The UAE has two licensed telecom operators, e& (formerly Etisalat) and du, and every international call to a UAE number terminates on one of them. VoIP in the UAE is reserved to licensed providers, telemarketing is tightly regulated, and buyers usually ask for CLI routes split between e& and du.
Rules last checked: October 2026.
Regulator and operators
The regulator is the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA). The market is small in number of players:
| Operator | Notes |
|---|---|
| e& (Etisalat) | The incumbent, with mobile and fixed networks |
| du | The second licensed operator, mobile and fixed |
| Virgin Mobile | A brand running on the du network; calls terminate through du |
Mobile numbers start with 50, 52, 54, 55, 56 or 58 after the country code 971. Mobile carries most traffic, but fixed and business lines are a real share of enterprise calls, so many buyers need both. The UAE has mobile number portability, so a prefix does not always show the current network; see mobile number portability and call routing.
How international calls are carried
Only the licensed operators may terminate voice in the UAE. A legitimate route therefore ends with an interconnect into e& or du, either directly or through the international carriers they work with. Because there are just two networks, buyers can and should compare them separately:
- Ask for breakouts for e& mobile, du mobile and fixed.
- Check whether the route is direct or passes through several transit carriers; each hop adds cost and risk.
- Decide between premium and standard routes based on how much call quality matters for your traffic.
VoIP status
The TDRA's position is that providing voice over IP is reserved to licensed operators. Voice and video calls on many popular messaging apps have long been unavailable in the UAE, while operator approved calling apps are offered as paid services. For wholesale buyers this does not change the routing: international calls still have to reach e& or du through licensed interconnects, and routes that bypass the operators are not legal.
Caller ID and telemarketing rules
Two sets of rules affect what number you show and what traffic you send:
- Kashif: a TDRA service that shows the registered company name on calls from UAE registered businesses. It applies to local companies, not to foreign callers.
- Cabinet Resolution No. 56 of 2024 on telemarketing, issued in June 2024: it regulates sales calls by companies licensed in the UAE, including the numbers they may use, calling hours and the Do Not Call Registry.
For international traffic the practical rule is simple: send a valid caller ID that you are entitled to use, in E.164 format. Do not present a UAE (+971) number on traffic from abroad unless you own it and the carrier confirms it is accepted; calls with unverified local numbers may be rejected or have the number replaced. See CLI spoofing rules and CLI vs non-CLI routes.
What buyers usually ask for
- CLI routes for business, support and diaspora calls, verified with a CLI delivery test.
- Separate e& and du pricing, plus fixed if the traffic includes landlines.
- A clear traffic type: call center and outbound sales traffic is accepted on fewer routes and must respect local telemarketing rules.
- Quality metrics that fit the traffic: stable ASR, natural ACD and low post-dial delay. See ASR, ACD and PDD.
What drives the price
The UAE is a high value destination with two operators, so price depends mostly on which network you terminate on, how directly the route lands, the CLI type and the traffic type accepted. Offers far below the market usually mean a route that does not reach the operators properly; watch for false answer supervision and short calls. More in what drives VoIP termination prices.
Getting a route
See the UAE VoIP termination page and, for messaging, A2P SMS to the UAE with the UAE sender ID rules. Tell us the networks, CLI type, traffic type and volume, and we source and manage the route through our VoIP termination service. Request a UAE voice route.
Frequently asked questions
Is VoIP legal in the UAE?
Providing voice over IP is reserved to licensed operators in the UAE, according to the TDRA. Voice and video calls on many popular messaging apps have long been unavailable, while operator approved calling apps are offered as paid services. For wholesale traffic, international calls must reach e& or du through licensed interconnects.
Do I need a VoIP license in the UAE?
Providing voice over IP services in the UAE is reserved to licensed operators, and only e& and du terminate voice. A foreign carrier or call center sending calls to the UAE does not terminate them itself, so it buys routes that land on e& or du through licensed interconnects. Routes that bypass the operators are not legal.
What is Kashif in the UAE?
Kashif is a TDRA service that shows the registered company name on calls from UAE registered businesses, so recipients can see who is calling. It applies to local companies, not to foreign callers. International traffic should carry a valid caller ID that the sender is entitled to use, in E.164 format.
Is telemarketing to UAE numbers regulated?
Yes. Cabinet Resolution No. 56 of 2024 regulates sales calls by companies licensed in the UAE, including the numbers they may use, calling hours and the Do Not Call Registry. Call center and outbound sales traffic is accepted on fewer routes and must respect local telemarketing rules, so declare it in your route request.
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