In this article 7 sections
To send bulk WhatsApp messages in the UAE, format numbers as 971 plus the mobile number without the leading 0, write in Arabic and English, send between 9 am and 6 pm, and message only people who agreed to hear from you. LeadTrapper sends from your own number for $50 a year, about AED 184.
- UAE mobile numbers start with 05 locally; for WhatsApp, drop the 0 and add 971: 050 123 4567 becomes 971501234567.
- Cabinet Resolution No. 56 of 2024 allows marketing calls only between 9 am and 6 pm, and law firms read its rules as covering marketing messages too.
- Write in Arabic and English; most UAE customers read one or the other, and many read both.
- Some sectors have their own ad rules: a Trakheesi permit for Dubai property, the DHA standards for health, and no fake discounts under the consumer law.
- LeadTrapper costs $50 a year, about AED 184 at the dirham's fixed rate, with no per-message fees.
In the UAE, customers expect businesses to be on WhatsApp: a restaurant in Deira, a property agent in Dubai Marina, a clinic in Abu Dhabi. Sending one offer to all your customers saves hours, but the UAE also has clear rules on marketing messages. This guide covers the 971 number format, Arabic and English messages, the telemarketing rules, sector permits and timing, so your campaigns help your business instead of putting your number at risk.
Format UAE Numbers Correctly
UAE mobile numbers are written locally with a 0 (050, 052, 054, 055, 056, 058). For WhatsApp, drop the 0 and add the country code 971:
| In your sheet | For WhatsApp |
|---|---|
| 050 123 4567 | 971501234567 |
| +971 55 987 6543 | 971559876543 |
| 00971 52 765 4321 | 971527654321 |
The free WhatsApp number formatter fixes a whole column at once. In LeadTrapper, Check Numbers adds 971 to local numbers when you choose the UAE, and removes numbers that aren’t on WhatsApp before you send.
Arabic and English Messages
Many UAE customers read Arabic, many read English, and many read both. Writing both in one message reaches everyone:
مرحباً {{name}}، عروض نهاية الأسبوع وصلت إلى فرعنا في {{area}}: خصم 20% حتى يوم الأحد. أرسل "نعم" لحجز طلبك.
Hi {{name}}, our {{area}} branch has 20% off until Sunday. Reply YES to reserve.
Send your first UAE campaign free for 14 days
Write two or three versions so not every customer gets the same words, as the WhatsApp spintax guide explains, and add the Arabic replies (نعم, توقف) to your auto reply rules.
The UAE Rules for Marketing Messages
- Telemarketing rules. Cabinet Resolution No. 56 of 2024 applies to every UAE-licensed company, free zones included. Its rules include marketing calls only between 9 am and 6 pm, respect for the Do Not Call Register, and no pressure on customers. Law firms such as Al Tamimi read its definition as covering marketing messages as well as calls, so keep campaigns inside that window.
- Consent and opt-out. WhatsApp's business messaging policy asks businesses to message only people who gave their number and agreed to be contacted, and to honour every request to stop. Add "Reply STOP to stop offers" and keep a do-not-send list.
- No misleading offers. Under the UAE consumer protection law, advertising fake or untrue discounts counts as misleading advertising.
- Photos of people. Sharing someone's photo without consent can breach the privacy provisions of the cybercrime law. Use customer photos only with written consent.
This is a summary, not legal advice.
Sector Rules
- Property in Dubai: a Trakheesi permit number on every listing ad. See WhatsApp marketing for real estate.
- Clinics: no diagnoses or treatments in messages, and the DHA advertising standards for promotions. See WhatsApp appointment reminders.
- Salons: no laser or injectables on a beauty licence, and no fake discounts. See salon promotion messages.
- Restaurants: no alcohol offers on the WhatsApp Business app, and no rewards for reviews. See WhatsApp marketing for restaurants.
When to Send
- Working hours. Between 9 am and 6 pm, which fits the telemarketing rules and gets replies while your team is in.
- Ramadan. Daily routines shift around iftar and suhoor. Send in the afternoon, and plan Eid offers a week ahead. The Ramadan templates for customers have the 2027 dates.
- Payday and weekends. Offers before the weekend and around the end of the month, when many salaries arrive, tend to land well.
- Pause hours. Set pause hours in LeadTrapper so nothing goes out at night, even from a campaign that started late.
Send Your First Campaign
- Open Check Numbers, upload your Excel list and choose the UAE. Local numbers get 971; numbers without WhatsApp are removed.
- Press Send messages to these: the list moves to Send Bulk Messages with names from your file.
- Write the message in Arabic and English, with codes from your columns such as
{{area}}. - Choose the Safe speed, set pause hours from 6 pm, and press Start Sending or Send Later.
LeadTrapper costs $50 a year, about AED 184 at the dirham’s fixed rate of 3.6725 to the dollar, with no per-message fees. For what other tools cost, see the guide to WhatsApp bulk sender prices. To build a list of businesses in Dubai, the Dubai lead generation guide shows the Google Maps scraper at work. Selling across the border too? See the bulk WhatsApp guide for Saudi Arabia.
Sources
- Al Tamimi & Company. New UAE telemarketing regulations (Cabinet Resolution No. 56 of 2024).
- CMS. The UAE's new consumer protection landscape (Federal Law No. 15 of 2020).
- Khaleej Times. New UAE cybercrime law: fines for taking photos of people without consent.
- WhatsApp. WhatsApp Business Messaging Policy, updated 23 September 2026.
The WhatsApp bulk sender is part of LeadTrapper for Windows, which costs $50 a year with a 14-day free trial. LeadTrapper is not affiliated with or endorsed by WhatsApp.
Before you send: warm up new or quiet numbers first with the WhatsApp warmer (LeadTrapper's Account Warmer), which runs in the same app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Marketing on WhatsApp is common in the UAE, but it comes with rules. Cabinet Resolution No. 56 of 2024 regulates telemarketing, with marketing calls only between 9 am and 6 pm, respect for the Do Not Call Register and no pressure on customers; law firms read it as covering marketing messages too. Message people who agreed to hear from you and let them opt out. This is not legal advice.
Drop the leading 0 and add 971: 050 123 4567 becomes 971501234567, and 055 987 6543 becomes 971559876543. In LeadTrapper's Check Numbers, choose the UAE and local numbers get 971 added automatically.
Between 9 am and 6 pm on working days, which also fits the telemarketing rules. In Ramadan, people's days shift; offers about iftar and suhoor plans work best sent in the afternoon, and Eid offers a week before Eid.
LeadTrapper is $50 a year, about AED 184, with no per-message fees. Official API platforms charge a monthly plan plus Meta's fee for every marketing message, which depends on the country.
About LeadTrapper
LeadTrapper is a Windows app for finding business leads and contacting them on WhatsApp. It collects business contacts from Google Maps, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn and business websites, checks which numbers are on WhatsApp with its Number Filter, and sends personalised campaigns with automatic delays from one or more WhatsApp accounts. It also has a chatbot, a shared inbox for every account, and Store Orders for online shops. It installs from the Microsoft Store, and the full app is free for 14 days, then $50 a year. Free web tools, browser extensions and a Wix app are listed on the Free Tools page.
Send Your Next UAE Offer in Arabic and English
LeadTrapper for Windows sends WhatsApp campaigns from your own UAE numbers, with pause hours and safe pacing. $50/year (about AED 184), 14-day free trial.
