WhatsApp and FaceTime calls in the Gulf: what works, and what to do
Messages go through, the call does not. Across the Gulf, internet calling apps meet different rules in each country.
Pick your country for what works there, what the regulator says, and how people get calls through.
On this page
Choose your guide
Blocked on local networks. The TDRA calls unlicensed apps very likely illegal.
Read the guideFaceTime in the UAEWhat changed in 2020 and 2021, and why calls still fail.
Read the guideWhatsApp calls in QatarNo law against VoIP, yet calls fail on local SIMs.
Read the guideWhatsApp calls in OmanRegulated, not banned: calls work on some networks.
Read the guideInternet calls in the Gulf at a glance
| Country | WhatsApp calls | What the rules say |
|---|---|---|
| UAE | Blocked | TDRA: unlicensed calling apps are very likely illegal to use |
| Qatar | Usually fail | CRA (2017): no law prohibits VoIP for your own calls |
| Oman | Varies | TRA (2025): no outright ban, services are licensed |
| Saudi Arabia | Working | Calls work normally |
| Kuwait | Working | Calls work normally |
| Bahrain | Working | Calls work normally |
Checked 2 November 2026 against the regulators' statements and published reports linked in each guide.
How a VPN gets a blocked call through
The network blocks the call by recognising calling-app traffic. A VPN wraps everything in an encrypted tunnel to a server abroad, so there is nothing to recognise.
- 1Pick a VPN and install it
Choose a provider with an audited no-logs policy and install its app on your phone or laptop from the official store or website.
- 2Connect to a nearby server
Open the app and connect to a server in a nearby country that does not restrict app calls. A closer server keeps the delay low.
- 3Start the call
With the VPN connected, open WhatsApp and call as usual. The call travels inside the encrypted tunnel.
- 4If the call breaks up
Try another nearby server, or switch to a different protocol in the app settings.
Gulf calls: frequently asked questions
Short answers to what readers ask most. Question not here? Write to us.
In the UAE, internet calls through unlicensed apps are blocked on local networks. In Qatar calls usually fail on local SIMs, although no law bans them. In Oman results vary by network. In Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain WhatsApp calls work.
Telecom regulators treat internet voice calls as a licensed service. In the UAE the TDRA requires internet providers to block unlicensed calling services. In Oman the TRA regulates them through licensing with local operators.
Technically it usually does, because the call travels inside an encrypted tunnel to a server abroad. In the UAE, the TDRA says using unlicensed calling apps is very likely illegal, so read each country's guide first.
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