UAE cold callers face AED 150k fines

Cold callers in the UAE face fines of AED 150,000 under strict new regulations announced by the Ministry of Economy, and the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TRA), aimed at protecting people from persistent telemarketers.

From August, companies will be barred from calling customers back if they reject the service in the initial conversation and they cannot phone back if the call is declined or ended. 

Telemarketing calls will also only be allowed to be made from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and companies will need prior approval from authorities and face the threat of termination of operating licences if rules are broken. 

When the new rules come in marketing calls can only be made from numbers of licensed companies as opposed to individual or personal numbers. 

Customers can file a complaint if any of the new rules are broken.

The rules apply to all companies in the UAE, including those in free zones.