However, in the UAE, it is only allowed to use government-approved VoIP to make calls inside or outside the UAE, and the use of an unauthorized VOIP calling system is considered illegal in the UAE. In addition, using a VPN by masking the IP address to access websites/calling apps/gaming apps blocked by the UAE government is also illegal. This is in line with Article 34 of the UAE Cybersecurity Law, which states: “Anyone who uses communication services, audio or video broadcasting channels without a legal right to do so shall be liable to imprisonment for at least one year and a fine of not less than 250,000 dirhams and not more than 1,000,000 dirhams or to one of these two penalties. the computer network or computer means. Installing and using a VPN isn`t illegal per se, as companies often use it to access remote servers. If you use a VPN to spoof your IP address abroad in order to unblock your online banking or access Netflix US, it`s very unlikely that you`ll break the law. This is because you are not using the VPN for illegal purposes. In this roundup, we have mentioned the list of 20 VoIP apps that are completely legal in the UAE. Whatever you plan to do with this information, remember that anyone who uses a VPN to bypass restrictions could face fines of up to AED 1 million or a prison sentence of at least six months. In addition, anyone who uses a VPN for illegal purposes is subject to a fine of up to AED 2 million. They have been warned. Earlier, Etisalat and Du confirmed that Skype – along with Duo, FaceTime, WhatsApp and other similar apps – have been blocked in the UAE.
In response, Etisalat offers internet plans with the BOTIM and C`Me apps as legal alternatives. Even though Skype and other apps have been blocked, it is good to know that there are other ways to communicate with our loved ones. To learn more about the technical and legal issues behind this case, you should also know about the use of virtual private networks or VPNs in the UAE. The good news is that people living in the UAE can legally use certain VoIP apps that have not been blocked by the government. Anyone who illegally uses VoIP calls “may commit a crime,” according to the TDRA. “If the service is not provided by a licensee or approved by TDRA, the authority will require you not to use that software/application because you are legally responsible for such action, and licensees have the right to block your illegal traffic and will most likely block,” the TDRA says on its website. Fortunately, there are legal alternatives to connecting with family and friends. One of them is an internet calling package offered by Etisalat, a major telecommunications company in the UAE.
From AED 50 per month, you can make voice and video calls over the Internet. Skype and other VoIP apps have been blocked in the UAE. The UAE is home to a massive population of expats, most of whom still have family and friends in their home countries. Therefore, UAE expat residents are always looking for affordable options to stay in touch with their loved ones, such as internet calling apps in the UAE. Although unlicensed voice over internet protocol services such as WhatsApp, Skype, and Viber are not supported in the UAE for security and cybercrime reasons, there are several alternative voice and video calling apps that residents can use. MyBayut provides a comprehensive guide on legal calling apps in the UAE and how to subscribe to them! This means that you and Etisalat are required to block traffic from illegal VoIP applications “as it falls under the prohibited content category of illegal communications services.” In addition, Article 15 of the UAE Cybersecurity Law states that “anyone who intentionally receives or intercepts communications on a computer network without authorization shall be punished by imprisonment and a fine of not less than AED 150,000 and not more than AED 500,000, or one of these penalties. Anyone who discloses information obtained by unlawfully receiving or intercepting communications shall be punished by imprisonment for at least one year. » Q: I used a VPN service to make VOIP calls to my home country. Later, my friends told me that using VPN services has legal consequences.
What legal challenges can I face? How much do I have to pay in fines? Am I liable to imprisonment? The law surrounding the ban was made to prevent the sending and receiving of illegal, illegal or “haram” web content. Accessing websites restricted by TRA related to gambling, dating, adult websites or others may cause you trouble. Admittedly, we never found any evidence that anyone was arrested for using a VPN for a VoIP call to the UAE. However, the law is very clear and legally speaking, you can be arrested, fined or imprisoned if you change your IP address to break the law. The use of the virtual private network (VPN) in the UAE is allowed if the VPN is used in accordance with the guidelines of the UAE government and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA).
