How to change your phone number for the UAE Al Hosn app online
This blog post also explains how to find your UAE unified ID number online.
If you get the error when using the Al hosn app that your phone number is incorrect and can not activate the app here is a simple way to change the number online using the UAE ICA smart services website.
IF you are a UK visitor trying to get the Al hosn app to work, then you must pre-register on the ICA website here
https://smartservices.ica.gov.ae/echannels/web/client/default.html#/login
Wait for the confirmation email to arrive with the QR code, it doesn’t take too long to arrive but has been an hour for some people and minutes for others. The QR code isn’t needed for Al hosn but this website registers your vaccinations on the UAE gov database and it is this data that will show up on the AL HSon app hopefully in a green status
navigate here in your web browser
https://smartservices.ica.gov.ae/echannels/web/client/default.html#/fileValidity
choose ‘passport information and ‘visa’ if you are a visitor to the UAE, this site will give you your Unified ID , if you are a UK citizen and get an automatic VISA upon entry into the UAE then this is the easiest way to find this number, this ID number is needed for the AlHosn app to work.
you should get this
here you can see your Unified ID number
Click the blue button the change your phone number or add one if none is registered.
It will ask for your region in the UAE, I just used Dubai, didn’t appear to make any difference, and why ask for a region if it needs a Mobile number?
a few points to note:
There will be text messages sent to the number you use with a OTP (one-time password) so make sure the phone number is active when you change the number.
as of 29/10/21 I can only find a way to add a UAE phone number.
you will need a phone that is sim unlocked to get a PAYG sim in the UAE to work and a passport to register the SIM to when you buy it. If your phone isn’t SIM unlocked ie locked to a UK network, go to Carrefour supermarket in most big shopping malls and buy a cheap smartphone make sure it will run the Al hosn app. you will need the Al hosn app running on this phone when in abu Dhabi.
update Dec 2021: we found the Virgin booths in the malls the most eager and easiest to give you a PAYG sim. Etilisat and Du wanted so much paperwork, Virgin just wanted a copy of your ID.
after you have done this WAIT 20 mins or so for the phone number to migrate through the system, then the Al Hosn app will recognise you.
if you still get errors after an hour on the Al hosn app, go back and check your details using the same method.
open the al hosn app and hopefully you will see your data
In looking into how to get the app to work, I read that having a PCR test in the UAE would reset the phone number to my Unified ID, it didn’t work, I did get a negative result but it doesn’t show up on the Al Hosn app!!, however, I have a green status so no big worries .
I used this technique to change my wife’s details and it worked, she had not had a PCR test in the UAE so obviously, it makes no difference.
I hope this helps someone save some time, it took me a long time, even hours in the airport with immigration, the police and others trying to get the al Hosn app to work, in the end lots of searching online found this method.
Update Dec 2021: I did a PCR test in UAQ to try and get the Al Hosn app to work but it didn’t. however to go to Yas marina we needed a PCR test and I went to the same loc to get another PCR test, and it turns out they entered my passport number in wrong, so maybe it will work !! have to wait for the next pandemic to try this.
bd
kindly my al hosin app is not working. I lost my contact which i used to register, is there any other way i can access
My vaccine certificate
I am trying to fill the ICA app in it won’t accept a uk mobile number I’ve changed the drop down to +0044 knocked the 0 off my mobile number but it’s still one didget too long does anyone have a solution for this pls
I never got a Uk phone number to work, it must be a UAE one, Virgin are the easiest SIM to get from any Mall.
If you find a way to get a UK number to work, please let me know so I can update the Blog post
bd
I change the number of my uae pass when i log in to my alhosn it will appear on my app signing through uae pass should i recieve my pcr result in alhosn when i i open my al hosn and not change my number on the app but i put a number in secondary in al hosn
I am not in the UAE at the moment so I am sorry I can’t help you
I don’t have change mobile number option. I’m on visit visa
read the blog post carefully, this method works, if for some reason the government have changed it, then sorry but I cannot help you
where can go to change my new number?
Read the blog post, it tells you how to change your phone number in the al Hosn app to any other phone number including your new numbner.
bd
To get an UAE phone number to use the app go into a mall and buy a sim. To get into the mall you need that UAE sim before you can enter. This is a catch 22 situation.
catch 22 indeed, even worse, when at the passport control you can see the stalls selling SIM’s on the other side, so close yet so far
how can i change my number in al hosn app to get my PCR result?
Sir i have change my number new number add 0504472012
Follow the instruction in this article and then it is easy
Is there a payment for this method?
No its totally free
I have al hosen app but if i would like to change my number it not going trough, asking for OTP which was on my previous mobile no and that no is already block. need your assistance on how i can change to n ew no.
I am sorry I don’t have an answer, next time I am in UAE I will try to fix it.
bd
All hosn vaccination mobile number change Abu Dhabi health and office
Sir my alshon not open my old number change new number add sir plise 0503315895this number add sir plise
Follow the instruction carefully and it will do it for you
bd
Hi I can’t open my alhosn app because the number that I used is not longer working. What should i do?
you must have a working number,
use this method to change your number
Recently AlHosn application has severe issue on mobile number, Most of the people has problem with Mobile number, It should have option on Reading Mobile number integrated with Emirates id or Al hosn app should accept whatever mobile number given by the person with Safe OTP.
that would be much easier , and secure
This worked! As of 22 Dec 2021 this was the only method that worked.
Calling al hosn was a waste of time. They redirected to ICA telephone which as more options to press than BT call center. Again fruitless even for local hotel staff who tried to help.
Followed the ICA link on this page (which also suggests the ICA website homepage isnt fit for purpose).
Had to get a local sim for 50 aed just to receive the OTP.
All venues ask for al hosn or proof of vaccination+pcr test so if this link ever stops working at least venues are reasonable.
Biggest tip: write down your number so immigration can enter the details correctly!
Thanks to this blog for easy steps to remediation.
The blog post has been read a lot, so it was worth writing it to help others.
Everyone thinks other countries are doing a better job of this stuff,but it is a mess everywhere.
Enjoy
bd