# Cold Calling Laws in the UAE and Dubai (2026)

Yes, but it's tightly regulated. Since 27 August 2024, Cabinet Resolutions 56 and 57 allow marketing calls only between 9am and 6pm, ban calls to numbers on the TDRA's Do Not Call Registry, and require UAE companies to get prior approval and use locally registered numbers. Fines reach AED 150,000. The same rules apply in Dubai and every other emirate.

Reviewed October 2026. A plain summary for business-to-business calls, not legal advice.

| Rule | Summary |
|---|---|
| Calling hours | 9am to 6pm UAE time |
| Do Not Call Registry | Run by the TDRA. Registered numbers can't be called |
| Approval | Prior approval from the competent authority for companies in the UAE |
| Calling numbers | Local numbers registered under the company's commercial licence |
| At the start of the call | Who you are and why you're calling |
| Fines for calling DNCR numbers | AED 50,000, then 75,000, then 150,000 |
| B2B calls | Not clearly exempt. Take local legal advice |

## Which rules cover cold calling in the UAE?

Cabinet Resolution 56 of 2024 sets the rules for telemarketing, and Cabinet Resolution 57 of 2024 sets the penalties. They were published on 28 June 2024 and took effect on 27 August 2024. They cover marketing calls to landlines and mobiles, marketing text messages and marketing messages on social media apps.

The rules apply to every company operating in the UAE that does telemarketing, including free zone companies, and to individuals who market their products or services by phone.

## Is cold calling legal in Dubai?

Yes, under the same rules. The 2024 resolutions are federal, so they apply in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the other emirates alike.

## What the 2024 rules require

- Make marketing calls only between 9am and 6pm.
- Don't call numbers on the Do Not Call Registry (DNCR), which the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) runs.
- Get prior approval from the competent authority before telemarketing.
- Call from local numbers registered under your commercial licence.
- Say who you are and why you're calling at the start of every call.
- Train callers on ethical conduct and on using the DNCR, and keep records of marketing calls.
- Don't share or trade people's personal data without their consent.

## Do the rules cover B2B calls?

The rules are written around calls to consumers, and how far they reach business-to-business calls isn't settled. The safe course is to treat B2B calls as covered: keep to 9am to 6pm UAE time, check numbers against the DNCR, and stop at the first request not to be called. Take advice from a UAE lawyer before a large campaign.

The resolutions are aimed at companies and individuals in the UAE. If you call UAE businesses from abroad, following the same hours and the DNCR is the safest approach.

## Fines for breaking the rules

Companies that call numbers on the DNCR face a fine of AED 50,000 for a first violation, AED 75,000 for a second and AED 150,000 for a third and any after that. Other sanctions include warnings, suspension of telemarketing and cancellation of business licences. Individuals face fines and suspension of their phone service, rising with repeat offences.

## Can you call a lead who asked you to?

No exemption found: check the DNCR (Not applicable).

- The sources we checked don't describe an exemption for people who asked to be called, so check every number against the TDRA's Do Not Call Registry.
- Marketing calls must still be made between 9am and 6pm, from local numbers registered under the company's commercial licence.

Sources: [Clyde & Co: UAE tightens telemarketing regulations](https://www.clydeco.com/en/insights/2024/07/uae-tightens-telemarketing-regulations-what-you-ne)

## What has changed

- 27 August 2024: Cabinet Resolutions 56 and 57 of 2024 took effect: marketing calls only between 9am and 6pm, no calls to numbers on the Do Not Call Registry, and fines of up to AED 150,000.

## FAQs

### Is cold calling illegal in Dubai?

No, but it's tightly regulated. The UAE's 2024 telemarketing rules apply in Dubai: calls only between 9am and 6pm, no calls to numbers on the Do Not Call Registry, and prior approval and locally registered numbers for UAE companies.

### What are the cold calling hours in the UAE?

Marketing calls are only allowed between 9am and 6pm UAE time.

### What is the UAE Do Not Call Registry?

A register run by the TDRA where people can opt out of marketing calls. Companies can't call numbers on it, and fines start at AED 50,000.

### Do the rules apply to free zone companies?

Yes. The 2024 resolutions apply to all companies operating in the UAE, including those in free zones.

### What are the fines for cold calling in the UAE?

For companies calling numbers on the Do Not Call Registry: AED 50,000 for a first violation, AED 75,000 for a second and AED 150,000 after that, plus possible suspension of telemarketing or loss of business licence.

## Sources

- [Mondaq: New telemarketing regulations in the UAE](https://www.mondaq.com/advertising-marketing-branding/1495836/new-telemarketing-regulations-introduced-in-uae)
- [Clyde & Co: UAE tightens telemarketing regulations](https://www.clydeco.com/en/insights/2024/07/uae-tightens-telemarketing-regulations-what-you-ne)
- [Al Tamimi & Co: New UAE telemarketing regulations](https://www.tamimi.com/news/new-uae-telemarketing-regulations-what-you-need-to-know)

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Cold calling services in this market: https://switchstack.io/cold-calling-services/uae