Free Calls/SMS to 10 Middle East Locations (Iran, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, UAE etc) @ Vodafone, Felix, Kogan, Lebara, TPG, iiNet

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Free standard international calls, SMS & roaming usage to Bahrain, Iran (roaming is not available), Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia & United Arab Emirates for eligible mobile customers across Vodafone, TPG, iiNet, felix, Lebara and Kogan Mobile.

Recent events in the Middle East have affected many Australians. We know customers across our brands have family and friends in the region and need to stay in touch with their loved ones.

From 8:00am AEDT 3 March 2026 We’re supporting by removing the cost of calls and waiving standard roaming fees for Vodafone Postpaid customers in selected destinations. Customers in these destinations can also call Australia at no charge. These calls will not use included minutes.

Supported destinations are:

  • Bahrain
  • Iran (roaming is not available)
  • Israel
  • Kuwait
  • Lebanon
  • Oman
  • Palestine
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • United Arab Emirates

Details for mobile customers. Prepaid customers

From 4 March, 2026, eligible mobile customers across Vodafone, TPG, iiNet, felix, Lebara and Kogan Mobile can make free standard international voice calls and standard international SMS from Australia to selected destinations in the Middle East. These standard international voice calls will not use plan inclusions.

Vodafone has also waived standard roaming fees in supported destinations for Vodafone Postpaid customers. This means eligible customers can use their plan’s included mobile data, calls and texts to stay connected in these destinations. These offers will be available until withdrawn.

Having trouble connecting?

Customers currently in the region may experience local network congestion or service disruptions outside our control. If customers experience any issues connecting with friends and family in these destinations, they may need to retry calling multiple times to successfully connect.


Terms and conditions

Free rating applies to standard international voice calls to and from these destinations. The following services are excluded from free rating, and usage will incur additional charges: Premium calls, premium SMS, SMS, MMS, video calls and calls to satellite phones.

Standard $5 Roaming Pack conditions apply. Offer excludes charges incurred from excess usage once standard inclusions are exceeded, as well as after the 90‑day annual roaming limit, after which Pay‑As‑You‑Go roaming rates apply.

Free standard international calls and SMS from Australia to select Middle East destinations

For personal use only. Free standard international mobile calls from Australia to Bahrain, Israel, Iran, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE available to Vodafone postpaid customers. Vodafone prepaid, Lebara, Kogan Mobile, Felix, TPG and iiNet mobile customers receive free standard international mobile calls and standard SMS to these destinations. Offer available until withdrawn. Exclusions: Premium calls, Premium SMS, Postpaid SMS, MMS, video calls and calls to satellite phones. MBB, NBN and Tablet Plan customers are excluded from this offer. Services subject to device capabilities, network limitations and customer location. Prepaid customers must have an active recharge. Fair use policy applies.

Free roaming usage (voice, text and calls) to select Middle East destinations

For personal use only. Eligible Vodafone postpaid mobile customers will have the standard roaming fees waived in Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. Offer available until withdrawn. Plan‑included data, calls and texts can be used in these destinations, with standard $5 Roaming Pack conditions applying. Offer excludes charges incurred from excess usage once standard inclusions are exceeded, as well as after the 90‑day annual roaming limit, after which Pay‑As‑You‑Go roaming rates apply. Mobile Broadband, NBN and Tablet Plans are not eligible. Fair use policy applies.

Vodafone Referrals

Referral: random (27)

Referrer & referee receive $25-$50 credit after referee's 3rd monthly bill.

Related Stores

Vodafone
Vodafone
Felix Mobile
Felix Mobile
iiNet
iiNet
Kogan Mobile
Kogan Mobile

Comments

Search through all the comments in this post.
  • -7

    who the hell still uses international calls and sms? they should give additional data instead every month to make whatsapp, facetime or telegram calls.

    • +11

      Legitimate question, why all the downvotes? I haven't used a phone for an international call since Skype offered the option I don't remember how many years ago. Now just Whatsapp.

    • During conflict access to internet may be limited, hence the need to revert to traditional call and sms rather than net enabled services.

      • +1

        Its the other way around. In ukraine war, traditional lines got destroyed and elon provided starlink satellite internet for comms.

    • I work in telco sales. It’s really not too uncommon.

    • as a person who's lived in ME, some countries have blocked VoIP unless you use state-owned apps. traditional calling is the way to connect

      • +1

        which countries in particular? hard to believe that you can't use whatsapp or wechat. pretty sure if those were banned people would just use vpn to get around it.

  • +3

    As an East Asian, I hope our Middle Eastern brothers in Australia can get in touch with their families. May the war end soon.

    • +11

      What is the relevance of your ethnicity when hoping people get can in touch with their family during a war? Also, why are you only hoping for Middle Easterners to get in touch with their families, and not other ethnicities that have family in the region for work, holiday, or study?

      • +25

        I know! I'm a South American Lesbian Catholic and he's totally excluded me. It's discrimination!

      • My guess is the relevance is not ethnicity but communication technology in East Asian countries. But it's 2026 now, and I would assume everyone would have internet now, but I could be wrong. Rural areas and all that.

