The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) has issued Dh19.19 million in fines for telemarketing violations in the UAE, with 9,433 personal mobile numbers disconnected as the crackdown on illegal cold-calling intensifies.
The authority recorded 3,301 violations against individuals as of June 2026. A further 92,748 numbers were flagged by the public during the same period, leading to the disconnections.
What the penalties mean for individuals using personal numbers
Personal mobile numbers are reserved for personal use under the regulations. Anyone caught making marketing calls from a personal number faces an initial fine of Dh5,000 and suspension of all phone numbers registered under their name until the penalty is paid.
Under Cabinet Resolution No. 57 of 2024, a second violation within 30 days carries a Dh20,000 fine, and all fixed and mobile numbers registered under that person’s name are disconnected for three months. Repeat offenders can face fines rising to Dh50,000 and a 12-month ban from receiving services from UAE telecom operators.
‘TDRA continues its efforts to combat unwanted marketing calls, promoting compliance and protecting the privacy of individuals,’ the authority said.
How the rules apply to companies
The underlying framework, Cabinet Resolution No. 56 of 2024, was published in the Official Gazette on 28 June 2024 and came into force on 27 August 2024. It covers marketing calls, SMS messages, and social media outreach made for commercial purposes.
Licensed telemarketing firms must restrict calls to between 9am and 6pm, may not follow up after a consumer has declined a product, and are prohibited from using pressure tactics.
Companies that operate without prior approval from the competent authority face fines set out in Table 1 of Cabinet Resolution No. 57 of 2024: Dh75,000 for a first offence, Dh100,000 for a second, and Dh150,000 for a third. Firms also risk partial or full suspension of their activities, licence cancellation, and disconnection from telecommunications services for up to a year.
The scale of enforcement has grown sharply. In late 2024, the TDRA reported Dh3.8 million in fines and more than 2,000 violations shortly after the regulations took effect. By mid-2026, the total had reached Dh19.19 million across 3,301 violations.
How to report a violation or opt out
Residents can register for the Do Not Call Registry (DNCR) by sending the letters ‘DNCR’ by SMS to 2211. Numbers on the registry may not be contacted by licensed telemarketing companies; firms that call a listed number face fines starting at Dh50,000 for a first breach.
To report an unwanted call, send the caller’s number by SMS to the same shortcode, 2211. The TDRA provides a dedicated online portal where individuals found in violation can pay applicable penalties.
A background guide published by Legal 500 notes that the telemarketing definition in Cabinet Resolution No. 56 explicitly includes marketing SMS and social media messages, extending the rules beyond phone calls alone. A separate overview by Trench and Associates DMCC notes the regulations also require licensed firms to provide formal training for marketers on professional conduct standards.
The TDRA has not announced the next formal enforcement review date, but the June 2026 figures are the most recently published totals as of 7 August 2026.
