Updated September 2026: the original version of this article made several claims that were too absolute or had become stale. It declared BOTIM the best calling app, described ToTok and C’Me as “TDRA-licensed,” said residents generally needed a paid Internet Calling subscription from e& or du, and presented ten-minute setup and popularity claims without a documented test or source.
The better way to answer this question is to start with the regulator. Voice and video calling over the internet is a regulated telecommunications activity in the UAE. TDRA publishes a current list of VoIP applications that are allowed under the UAE framework, and that list can change.
| THE ROBIUS READ: Do not decide whether an internet-calling app is permitted from an old blog post, whether it happens to connect today, or whether someone calls it “licensed.” Check TDRA’s current allowed-app list. At the time of this September 2026 update, that list includes BOTIM, GoChat, Voico, ToTok, Comera, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Cisco Webex, Slack and Google Meet for meetings, among others. WhatsApp and FaceTime are not on the current TDRA list. |
Why Internet Calling Is Different in the UAE
TDRA defines internet voice and video calling as Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, services. Under the UAE regulatory framework, VoIP services offered to subscribers are telecommunications services and therefore regulated activities.
TDRA says these services can be provided by UAE telecom licensees, in collaboration with those licensees, or by a third party that has obtained the appropriate TDRA approval or exemption. Licensed network operators are required to block VoIP traffic that does not comply with the framework.
That is more accurate than saying an app simply “has a UAE licence.” An app may be available because it is provided through a licensee, operates in collaboration with one, or has received a TDRA approval or exemption.
Which Apps Are Currently Allowed?
TDRA’s current public list includes the following services:
- Microsoft Teams
- Skype for Business
- Zoom
- Blackboard
- Google Meet — meeting use
- Cisco Webex
- Avaya Spaces
- BlueJeans
- Slack
- BOTIM
- GoChat
- Voico
- Etisalat Cloud Talk Meeting
- Matrx
- ToTok
- Empay
- Sanad
- Comera
This is a regulator-maintained list, not a Robius ranking. Being on the list also does not mean every app has the same features, price, privacy model or call quality.
WhatsApp and FaceTime Are Not on the Current List
At the time of this update, WhatsApp and FaceTime do not appear on TDRA’s current list of allowed VoIP applications. That is the relevant regulatory fact.
Robius is therefore removing the older wording that tried to assign a permanent start date to the restriction or predict that it was “not changing.” Telecom approvals can change, and TDRA explicitly maintains an updated list for that reason.
Messaging, photos and file sharing are separate functions from regulated voice and video calling. The fact that a messaging app works does not automatically mean its internet-calling feature is approved under the same framework.
You Do Not Need Robius to Pick a Permanent “Best” Calling App
The previous article called BOTIM the most practical default and said ToTok and C’Me were the next strongest alternatives. We did not publish a reproducible call-quality, privacy, reliability or pricing test that could support that ranking.
BOTIM is on TDRA’s current allowed list and has expanded far beyond calling into messaging, payments and other consumer services. ToTok and Comera are also currently listed. C’Me, which the old article called a TDRA-licensed alternative, does not appear on the current TDRA list we reviewed in September 2026.
Choose among currently allowed services based on who you need to call, device compatibility, privacy terms, accessibility, price and whether the other person can easily use the same service.
Do You Still Need an e& or du Internet Calling Add-On?
The old article instructed every resident to subscribe to a telecom operator’s Internet Calling add-on before using BOTIM. That should not be treated as a universal 2026 rule.
Commercial arrangements and access models have changed over time, and different allowed applications can operate under different models. An app being on TDRA’s approved list does not by itself tell you whether the app is free, requires a subscription, is bundled with a telecom plan or charges for particular features.
Check the current e&, du or app-provider terms for the exact service you intend to use rather than buying an add-on because an old article told you to.
What About a VPN?
Do not use a VPN as a shortcut around the UAE’s VoIP framework. TDRA says licensees are required to block non-compliant VoIP traffic, and its current internet guidelines separately address VPN services that enable users to bypass ISP filtering.
The legal position on VPN technology itself is more nuanced than the old Robius article suggested. VPNs have legitimate business and security uses, while misuse can create legal exposure. We address that separately in our updated UAE VPN guide.
If an App Works, Does That Mean It Is Allowed?
No. TDRA’s own VoIP FAQ specifically warns against using technical availability as the legal test. A voice or video service may connect on a particular device or network even if it is not provided by a licensee, in collaboration with one, or approved by TDRA.
TDRA recommends checking the current approved list or confirming the service’s status with the provider. That is a much safer rule than “if it works, it must be fine.”
A Better Setup Checklist
- Check TDRA’s current allowed VoIP-app list.
- Confirm that the person you need to call can use the same service.
- Check whether the app or your telecom plan currently charges for the feature.
- Review the app’s privacy policy before using it for sensitive conversations.
- For workplace calls, consider whether your employer already provides Teams, Webex, Zoom or another approved service.
- If an app is not on TDRA’s current list, do not assume it is permitted merely because it connects.
The Bottom Line
The UAE does not treat every internet voice and video app as an ordinary unregulated messaging feature. VoIP is a regulated telecommunications service, and TDRA maintains the current list of applications allowed under that framework.
BOTIM is currently on that list. So are ToTok, Comera, GoChat, Teams, Zoom, Webex and several others. WhatsApp and FaceTime are not on the current list as of September 2026.
That is enough to answer the practical question without inventing a “best app,” pretending every option has its own telecom licence, or telling every newcomer to buy a subscription that may no longer be required for the service they choose.
Sources
• TDRA Internet Guidelines: current VoIP framework and regulator-maintained list of applications allowed in the UAE — tdra.gov.ae
• TDRA VoIP FAQ: VoIP as a regulated telecommunications service, who may provide it, and user liability guidance — tdra.gov.ae
The allowed-app list and commercial access models can change. Check TDRA and the relevant provider before relying on a specific calling service.
Robius.news — Dubai, UAE — 2026 | Built to be first. Built to be trusted.
