Spam & telemarketing
How to stop spam calls in the UAE
Three text messages put you in control: join the national Do Not Call Registry, report the callers, and block marketing SMS. The shortcodes below are national — they work identically on e& (Etisalat) and du.
Start here — three texts, one minute
SMS DNCR to 1012
Join the Do Not Call Registry — telemarketers may no longer call you, even with prior consent. Free, immediate, never expires.
SMS REPORT 05XXXXXXXX to 1012
Report a spam call (put the caller's number after REPORT). Your operator confirms receipt and the company can be fined.
SMS BALL to 7726
Block all marketing SMS (AD- senders). To block one sender only, send B followed by the sender name — e.g. B AD-SHOP.
Also useful: SMS IDNCR to 1012 checks your registry status; UDNCR to 1012 opts back in to marketing calls.
What the law actually says
Since 27 August 2024, telemarketing in the UAE is regulated by Cabinet Resolutions No. 56 and 57 of 2024, enforced by the telecom regulator TDRA. A company that wants to sell to you by phone must:
- Hold prior approval for telemarketing before making any calls.
- Call only between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM.
- Call from a registered business number that shows the company name — never from a personal 05x mobile.
- Never call numbers on the Do Not Call Registry — registration overrides any consent you may have given before.
Violations carry fines from AED 10,000 up to AED 150,000 for repeat offences, and can cost the company its licence, its commercial registration, and its phone lines. Marketing SMS has its own rules under TDRA's spam policy: an AD- sender prefix is mandatory, quiet hours run 9 PM to 7 AM, and opting out must be free.
When a "sales call" is actually a scam
A caller who breaks the telemarketing rules deserves zero benefit of the doubt. Treat the call as fraud, not marketing, if any of these apply:
- The call comes from a personal 05x mobile or a private / international number — licensed telemarketers must call from a registered business number showing the company name.
- It arrives before 9 AM or after 6 PM — marketing calls are only allowed 9 AM to 6 PM.
- The caller won't clearly name their company, or the company changes between calls.
- You're registered on the DNCR and they called anyway — they're already breaking the law.
- They ask for card details, an OTP, your bank login, or a "small payment" — no legitimate telemarketer ever asks for these. Hang up.
If money or bank details were involved, report it to Dubai Police eCrime or Abu Dhabi Police Aman (800 2626) — not just to 1012. Unsure which one you got? Describe the call to Horas and get a read in seconds.
If the calls don't stop
- Complain to your operator first— e&: 101 (personal) or 800 5800 (business); du: 155. Keep the complaint reference number.
- Escalate to TDRA if the operator doesn't resolve it — file at tdra.gov.ae or call 80012.
- In Dubai, you can additionally file at dnd.ded.ae to have your number removed from a specific company's database.
More official reporting channels — bank fraud hotlines, eCrime, Sanadak — are collected on the Resources page.
Horas provides AI-powered risk assessments and curated resources only — not legal or financial advice. Shortcodes and rules above reflect e&, du, and TDRA published guidance as of July 2026.
Got something suspicious right now?
Paste the SMS, link, or email into Horas and get an honest verdict in seconds — free, no login.