The UAE’s new telemarketing regulations are set to come into effect from August 27, as per the UAE Government.

The authority announced new laws for telemarketers in early June 2024, putting certain restrictions on them such as calling customers only from 9 am to 6 pm; not calling residents again the same day if he/she rejects the service or product in the first call; and preventing telemarketers from using any measures or tactics to persuade customers to buy products or services.

Cold callers and telemarketing firms will face financial penalties ranging between Dh5,000 and Dh150,000 for violating the laws.

The UAE Government laid down new laws for telemarketers in June 2024, putting certain restrictions such as:

• Calling customers only from 9am to 6pm
• Not calling residents again on the same day if he/she rejects the service or product in the first call
• Refraining telemarketers from using any measures or tactics to persuade customers to buy products or services

Got a sales call from a personal number?

Telemarketers are prohibited from using personal numbers for sales calls. Residents who receive such calls — from recipients that do not display any company name — can easily report the violation via SMS, Al Ramsi said.

Here’s how: Type “REPORT” plus the mobile number (Example: “REPORT 05XXXXXXX” ) and send it to 1012.

List your number on ‘do-not-call registry’

The UAE’s Ministry of Economy will use the ‘do-not-call registry’ (DNCR) to ensure that residents who have signed up for the service don’t receive telemarketing calls. The DNCR is a directory of phone numbers of consumers who do not wish to get telemarketing calls.