Facts & Figures:

  • UAE population in 2019 is 9.68 million. Where it has the highest smartphone adoption rate in the MENA region. The total number of subscriptions is 9 million for du network and 10.7 million for Etisalat network where the penetration is 228%.
  • According to the data provided by the World Bank there are 211 mobile subscription per 100 people in UAE.
  • There are two mobile network operators: du and Etisalat, each operator has its own guidelines and regulations.

Flows & Rules:

  • In order to host a VAS service in UAE, it requires specific legal documentation. Through partnership with a local specialist, Empello can arrange for assistance, and allow you to focus on your launch.
  • All VAS landing pages are hosted by the operators / aggregators. Merchants need to follow the guidelines in order to host their VAS services.
  • Major aggregators operating in UAE are: TIMWE and Comviva.
  • The subscription flow is mainly an OTP flow on both operators, as at May 2019.
Note
The information above is correct at the time of publication, but seek specific advice prior to launching or running a service.