People who use iPhones often wonder if it is possible to FaceTime in Dubai and other middles eastern countries with their contacts without jeopardizing the rules of the government.
FaceTime is banned in Dubai because of the internet and telecom service regulations imposed by the government in an effort to promote and protect the interests of local licensed telecommunication services, prevent the data collection of its citizens, and avoid security risks from potential hackers.
In this article, we’ll explain why FaceTime is not allowed in Dubai and how you can bypass the VoIP restriction by TDRA with a VPN service.
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Can I Use FaceTime In Dubai?
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government, back in 2017, enforced strict internet and telecom services regulations in the country. Due to this, the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority banned different VoIP services in UAE and Dubai.
TDRA now only permits licensed services to work within the country. But since FaceTime has no license to operate in Dubai, you cannot use the app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to connect with your friends and family.
Why Is Facetime Not Allowed In Dubai?
Authorities have banned FaceTime in Dubai to protect the interest of its local telecom companies, prevent the personal data collection of its citizen, tackle the lack of shareable content regulation, and avoid security risks.
Protect Local Telecom Companies
TDRA restricted FaceTime in Dubai to protect the interests of local telecommunication companies and encourage people to use government-approved and regulated services for internet calling and messaging.
Data Collection
Service providers, including Apple, gather important user data, including call duration, location data, contacts, and other personal information.
They often use this data to target users with tailored advertising and promotional offers. Therefore, to protect the privacy of its people in the country, the UAE government has banned FaceTime and other non-licensed VoIP services in Dubai.
Security Risk
Although Facetime comes with end-to-end encryption, it is not always secure, and hackers can easily access users’ personal information. Therefore, the security risk is another reason you cannot use the app in Dubai.
Unregulated Content And Lack Of Moderation
FaceTime also lacks regulation and moderation, due to which harmful content can spread among the app users.
This is especially true for underage users and children in UAE. Moreover, the app has no feature to report an offensive user in case of phishing or cyberbullying.
Can I Use FaceTime With VPN?
You can use a VPN to spoof your location and unblock FaceTime in Dubai and other cities in UAE to connect with your friends and family.
VPN service provides an encrypted server and hides your IP address from your ISP, government, hackers, and corporations. This helps you bypass any restrictions on VoIP services like FaceTime or WhatsApp in Dubai.
The VPN works by creating a virtual tunnel between your device and network provider and connecting you to its online servers, making it look like you are in another country where FaceTime and other services are not banned. It encodes all your data from any interceptions and adds an extra layer of security.
Some common uses of a VPN regarding FaceTime are:
- Improving online privacy and security from any third-party monitoring agency or service.
- Bypassing censorship and geo-restrictions.
- Protecting personal information and data when communicating over public Wi-Fi networks.
- Encrypting FaceTime or WhatsApp calls for clear and private communications.
- Fixing network lags for a better calling experience on FaceTime.
VPN Hypernet For Facetime In Dubai
If you want the best VPN service for FaceTime in Dubai, VPN Hypernet is the way to go! It’s an ultra-fast service that ticks all the right boxes for a fast connection for audio and video calling over the internet.
With VPN Hypernet, you can choose a virtual location from over 50 global servers to use FaceTime on your iPhone. The app also helps you unblock several other VoIP services and streaming platforms banned in Dubai, including:
- Netflix.
- WhatsApp.
- Skype.
- Viber.
VPN Hypernet’s user-friendly interface with a one-tap connection protects your online privacy with robust encryption technology.
The app has a strict no-log policy which means even your internet provider cannot see your network traffic or bandwidth usage while you FaceTime others in Dubai. The automatic kill switch improves your online privacy and keeps your data secure in case of accidental connection drops.
You can try the VPN Hypernet premium services free for 3 days without using any credit card. The plans also come with flexible pricing plans, including:
- Monthly: $8.99 per month (3 Days Free Trial).
- Weekly: $4.49 per week.
- Yearly: $40.99 per year.
- 3 Months: $21.49 per quarter.
The premium version offers features to secure multiple devices simultaneously using your Apple ID and manage your subscription through iTunes.
Moreover, if you face any issue with the connection, VPN Hypernet customer support is top-notch and available 24/7 to assist you.
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve explained whether you can use FaceTime in Dubai and how to activate the app there. We’ve also discussed using a VPN to ensure uninterrupted access to banned VoIP services in UAE.
We hope you found this article helpful in understanding the current situation regarding FaceTime and other VoIP services in Dubai.
FAQs
What Can You Use Instead Of FaceTime In Dubai?
BOTIM and C’ME are the best alternatives for FaceTime video and audio calling, officially licensed by Dubai’s Telecommunication and Digital Government Regulatory Authority.
Some other choices are Cisco Webex, Zoom, Skype for business, GoChat, HIU Messenger, Voico, and Totok.
What Is The Fine For Using VPN In Dubai?
If you are caught using a VPN for any activities deemed unlawful in Dubai, the court can impose a fine on you and put you in jail for some time. This fine can range from 500,000 AED to 2,000,000 AED, depending on how severe the crime is.
Can I FaceTime Without iPhone?
If you don’t have an iPhone or Apple device, you can still join FaceTime calls on Windows or Android through the invitation link sent by the caller. However, you cannot use the app or create a call link on a non-Apple device.