Al Habtoor Group Chairman Asks UAE Telecom Providers to Lift Ban on Skype and WhatsApp Calls

Chairman of the Al Habtoor Group, Khalaf Al Habtoor, urges UAE telecom providers for the ban on WhatsApp and Skype (and other VoIP services) to be lifted. The billionaire released a statement in his official Twitter account talking about this issue a lot of people are facing in the UAE.

Almost a year ago, a lot of residents were having problems using VoIP calls and telecom providers have confirmed that Skype, WhatsApp and VoIP services are blocked in the country. What are supposed to be FREE services are set up under a packaged monthly packaged subscription through a mobile app.

Also Read: Social Media Rules in the UAE

Khalaf Al Habtoor Urges the Lifting of Ban on VoIP Calls

Al Habtoor mentions that he believes the ban makes UAE lag behind our counterparts in being the best because of this communication problem. Check out his message from his Twitter account:

In a country like #UAE, where we aim to always be pioneers in all we do, #WhatsAppCall should not banned when it is accessible everywhere else in the world. I urge mobile carriers in the UAE to lift the ban, a service free to use in the top nations of the world. #KhalafAlHabtoor pic.twitter.com/Lzx0w24rL5

— KhalafAhmadAlHabtoor (@KhalafAlHabtoor) September 9, 2018

Skype and WhatsApp are the top mobile communication apps that UAE residents use in order to communicate with their loved ones. What was supposed to be a FREE service in the rest of the world, has become a paid one and this is really a challenge to a lot of expats. So this request from this prominent businessman is making a big impact to a lot of people.

Currently, voice and video calls using the internet can be made in the country using VoIP-based apps Botim and C’Me which are offered by the only telecom providers in UAE: namely Etisalat and du.