the recipient’s prepaid balance within moments.

The rule that matters most is who can send and who can receive. According to Etisalat, active Wasel (prepaid) and postpaid customers can send credit, but the receiving number must be a prepaid e& number. So you can send from postpaid to prepaid, and from prepaid to prepaid. You cannot top up another person’s postpaid line this way. For a postpaid bill, use Quick Pay instead.

This matters for families and workplaces. A parent on a postpaid plan can keep a child’s prepaid line alive. A company driver on prepaid can ask for help from a supervisor on postpaid. The reverse does not work.

Who Can Send and Receive Credit

Sender	Receiver	Allowed?
Wasel prepaid	Prepaid etisalat number	Yes
Postpaid	Prepaid etisalat number	Yes
Prepaid or postpaid	Postpaid etisalat number	No
Prepaid or postpaid	du or Virgin number	No, not through this service

The sender needs an active account with enough balance to cover both the amount and the fee. No registration or subscription is needed.

How to Transfer Balance from Etisalat to Etisalat Using the Code

The USSD code is the fastest method. It works on any phone, needs no internet, and takes under a minute.

1. Open your phone’s dialler.
2. Dial *100*05XXXXXXXX*Amount# and replace the number and amount. To send AED 5, dial *100*05XXXXXXXX*5#.
3. Press the call button.
4. Confirm when the prompt appears.
5. Wait for the confirmation SMS. It also shows your remaining balance.

The recipient receives the credit and can see it straight away. Keep the number in local format, starting with 05, to avoid errors.

How to Transfer Credit with a PIN

A PIN adds a second layer of protection. It is useful if you share your phone, or if you want to prevent accidental transfers.

First, request a PIN by texting CTPIN, CT PIN or CPT to 1010. Etisalat charges 32 fils (including VAT) for that SMS. Then dial *100*Mobile Number*Amount*PIN#.

You can change the PIN by dialling *143*Old PIN*New PIN#. If you forget it, call 101 or visit an e& store. To cancel the PIN completely, you must visit a store.

There is also a “secured” credit transfer tier. For prepaid users, it lifts the daily and monthly caps, subject to a fair usage limit of AED 100,000 a month. Postpaid users stay at the standard caps.

Using the etisalat UAE App

If you prefer taps over codes, open the etisalat UAE app and look for Share Credit and Data. Enter the recipient’s number and the amount, then confirm. The app is available on the App Store, Google Play and Huawei AppGallery.

The app is also easier to use when you want to review your usage or pay a bill in the same session. For a one-off transfer, however, the code is quicker.

Transfer Limits: How Much Can You Send?

Etisalat caps transfers to protect customers from fraud and misuse. Here are the current limits from the official support page.

Limit	Prepaid sender	Postpaid sender
Minimum per transfer	AED 2	AED 2
Daily maximum	AED 150	AED 150
Monthly maximum	AED 1,500	AED 500

Notice that daily limits are on the amount, not the number of transactions. Some competitor pages claim there is no cap on transactions, which is misleading: once you hit AED 150 in a day, further requests will fail.

Transfer Fees and VAT Explained

Etisalat deducts 5.25% of the transferred amount from the sender. That figure is a 5% service fee plus 5% VAT charged on the fee, which is where the extra 0.25% comes from.

Here is a simple example. If you send AED 100, AED 105.25 leaves your account. The recipient gets the full AED 100.

Amount sent	Fee (5.25%)	Total deducted
AED 10	AED 0.53	AED 10.53
AED 50	AED 2.63	AED 52.63
AED 100	AED 5.25	AED 105.25
AED 150	AED 7.88	AED 157.88

Fees are rounded, so your SMS may show a fil or two of difference.

How to Request Credit from a Friend

Prepaid users can also ask for help. Dial *107*05XXXXXXXX*Amount# and the other person receives a request. They can then approve it with the transfer code. The request service itself is free, and it is only available to prepaid customers.

