WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption features prevent the UAE government from monitoring calls.
WhatsApp, like most free VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol), video calls, and messaging services, is blocked in Dubai and The UAE. This can make it difficult to keep in touch with friends and family back home unless you're willing to pay for a government-approved service like C'Me or BOTIM.
The content of all messages sent using WhatsApp are protected by the same Signal encryption protocol that secures messages before they leave your device, which ensures only you and the person you're communicating with can listen to or read what you're sending, and nobody in between, not even WhatsApp.
Key Takeaways: WhatsApp voice and video calls are not allowed in Dubai, although you can send texts. A VPN can help you bypass a WhatsApp ban because it can spoof your location. ExpressVPN is the best VPN to unblock WhatsApp in Dubai because of its vast server network and reliability.
Why did Dubai ban WhatsApp? Dubai is part of the United Arab Emirates, in which there are strict internet restrictions imposed by the government. In the UAE, internet usage is monitored by the Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA). The TRA has banned WhatsApp, as well as other similar apps like Skype and Viber.
No, you can't do FaceTime from Dubai because the application is illegal in the United Arab Emirates. If you want to use FaceTime in Dubai, you can access it with the help of a reputable VPN like NordVPN.
Dubai Police's Al Ameen Security Services clarified that contrary to rumours circulating about violating the privacy of UAE residents, text messages and phone calls are not recorded.
Internet censorship
The UAE has been listed as "Under Surveillance" by Reporters Without Borders since 2008. Pornographic sites are banned and so is anti-Islamic and anti-government/anti-police material. The United Arab Emirates censors the Internet using Secure Computing's solution.
Internet Access Management (IAM) policy
TDRA monitors online content available to users in the UAE and will notify website operators based in the UAE of any potential breaches of the IAM policy.
Yes — texts sent through the secure messaging app will be encrypted while in transit, so only you and the person you're messaging can see them. The same security applies to voice and video calls and photos sent via WhatsApp.
Tap the status for which you want to see the views. icon. It's at the bottom of the screen, just above an eye-shaped icon. Doing so will expand the icon into a list of people who have viewed your status.
Unlike your profile, the Status updates on WhatsApp do alert you to who may be stalking or simply checking out your account. To check who viewed your Status, simply click the eye icon at the bottom, and it will show your views. Keep in mind that your Status only lasts for 24 hours.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a country that is known for its strict rules and regulations. The country is composed of seven emirates, one of them being Dubai. As per the UAE's laws, using VoIP services such as FaceTime, Skype, WhatsApp, and Viber is illegal in the country.
Having or using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) service in the United Arab Emirates is not illegal. It is illegal, however, for VPN users to access online services and websites that have been censored by the UAE government.
In the UAE, the use of Virtual Private Network (VPN) may not be considered as illegal if it is used in accordance with the guidelines of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (the 'TDRA').
You're quite likely to have your phone swabbed and checked for explosives/drugs upon departure from DXB, but you would be very unlucky to have the contents examined.
In addition, not all VPNs work even when you do manage to get a subscription (particularly if you are an Etisalat subscriber). On the other hand, it is worth noting that we have never heard of anybody being arrested or fined for accessing a VPN website or using a VPN to access legally permissible services and content.
The UAE block nearly all VoIP services. Both WhatsApp and Snapchat's video calling functions are blocked to comply with the TRA's VoIP regulations. Moreover, they also block access to Skype video calling.
It may come as a surprise to many outside the region, but Dubai and Abu Dhabi are among the most closely surveilled cities in the world. Abu Dhabi has an estimated 20,000 security cameras aimed at its 1.5 million people, while Dubai has some 35,000 cameras watching a population of 2.8 million people.
Privacy is a constitutional right and the recording of a conversation without the consent of the parties involved is considered an illegal act as per the UAE Penal Code.
Checking someone's or your spouse's phone
Penalty: Imprisonment and/or a fine between Dh50,000 and Dh100,000 for accessing any information system with a password acquired without permission. If there is criminal intent, you face a minimum of six months in jail and/or a fine between Dh300,000 and Dh500,000.
While 53% of UAE's population is on Instagram, the platform's newest feature – video calling – is not available to locals. This restriction, along with UAE's strict internet filtering carried out by the government, makes it nearly impossible for users to enjoy the full array of features this platform has to offer.
The UAE's most popular video calling app, BOTIM, provides users with the means to make HD video calls and voice calls worldwide. BOTIM lets you send photos, voice messages and videos to friends and family around the globe so you won't be missing WhatsApp. It's only Dhs50 a month, too.