How to report and block marketing calls and SMS in Dubai

• Blocking Calls
• Blocking SMSes
• FAQs

Tired of relentless and annoying marketing calls? Is your inbox full of unwanted SMS? We’ve got the remedies for you. Here’s our guide on how to rid yourself of irritating SMS and block marketing calls in Dubai.

HOW TO BLOCK MARKETING CALLS IN DUBAI?

THROUGH DED’s WEBSITE

• Go to the Dubai Economy’s Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection Sector official website (consumer rights.ae).
• Look for the ‘Submit Complaint‘ tab at the top of the homepage and click it to open a drop-down list. Then, from the drop-down list, select the ‘Disturbing Calls‘ option.
• Enter your name and phone number in the ‘Consumer Details‘ section.
• Enter the company name, phone number and the nature of your complaint in the ‘Consumer Complaint‘ section.
• Add any supporting documentation you may have by clicking the + in the ‘Attachment‘ section.
• Read the ‘Terms & Conditions and tick the on-screen box to confirm you have done so.
• Click ‘Submit‘.

THROUGH THE CONSUMER COMPLAINT HOTLINE

• Dial 600 545 555.
• Select your preferred language.
• Press 1 to lodge a new complaint.
• Describe your complaint.

THROUGH DUBAI CONSUMER APP

• Download the Dubai Consumer app.
• Go to the ‘File a complaint’ option on the homepage.
• Tap on ‘Consumer complaint’.
• Enter your credentials (name, nationality and mobile number).
• Provide the company’s details.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER A COMPLAINT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED?

After a complaint has been submitted, the Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection Sector will conduct a thorough investigation. It may remove the complainant’s number from the database to which the offending company had access.

HOW TO BLOCK ADVERTISING SMS(es) IN DUBAI?

Etisalat and du users can block advertising SMSes in Dubai. Here are the simple steps to follow:

• Type ‘Ball’ in an SMS.
• Send the SMS to 7726.
• You will receive a reply SMS confirming that you have successfully blocked all promotional sender IDs.

FAQs ABOUT HOW TO BLOCK MARKETING CALLS IN DUBAI

IS THERE AN APP TO BLOCK UNWANTED CALLS?

Apps such as Spam Phone Call Blocker and RoboKiller may help block unwanted telemarketing calls; however, we recommend using the official method stated above. It’s safe, secure and effective.

HOW DO I CHANGE MY MOBILE NETWORK WITHOUT LOSING MY CURRENT NUMBER?

Check our guide on Can I change my Etisalat number to du to get all the information on how to port mobile numbers in the UAE.

HOW TO STOP RECEIVING PROMOTIONAL CALLS FROM TELECOM COMPANIES?

As per the announcement made earlier in the year by the UAE’s Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), subscribers can now opt out of getting promotional calls from telecom companies like Etisalat or Du.

ETISALAT USERS

• Etisalat users must type “DNC” and send this SMS to 1451
• After that, you will get a text message from Etisalat stating: “Thank you for registering for Etisalat’s ‘Do – not – call’ listing service. You will not be receiving any further promotional calls from Etisalat from next month onwards.”

DU USERS

• Du users must send a “blank SMS” to 5293
• You will soon receive a message from them confirming your cancellation.

What are the penalties for businesses that violate telemarketing regulations in the UAE?

Since 2024, the UAE has imposed a fine on businesses that make cold calls or marketing calls without consent. Violations such as telemarketing from unknown numbers and excessive follow-up calls can receive fines starting from AED 10k, going up to AED 150k for repeat violations.

That brings us to the end of our guide on how to block marketing calls in Dubai. We hope this process helps make your life a little less stressful.

Worried about the legitimacy of a call you’ve received? Our guide on how to report fraudulent calls in the UAE will be of use. Also, don’t forget that Smart Police Stations in Dubai can be utilised for a multitude of useful services, including reporting crimes and generating Police Clearance Certificates.

Learn more tips about living in the UAE with MyBayut, the region’s biggest property blog.