International Credit Transfer

Expats often want to top up a family member’s phone abroad. Etisalat lets prepaid and postpaid users send credit to prepaid accounts in selected countries. Visitors with a prepaid e& line can also use unused credit to recharge a number back home.

There are three ways to start:

• Dial *100# and follow the menu.
• Dial *100*international number# and follow the prompts.
• Text the international number to 1700.

The amounts depend on the destination operator’s denominations, and the SMS you receive lists the options and the AED price before you confirm. International limits are tighter: three transactions a day, ten a month, and AED 500 a month in total.

Data Transfer from Etisalat to Etisalat

You can share data too. Transfers happen in multiples of 100 MB. The fee is AED 3 per 100 MB, charged to your balance or added to your monthly bill.

Dial #100*05XXXXXXXX*1000# to send 1 GB, or dial #100# and follow the menu. Prepaid users face no cap, while postpaid users can send up to 5 GB per transfer. The service is available on select plans only, so check yours before relying on it.

Etisalat Balance Transfer Not Working? Common Mistakes

Most failed transfers come down to a handful of causes.

• Recipient is postpaid. Credit can only go to prepaid numbers.
• Insufficient balance. Remember that the fee is added on top of the amount.
• Limit reached. You may have passed AED 150 today or your monthly cap.
• Wrong number format. Use the 05 format without spaces or the country code.
• Wrong PIN. If you set a PIN, it must be included in the code.
• Amount below AED 2. The minimum is AED 2.

If none of these apply, call 101 or chat with Etisalat through the app.

Safety Tips Against Credit Transfer Scams

Balance sharing is a common target for fraud. Scammers pose as relatives asking for urgent top-ups, or claim you won a prize and must send credit to collect it. Etisalat does not ask customers to transfer credit to claim rewards.

Verify who you are sending to by calling them. Set a PIN if others use your phone. Report suspicious messages through Etisalat’s privacy and scam reporting page.

Etisalat vs du: A Quick Comparison

If the person you want to help uses du, the process differs. du’s One2One service is a separate system, and users have reported that it carries no fee. Always check the current terms on du’s website. The key point for this guide is that an Etisalat code will not send credit to a du number.

Final Thoughts: Best Method for Each Situation

For a quick top-up, the *100# code wins. For repeat transfers, the app saves time. For shared phones, add a PIN. And for postpaid recipients, skip transfers and pay the bill directly through Quick Pay.

The rules have stayed fairly consistent, but Etisalat updates caps and add-ons from time to time. Before you send a large amount, confirm the current limits on the official support page.

FAQs

1. What is the code to transfer balance from Etisalat to Etisalat?

Dial *100*recipient number*amount# and press call. For example, *100*05XXXXXXXX*10# sends AED 10.

2. Can I transfer balance from Etisalat postpaid to Etisalat postpaid?

No. Postpaid customers can send credit, but the recipient must be on a prepaid number.

3. What is the minimum amount I can transfer?

AED 2 per transfer for both prepaid and postpaid senders.

4. What is the maximum daily transfer limit?

AED 150 per day under the normal service, for both prepaid and postpaid.

5. How much does Etisalat charge for balance transfer?

5.25% of the amount, including 5% VAT. Sending AED 100 deducts AED 105.25.

6. Does the receiver get the full amount?

Yes. The fee is paid by the sender, so the recipient receives the exact amount sent.

7. How do I get a PIN for credit transfer?

Text CTPIN to 1010. The SMS costs 32 fils including VAT.

8. Can I transfer data instead of credit?

Yes. Dial #100*number*MB# in multiples of 100 MB at AED 3 per 100 MB.

9. Can I send credit abroad from Etisalat?

Yes, to prepaid accounts in selected countries. Dial *100# or text the number to 1700. Monthly limits apply.

10. Who do I call if my transfer fails?

Call 101 for Etisalat customer care, or use the in-app support chat.