WhatsApp calls start working in UAE, but for how long?

Dubai - The expat community couldn't hide their excitement on social media platforms, lauding the UAE government for the 'perfect Eid Al Fitr gift'.

UAE residents couldn't have woken up to a better surprise on Thursday morning, when they discovered that voice and video calls on WhatsApp, one of the most popular messaging services in the world, had been enabled.

That calls over Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) are not allowed in the UAE is well known, and Thursday's deviation from this policy sent phones ringing across Dubai and India, US, UK, when people called their friends and family to share the news.

The expat community couldn't hide their excitement on social media platforms, lauding the UAE government for the 'perfect Eid Al Fitr gift'.

We tested calling on WhatsApp and it worked on both WiFi connection and mobile data, on both Etisalat and du networks.

In a statement, the UAE's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) clarified that "there is no change in the UAE's Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Policy. TRA reconfirms that any applications or services of this type must comply with the applicable regulatory framework in the country."

In a previous statement, TRA had said that "VoIP services are still a prerogative of the licensed providers who reserve the right to provide such services through their networks. Companies wishing to offer such services must co-ordinate with the licensed telecom providers in the UAE".

Khaleej Times readers react

As the story was posted this morning, Khaleej Times readers on Facebook were surprised with the new development.

Do let us know if WhatsApp video and voice service has begun working for you.