The UAE blocks WhatsApp calls because its telecom rules reserve voice-over-internet (VoIP) services for licensed providers, and WhatsApp has never been licensed. Two practical motives sit behind that rule: protecting the revenue of the state-linked carriers and keeping calls easy to monitor.
The licensing rule
The UAE treats internet calling as a telecom service. Only operators that hold a licence, or apps that partner with them, can offer it. When WhatsApp calls briefly worked in 2017, the regulator said VoIP remained a prerogative of licensed providers and that any app must fit the national regulatory framework. du and e& (formerly Etisalat) are required to block VoIP traffic that doesn't fit that framework.
Money
International calls were a major earner for the two carriers. Free app calling cuts straight into that. Apps that are allowed, such as BOTIM, typically need a paid calling plan bought through du or e&, which keeps carriers in the loop. Saudi Arabia faced the same tension and eventually lifted its own VoIP ban in 2017, citing a shift toward data revenue.
Security and monitoring
WhatsApp calls are end-to-end encrypted, so neither carriers nor authorities can listen in. The National has reported that the difficulty of monitoring such services has been cited in the past as a reason for the restrictions.
Will it change?
Officials have hinted at lifting the ban since at least 2019, and business-focused apps like Zoom and Teams were opened up during the pandemic. As of October 2026, though, consumer WhatsApp calling is still blocked, and no official timeline exists.