If you want to make video calls via WhatsApp, Skype or Facebook Messenger etc., you cannot do this while in the UAE. Because VoIP services are not allowed in the country unless approved by a licensed provider. This is because the government considers VoIP services to pose risks related to privacy issues, voice phishing, and hacking, among other vulnerabilities you'd expect from any internet-connected service, reducing profits for telecommunications companies.

Emirates Secure Internet Community COO said he likes the idea of free, quality internet calls with VoIP, but not at the expense of security. “As a security and online child protection expert, I am concerned about enabling free encrypted WhatsApp calls.” said. So, we can comment that such services will not be available in the UAE for many years.

Regarding why Skype was blocked in the UAE, Etisalat (UAE-based telecommunications services provider) stated in a statement that the application is a VoIP service that falls into the prohibited classification according to the Regulatory Framework of the United Arab Emirates.

VoIP services must coordinate with the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) to operate in the UAE. TRA stated that there is no problem having VoIP in the country as long as it goes through the appropriate channels.

Since unlicensed VoIP services such as Skype and WhatsApp are blocked in the UAE, residents are asked to use legal alternatives to make video calls. For example, Etisalat announced that its subscribers will be able to make unlimited video calls for a fixed monthly fee using the C'Me and BOTIM applications, which are available for both IOS and Android devices.

So is there no way to use WhatsApp and Skype? Of course there is. In this case, VPN services appear as a savior. You can easily access these calling and messaging services with AvalonVPN. Moreover, it becomes possible for you to have quality communication without worrying about your security, without having to download any additional applications and without paying a high fee.

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AvalonVPN is only available in countries where VPN use is legal.

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