United Arab Emirates (UAE) SMS Laws And Regulations
Similar to most Middle Eastern regions, the United Arab Emirates enforces extremely rigid messaging laws, with carriers applying strict filters to all SMS messages. This can make it challenging to deliver even critical or time-sensitive A2P (application-to-person) messages.
Before sending SMS messages to any international destination, please familiarize yourself with the local messaging regulations. All programs must comply with applicable laws in the target country. If you’re unsure about any regulations, please contact our support team for clarification.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| International SMS prefix | +971 |
| General Content Restrictions | • Gambling and adult content is not allowed. • All promotional sender IDs must carry an AD- prefix to indicate a promotional message. • Messages should contain the company’s URLs or customer care contact number for recipients to find campaign information. • Suppliers may implement soft URL filtering to protect their direct connections. |
| Sender ID Regulations | • The UAE supports both local and international sender IDs. • Only offers international sender IDs. • Pre-registration required. • Numeric and unregistered sender IDs will be blocked. • All promotional messages need to have the sender ID prefix “AD-“. • As of 1 November 2021, all brands sending promotional SMS messages in the UAE must register their sender names and upload a consent database on the new Consent Management Service (CMS) platform for approval from the operator. |
| Sender ID Documentation Required | Yes |
| Shortcode Availability | N/A |
| Number Portability | Yes |
| Opt-in Requirements | N/A |
| Opt-out Requirements | Yes. An opt-out message must be included in the SMS text, e.g., ‘To opt out SMS N to XXXX’ (English) or XXXX NO?XXXX (Arabic), using 24 characters in English and 17 characters in Arabic. |
| DND Exists | No |
| Time Restrictions | SMS messages may be sent between 7 AM – 9 PM (UAE standard time) only. |
| Local Traffic | All local traffic will require sender ID registration and messages will be routed via UAE local routes. |
Please note: It is essential to recognize that these regulations can change without notice, and it is the customer’s responsibility to stay up to date with any changes. If you have further questions or need clarification, do not hesitate to contact our support team.
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