Did you know that residents and investors in the UAE can now file complaints against unwanted cold calls? New regulations, effective from August 27, 2024, allow the public to report telemarketers who violate the rules set by the UAE government, Khaleej Times reported.
Under these regulations, if you receive an unsolicited call, you can report it to the appropriate authority. For instance, calls related to banking should be reported to the Central Bank, while those concerning investments should go to the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA). If the caller uses a personal mobile number for marketing purposes, the complaint should be directed to the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA). “If someone is using their personal mobile number to call you to market their goods, then you have to report to TDRA,” explained Mohammad Al Ramsi, deputy director-general of the telecommunications sector at TDRA.
To make it easier, you can report violators using a simple SMS. Just type “REPORT” followed by the phone number (e.g., “REPORT 05XXXXXXX”) and send it to 1012.
The new rules also restrict telemarketers from calling outside the hours of 9 am to 6 pm and prevent them from calling the same person multiple times a day. Companies must obtain prior approval for telemarketing activities and provide comprehensive training to their marketers. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in fines ranging from AED 5,000 to AED 150,000, depending on the violation’s nature and frequency.
Khalid Al Mahmoud, director of the Licensing Department at the SCA, encouraged consumers to report unsolicited calls directly on the SCA’s website or via email. “Penalties will be applied if there is a breach of the law,” he said.
These measures are part of the UAE’s efforts to protect consumer privacy and reduce the nuisance of cold calls. The Ministry of Economy is also overseeing the “do-not-call registry” (DNCR), a tool to ensure that residents who opt out do not receive telemarketing calls. Safeya Hashem Al Safi, acting assistant undersecretary for the commercial control and governance sector at the Ministry of Economy, emphasized, “We aim to prevent bothersome marketing calls and ensure companies follow proper guidelines.”
So, if you’re tired of receiving cold calls, know that the UAE government has put in place clear steps to help protect your privacy and peace of mind.