The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is renowned as a global and regional business hub, attracting companies with its favorable time zone, strategic location, and competitive corporate tax advantages.
Many businesses choose to establish themselves in the UAE to tap into international markets and expand their global footprint. On the other hand, many businesses in the UAE rely heavily on international commerce.
However, while the region offers significant opportunities for growth and global trade, it also presents unique challenges when it comes to international communication.
So how do local UAE businesses communicate with customers and business partners in other countries over the phone?
UAE International Calling Restrictions
One of the major hurdles facing businesses in the UAE is the heavy restriction on VoIP services, limited to a few applications like WhatsApp. This makes it extremely difficult for companies to call international numbers using traditional VoIP channels.
As a result, businesses are often forced to rely on the main telecom providers, such as Du and Etisalat, for international calls. These providers typically charge exorbitant fees for international business calling, significantly lowering the return on investment (ROI) for companies that depend on international business.
Some businesses may also consider configuring a VPN tunnel to bypass these restrictions, but this approach carries substantial risks, including potential legal issues and operational instability.
Our Alternative: Local Access Number
Being in the industry for over 28 years, we understand the communication challenges faced by businesses in the UAE. That’s why we have developed a reliable, cost-effective solution: International Calling through a Local Access Number.
How does this work?
- The company sets up an outbound calling plan with us.
- They register their phone number(s) with us.
- We provide a toll-free access number that their users can dial, from one of their pre-registered phone numbers.
- Upon connecting with the toll-free access number, the user then dials the phone number they wish to call.
Our solution bypasses the heavy VoIP restrictions by offering an alternative, legal pathway for international communications.
How Much Does a Local Access Number for UAE Cost?
The pricing structure is straightforward: Outbound calling plan + a per-minute rate (for the country you’re calling) + an additional $0.19 per minute for connecting to the access number.
Here’s an example of pricing for calling the US from the UAE via a local access number:
- Basic Outbound Calling plan – $25
- The per-minute rate for USA – 2.3¢
- The per-minute rate for connecting to the access number – 19¢
So, for example, the $25 Basic Outbound Calling plan would include 117 minutes to call the USA from the UAE ($25 / ($.023 + $.19).
You can find more information on our Outbound Calling plans and country per-minute rates here.
Despite this pricing structure, our rates remain significantly more favorable than those imposed by the local telecom monopolies, ensuring that your international calls from the UAE are both cost-effective and reliable.
Call Outside the UAE Reliably & Cost-Effectively
For businesses operating in the UAE, international and reliable phone service is a necessity as part of growing and expanding globally. However, the strict VoIP restrictions in the region have made it challenging to connect with customers and partners overseas without incurring high costs or resorting to risky workarounds.
Our Local Access Number solution offers a proven alternative, enabling you to maintain seamless, cost-effective connections with your global customers.
Want to learn more about our Middle East calling solutions? Chat with us online or call us at +1 (561) 908-6171. We’re here to help!
