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Best Alternatives To Skype For Making VoIP Calls In The UAE
Etisalat and du both offer Internet calling plans that cost 50 AED a month plus taxes.
The United Arab Emirates doesn’t tax resident’s personal income, but it does generate a lot of money through the two major telecommunications companies that operate in the country, Etisalat and du, both of which are majority state-owned.
Etisalat and du offer Internet calling plans (ICPs) that cost 50 AED ($14 USD) a month plus taxes. These plans make it possible to make calls over the internet using the following alternatives to Skype, WhatsApp, as well as other popular VoIP apps, which are banned in the UAE.
BOTIM
BOTIM provides a user experience that’s very close to what WhatsApp users are familiar with, and it runs on Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS.
The app is easy to get started with because it automatically imports your existing contacts, bringing you closer to your family and friends.
Recently, BOTIM has introduced a new feature called Prime, which lets users take advantage of discounts offered by some of the most popular restaurants & cafes in the UAE.
HiU Messenger
HiU Messenger is an easy-to-use WhatsApp alternative that you can use to initiate a video or voice call with a simple tap.
You can find the HiU Messenger app on the Google Play Store and the Apple Store. The app is somewhat less polished than BOTIM, but all important features are supported, including the ability to start a group chat with up to 500 people.
Unfortunately, the last update for HiU Messenger was released in 2019, and recent user reviews tell us that there are many things that should be updated.
C’Me
The last one of our alternatives to Skype, WhatsApp and other VoIP apps that we want to recommend is C’Me.
Just like HiU Messenger, C’Me hasn’t been updated nearly as often as it should to keep up with BOTIM — let alone the world’s most popular VoIP apps.
Still, it does let you make unlimited voice & video calls to any destination from the UAE, and that might be enough to justify giving it a try.
News
Checkout.com Set To Launch Card Issuing In The UAE
The payment service provider’s expansion is a first-of-its-kind investment and could reshape digital transactions across the region.
Checkout.com is laying the groundwork to become the first global payments platform to introduce card issuing in the United Arab Emirates — a move that could reshape how businesses in the region manage financial transactions.
The company plans to roll out its domestic card issuance offering in the UAE by 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The launch would give businesses the tools to issue both physical and virtual branded cards. This, in turn, opens up new ways to reward customers, streamline expense processes, and handle B2B payouts efficiently.
Checkout.com’s CEO and Founder, Guillaume Pousaz, revealed the plans during Thrive Abu Dhabi, the firm’s debut conference in the Emirates. Joined on stage by Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA, Pousaz presented to an audience of over 150 partners and merchants at Saadiyat Island. Also in attendance was H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications.
Abbondandolo highlighted the strategic importance of the announcement: “As a global business, we focus on bringing products to markets that our customers want and need. Today’s announcement is proof of our commitment to the MENA region and its rising influence in the digital economy. The appetite for innovation here is real, and we’re proud to be building the infrastructure that powers it”.
One early adopter of Checkout.com’s UAE acquiring services is Headout, a travel experiences marketplace, which recently named the payment provider as its main partner in Europe. The company has already begun card issuing there and is keen to expand that offering into MENA once approval is granted.
The expansion of services in the UAE and beyond builds on Checkout.com’s track record in the region. It was the first global payments firm to secure a Retail Payment Services license from the UAE’s Central Bank and was instrumental in rolling out Mada and Apple Pay in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Also Read: Protecting Your WhatsApp Account From Hackers: Kaspersky Expert Tips
The firm has also been rolling out new products: One of the latest is Flow Remember Me, currently in beta testing. It allows shoppers to store their card information once and access it across Checkout.com’s entire network, potentially cutting checkout times by up to 70%.
Earlier this year, Checkout.com also introduced Visa Direct’s Push-to-Card solution in the UAE, enabling both domestic and international payouts. Its collaboration with Mastercard has grown as well, making it easier for businesses to send funds directly to third-party cards securely and quickly.
With regional tech ambitions on the rise — spurred by initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s 2031 Agenda — Checkout.com sees its role as one of a key enabler. “Our mission is to help ambitious businesses navigate the complexity of payments, so they can move faster, go further, and make the most of every opportunity,” said Abbondandolo. “In MENA, performance is personal. It’s local. It’s built on trust. And when payments perform, businesses thrive”.
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