        EDIT: Oh… this is an old message I'm responding to. My bad.

    • +3

      As an Australian I just hope the war ends soon, for everyones sake.

    • -2

      Gross. I hope all families whether they are Israelis, Palestinians, Iranians can get in touch with their loved ones. Why push the divide?

      • +1

        "Why push the divide?"

        Because it is popular.

        Imagine if Christianity, Muslim, Buddhism, Pkemonism, and OzBargainism are all told to ditch their religion and believe in Australianism. It won't be a popular call.

    • -2

      Only middle eastern brothers can get in touch with their families, got it bro. May the alliance of two brothers grow stronger.

  • +6

    Hopefully some company can offer 100L free petrol every week.

    • Our remove the fuel excise which Albo just increased a few weeks ago.

    • +8

      Hello aboriginal here, We should have burned down your ships.

      • +5

        Are you serious? You wouldn’t get taxpayers money, free housing, free medical, free Centrelink, free schooling and you want to make comments like that, pathetic. Feel free to give back everything you have received.

        • -2

          How about the countries that grew rich by pillaging and colonising others (and continue to do so) start by paying back everything that they took?

        • "Feel free to give back everything you have received" - you took first, you give back first

          • +3

            @slepax: I personally didn’t take anything, but worth a try.

            So where should you send all the money I pay in taxes on the above each year, sent too, I accept bank transfers and Revolut.

      • +1

        Like an ant threatening an ant-eater lol

      • -1

        Hello aboriginal here

        The ones who came to Australia from Indonesia?

        • +1

          I genuinely don't get what people try to get at when saying indigenous Australians migrated to Australia from Asia. Like yes that is in an accepted fact. They migrated here some 60000 years old. They were here first. This is their land (in the modern day speak) and has been for 60000 years.

          It's like saying "Aztecs? The ones who travelled from Russia???" Like who cares where they came from 50000 years ago when they've built their own civilisations and culture for 49999 years.

          Christians (and others) think they run the world because some dude's mum commited adultery some 2000 years ago and didn't tell anyone. But tell them there's 60000 year old rock painting that you can see to this day and you get "oh nah mate aboriginals don't exist, you're confused and they're actually Indonesian"

          Like what are you smoking mate

          • -3

            @Some Random Guy:

            I genuinely don't get what people try to get at when saying indigenous Australians migrated to Australia from Asia.

            They migrated here like everyone else.

            Like what are you smoking mate

            I don’t smoke. How about you?

            • @jv: Did everyone else migrate here 60000 years ago?

              Also why are you focussing on the migration as an event and not the 60000 years of history. The migration is the fine print. The bigger picture is, let me repeat, 60000 years of direct descendents and the history and culture that comes with that.

              To look at any group of peoples, not just aboriginals, and think "yeah, me and you have the exact same connection to your native homeland" is just bizarre and lacks awareness.

              • @Some Random Guy:

                Did everyone else migrate here 60000 years ago?

                No, many of the people were born here, but the rest have all migrated here over the last 60,000 years.

  • +4

    What about for countries in conflict that are not reported on mainstream media?

    • those people are not important enough because westerners aren't involved.

      • +4

        Currently active conflicts in other countries:

        • Ukraine/Russia- Overshadowed by current middle-east conflict

        • Pakistan/Afghanistan - No one's even paying attention that these countries are currently at war

        • Sudan civil war (Sudanese Army/RSF militia) - No one gives a damn. For example - RSF committed a genocide by killing more than 60,000 people in city of El-Fasher in less than a week last year. It didn't even make headlines.

        • Nigeria terror attacks - 100's being killed nearly everyday by terrorists, but again, no one cares.

        • Only one of those has the interest of western nations and that's because they ethnically look the same and have lots of energy reserves.

          Dont forget south east asia:

          thailand - cambodia border war
          myanmar civil war and genocide

          • +1

            @mrvaluepack: Thailand/Cambodia is not an active conflict. They have ceasefire.

            In Myanmar civil war, army junta is getting massive support from China and Russia in last 2 years, which has demoralized the rebel factions. Hostilities are nowhere near the tempo they were 2 years ago.

        • Here’s hoping the US will get involved so I can get my free calls

  • What exactly is Optus and Vodafone waiting for? A ground offensive?

    • "Vodafone" TPG/Vodafone.

      • Optus and Telstra sorry. I feel like I just defamed Vodafone unnecessarily.

    • Hasn’t Optus already done this, though?

      • Details for Optus here and there are 8 countries. Optus added Israel and Kuwait later.

  • Cheers

  • +6

    FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA, SMSs WILL BE FREE

  • +3

    For a people who has already condemned Iran for getting attacked and really only expresses outrage when Russia does the same thing after Iraq and before Iran, Australians are doing great acting work to seem like they care and are compassionate here.

    The bullshit is getting thicker and thicker by the day. Also this is a week later than the Optus offer, would have been more useful when that girls school in Iran got bombed to rubble on the first day of the war.

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