News

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.

Published

2 years ago

April 20, 2022

David Morelo

Skype

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 video and voice call

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 voice and video call

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

c'me voice and video call

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

Abu Dhabi Developer To Build World’s First Healthy Living Island

The exclusive resort will be situated halfway between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and will feature a helipad, 86 residential villas, and 49 apartments.

Published

2 hours ago

April 25, 2024

Nour Nasir

abu dhabi developer to build world's first healthy living island

Abu Dhabi-based real estate developer IMKAN has formed a partnership with the world-renowned SHA Wellness Clinic to construct a unique private island resort at Al Jurf, halfway between Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

The development is known as SHA Residences Emirates and will combine a holistic health resort with 86 residential villas and 49 apartments — two of which will be penthouses. The “healthy living island” will also offer easy beach access, a fantastic climate, and even a former royal palace.

Raed Al Hadad, chief of marketing and sales at IMKAN, explained why the idyllic location was chosen: “We have turquoise water here, cooler temperatures, and breezes. This is the place where the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan used to come and reflect on key policies. This palace is where one of the first talks about the formation of the UAE took place”.

IMKAN is currently working alongside Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism to rejuvenate the historic palace and turn it into a tourist attraction.

Also Read: Abu Dhabi To Develop $1 Billion eSports Island Facility

Construction of the resort will begin in July and should be finished by 2025. The island will eventually be home to a full staff of doctors, therapists, yoga instructors, personal trainers, and world-class chefs. Residents and visitors will benefit from a full suite of services, including wellness programs, detox treatments, spas, and blood tests.

“Al Jurf as a destination has all the potential to promote wellness tourism. People from Saudi Arabia, India, and Russia are just a few hours away from this place,” Raed Al Hadad added.

The exclusive healthy living island will be accessible by road and also feature a helipad. Meanwhile the developers plan to add connections by water from Abu Dhabi and Dubai.