WhatsApp Calls in Dubai: What's Blocked, What Works and How to Call Home to Israel

Short answer: in the UAE, WhatsApp and FaceTime voice and video calls are blocked, on mobile networks and on most Wi-Fi networks, including hotels. WhatsApp messages, photos and voice notes work as usual. To talk to family at home there are 4 legal options: Zoom, Microsoft Teams, BOTIM and a regular mobile call from your Israeli number on roaming. An hour of Zoom video uses roughly 0.5–1 GB, so plan your data accordingly.

One of the things that surprises Israelis most in Dubai: you land, try to call home on WhatsApp, and the call simply doesn't connect. It's not a fault with your phone or your data plan. In the UAE, internet calling (VoIP) is a telecom service that needs a license, and apps like WhatsApp and FaceTime don't have one. Here's what works, what doesn't, and how to stay in touch with home without surprises.

What's blocked in the UAE and what works?

The block applies to calls, not messages. This table covers the apps Israelis use most:

In practice: WhatsApp text messages, photos, voice notes and documents work as usual. Only calls, voice and video, fail to connect. The block applies on the local mobile networks (e&, formerly Etisalat, and du) and on most Wi-Fi networks too, including hotels and airports. There's no exemption for tourists.

Note: the policy can change, and allowing some apps has been considered in the past. No official change has been announced so far. Skype, once a well-known alternative, was shut down by Microsoft in May 2025, so it's no longer an option.

What does the block look like on your phone?

The call shows as "calling" or "connecting" and never gets answered, or it drops after a few seconds. On the other side in Israel, sometimes a missed call appears and sometimes nothing. If this happens, don't waste time resetting settings: it's the block, not a fault.

How do you call home from Dubai?

1. Zoom or Microsoft Teams

Both apps work in the UAE, for voice calls and video calls. You can open a Zoom meeting with your family in Israel just like a WhatsApp video call.

To make it smooth:

1. Download the app while still in Israel, on your phone and on the phone of whoever you want to talk to, and sign in.
2. Create a fixed meeting with one link (in Zoom: "Personal Meeting ID"), and send the link to the family WhatsApp group.
3. Set a time. WhatsApp messages work, so "Zoom at 20:00" is enough.
4. On the free version of Zoom every meeting is limited to 40 minutes. If the call cuts off, just reopen it from the same link. For long one-on-one calls, free Teams is more convenient.

2. A regular mobile call from your Israeli number

Regular phone calls aren't VoIP, so they aren't blocked. If your Israeli number is active abroad (roaming), you can make and receive calls as usual. The rate depends on your carrier's roaming package, so check in advance how much a minute costs, and also how much it costs to receive a call, because on some roaming packages incoming calls cost money too.

3. BOTIM

BOTIM is a licensed calling app in the UAE, widely used by residents. For a call to work, both sides need the app installed. Its terms and pricing have changed over the years, so check the current situation before relying on it. The local operators also offer licensed calling apps of their own, but for a tourist on a one-week trip Zoom or Teams are simpler.

4. WhatsApp voice notes

If you just want to hear someone's voice, voice notes work as usual. It's not the same as a call, but it needs no preparation. A one-minute voice note uses less than 1 MB.

Which option suits you?

How much data do calls from Dubai use?

Video calls are what drains your data fastest on a trip. The figures below are rough estimates, and actual use depends on video quality and network speed:

If you plan a half-hour video call every day, add roughly 3–4 GB per week on top of your usual use. In Zoom you can cut usage by turning off video mid-call. More tips are in why your eSIM data runs out fast and how much data to buy.

What about a VPN?

Many travelers try to get around the block with a VPN. Using a VPN to bypass telecom restrictions in the UAE is in a legal gray area, and the country's cybercrime law allows penalties for it. We don't recommend it, especially when there are legal alternatives that work: Zoom, Teams and regular mobile calls.

Tips we've learned: mistakes to avoid

• Testing Zoom only in Dubai. After landing, tired and on hotel Wi-Fi, is the worst time to install an app and reset a password. Do one test call while still in Israel.
• Relying on hotel Wi-Fi for video calls. Hotel Wi-Fi in Dubai is usually good, but in the evening it's busy. If the call freezes, try switching to mobile data.
• Forgetting the time difference. In winter Dubai is two hours ahead of Israel, in summer one hour. A call at 22:00 in Dubai is 20:00 in Israel in winter.
• Leaving roaming on for your Israeli SIM without a package. If your data runs through the eSIM, turn off data roaming on the Israeli line so you don't rack up charges without noticing.
• Not telling the family. If your family doesn't know WhatsApp calls are blocked, an unanswered call looks like a problem. Send a short message before the flight.
• Calling your Israeli bank's customer service via WhatsApp. It won't work. Save your bank and credit card company numbers, and use a regular call if you need to block a card.

Before your flight: what to do while still in Israel

• Download Zoom or Teams on your phone and on the phone of whoever you want to talk to, and check you're signed in.
• Check the roaming package on your Israeli number if you plan regular calls or need to receive SMS from your bank.
• Let your family know that WhatsApp calls won't work during the trip, so nobody worries when a call isn't answered.
• Make sure you have internet from landing. All the alternatives, including Zoom, Teams and WhatsApp messages, need a stable connection.

eSIM in Dubai: what it gives you and what it doesn't

It's important to understand what a travel eSIM does: it gives you mobile data from the moment you land, without hunting for Wi-Fi or queuing for a local SIM at the airport. With that data, WhatsApp messages, Zoom, Teams, maps, taxi apps and everything else you need on the trip work. It does not unlock WhatsApp and FaceTime calls: they're blocked in the country, so don't plan your calls home around them.

The eSIM is installed alongside your Israeli SIM, so your Israeli number stays available for regular calls and SMS, such as verification codes from your bank, while data runs through the eSIM. The FlySim eSIM for the UAE connects to the local network; before you buy, check that your phone supports eSIM. Not sure how this works? Read how to use an eSIM alongside your Israeli number and whether WhatsApp and your Israeli number stay with an eSIM. And if you take any medication, go over the guide to bringing medication to Dubai.

Frequently asked questions

Does WhatsApp work in Dubai?

Messages, photos, voice notes and documents work as usual. WhatsApp voice and video calls are blocked in the UAE, both on mobile networks and on most Wi-Fi networks.

Does FaceTime work in Dubai?

No. Both FaceTime audio and video calls are blocked in the UAE. iMessage works.

How do I make a video call from Dubai to Israel?

The simplest way is Zoom or Microsoft Teams, which work in the UAE. Install the app on your phone and on the other person's before the flight, and do a test call.

Do WhatsApp calls work on hotel Wi-Fi?

Usually not. The block also applies to most Wi-Fi networks in the country, including hotels and airports.

Does an eSIM get around the WhatsApp call block?

No. An eSIM gives you data from landing, but WhatsApp and FaceTime calls are blocked in the UAE, so don't rely on them. Use Zoom, Teams or a mobile call.

Is it legal to use a VPN in Dubai?

Using a VPN to get around the call block is in a legal gray area in the UAE, and we don't recommend it. There are legal alternatives that work.

Can I receive SMS from my bank in Dubai?

Yes, if your Israeli number is active on roaming. With an eSIM for data, your Israeli SIM stays in the phone at the same time and can receive SMS.

How much data do I need for video calls in Dubai?

An hour of Zoom or Teams video uses roughly 0.5–1 GB. Half an hour a day for a week adds about 3–4 GB.