WhatsApp messaging is working in the UAE as normal, but voice and video calls are still blocked. There has been no announcement from the UAE's telecoms regulator (TDRA) lifting the call ban, and recent 2026 traveler reports still describe calls failing on both du and e& networks.
Why you might see mixed reports
Every year or two, social media fills up with posts saying WhatsApp calls suddenly connected. Sometimes that's real for a few hours or days. In late 2020 the UAE's cybersecurity chief said WhatsApp had been briefly opened for test use while talks continued, and FaceTime calls unexpectedly worked in 2021 around Expo 2020. None of those windows turned into a permanent policy change.
So if a call happens to go through for you, treat it as a glitch rather than proof the rules changed.
Quick checks if messages aren't sending
If texts themselves fail, the problem is probably an outage or your connection, not a block:
- Switch between Wi-Fi and mobile data.
- Check an outage tracker such as Downdetector for a global WhatsApp issue.
- Confirm your roaming or local eSIM data is active.
- Update the app and restart your phone.
For calls, use a licensed app
Khaleej Times has listed the VoIP apps the TDRA allows, including BOTIM, Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Its report also notes the regulator's warning that using unlicensed VoIP can be a criminal offence, which is why a workaround for WhatsApp calls isn't worth the risk on a short trip.