The UAE has fined telemarketing violators AED19 million and disconnected 9,344 phone numbers since August 2024 as authorities tighten enforcement against unwanted marketing calls.
ABU DHABI: The UAE has intensified its crackdown on unwanted marketing calls, imposing AED19 million in fines and disconnecting 9,344 phone numbers since stricter telemarketing regulations came into force in August 2024.
According to the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), the enforcement campaign is aimed at protecting consumers from nuisance calls, strengthening privacy and reducing fraudulent telemarketing practices.
The authority revealed that 92,748 phone numbers have been reported by the public since the rules were introduced, while 3,301 violations have been detected under Cabinet Resolutions 56 and 57.
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Under the regulations, businesses must obtain the necessary permits before carrying out telemarketing activities. Marketing calls are only permitted between 9am and 6pm, and companies are prohibited from making repeat calls on the same day if a consumer rejects or ends the conversation.
Companies that breach the rules face fines of up to AED50,000, while repeat offenders may also have their telephone services suspended for up to 12 months.
The UAE telemarketing crackdown also requires companies to use official business numbers rather than personal mobile numbers when contacting customers. Automated telemarketing systems are permitted only if the caller obtains the consumer’s consent at the beginning of the call.
To give residents greater control over unwanted calls, the TDRA has expanded access to its Do Not Call Registry (DNCR). Residents can register by sending the letters DNCR via SMS to 2211, preventing authorised telemarketing companies from contacting them.
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Anyone receiving unsolicited promotional calls or suspected violations can report the caller by sending the offending phone number in the format 05XXXXXXXX via SMS to 2211.
The UAE telemarketing crackdown forms part of the government’s wider efforts to improve consumer protection, strengthen digital trust and curb fraudulent activities across the telecommunications sector. Authorities have urged both businesses and consumers to comply with the regulations to help create a safer communications environment.
Babar Siddiqui is the Features Editor at TheBrewNews.com, where he covers stories spanning the environment, culture, and technology. A naturally curious storyteller with an adventurous spirit, he is passionate about exploring ideas that shape the world around us. Beyond the newsroom, Babar finds inspiration in nature, embracing its quiet moments as a source of reflection and creativity.
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