Is the UAE Planning to Lift the Ban on Skype and FaceTime?

Popular apps FaceTime and Skype are currently restricted in the UAE, but that soon may change, according to a new report from the country’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA). Here’s what you should know…

FaceTime and Skype block may be reversed in UAE

The country’s telecoms regulator is reportedly holding discussions with Apple and Microsoft regarding the possibility of lifting the longtime ban on VOiP services like Skype and FaceTime — two of the world’s most popular apps.

In a report from Arabic newspaper Al-Ittihad, the Director General of the TRA, Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, said that discussions on the topic were ongoing, and that the UAE’s relationship with the tech giants remained strong, noting Microsoft’s opening of two new data centers in the country.

As of now, most VOiP services are blocked in the country, with the exception of paid video-calling services offered by Etisalat and du. The lifting of the ban would no doubt be welcomed news in the UAE, which has invested heavily in technology over the years. And with preparations underway for Expo 2020 in Dubai, regulatory changes may finally be in the works. We’ll keep you posted…

READ MORE: Skype is Officially Blocked in UAE… But You do Have Other Options