Page 141 - MOE ENGLISH PR REPORT - AUGUST 2024

“If you receive a call from a company, you have to report to the entity concerned. For example, if it is
related to a bank, you have to approach the Central Bank to file a complaint. If it is related to
investment, securities and commodities, then it is Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA).
And if someone is using his personal mobile number to call you to market his goods, then you have
to report to TDRA,” said Mohammad Al Ramsi, deputy director-general of the telecommunications
sector at the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA).

If a company is licensed by an economic department of an emirate, then customers have to
approach the concerned local authority to lodge complaints, he added.

The Central Bank of the UAE is concerned with all matters related to telephone marketing for the
services of banks, establishments, other financial institutions, insurance companies and related
occupations in the country.

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The SCA specialises in all matters related to marketing calls regarding securities and commodities
trading services in the country. Licensing authorities in the mainland and free zones are also
responsible in their respective emirates for all matters related to the phone marketing of products
or services in the country — except those falling under the jurisdiction of the Central Bank and the
SCA.

Got a sales call from a personal number?

Telemarketers are prohibited from using personal numbers for sales calls. Residents who receive
such calls — from recipients that do not display any company name — can easily report the
violation via SMS, Al Ramsi said.

Here's how: Type "REPORT" plus the mobile number (Example: "REPORT 05XXXXXXX" ) and send it
to 1012.

The UAE Cabinet Resolution No. 56 of 2024, which pertains to the regulation of marketing through
telephone calls, has outlined the responsibilities of the relevant authorities. The Ministry of
Economy will oversee the implementation of this decision and related ones, providing regular
updates to the Cabinet.

The UAE Government laid down new laws for telemarketers in June 2024, putting certain
restrictions such as:

• Calling customers only from 9am to 6pm
• Not calling residents again on the same day if he/she rejects the service or product in the
first call

• Refraining telemarketers from using any measures or tactics to persuade customers to buy
products or services

There are 18 types of administrative violations and penalties that range from Dh10,000 to
Dh150,000 depending on the type and nature of the violation.

https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/uae-to-set-up-platform-for-residents-complaints-against-
unwanted-sales-calls