News
Latest News
news bulletin
Breaking Headlines
Israel-Gaza War Updates
Variety and Tech
Sports News
Middle East News
World News
Lebanon News
Press Highlights
Lebanon Economy
News Bulletin Reports
Other News
Breaking Headlines
Israel-Gaza War Updates
Variety and Tech
Sports News
Middle East News
World News
Lebanon News
Press Highlights
Lebanon Economy
News Bulletin Reports
Beirut
27
o
Bekaa
22
o
Keserwan
27
o
Metn
27
o
Mount Lebanon
21
o
North
27
o
South
25
o
Live
Video
Audio
Schedule
shows
العربية
watching now
Crystal
SUBSCRIBE
Home
Notification
Live
Video
Audio
shows
Beirut
27
o
Bekaa
22
o
Keserwan
27
o
Metn
27
o
Mount Lebanon
21
o
North
27
o
South
25
o
News
Programs
The News
Breaking Headlines
Israel-Gaza War Updates
Variety and Tech
Sports News
Middle East News
World News
Lebanon News
Press Highlights
Lebanon Economy
News Bulletin Reports
Programs
Series
Movies
Documentaries
Variety
Comedy
Talk Show
News Bulletin
Sports
Breaking News
Latest News
Highlighted News
Most Read
Videos
العربية
Watch the latest programs and the latest developments on your favorite screen
Shows
Join millions of followers
Who We Are
Contact Us
Advertise With Us
Careers
Channel frequencies
Privacy Policy
Terms and Conditions
UAE block on internet calls eases for Expo 2020 site visitors
Middle East
30-09-2021 | 04:16
High views
Share
Share
3
min
UAE block on internet calls eases for Expo 2020 site visitors
Authorities have let people make calls over WhatsApp and other internet apps in the grounds of the Expo 2020 Dubai world fair, opening up a chink in a ban that has long frustrated businesses and residents.
Most applications using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services - free internet-to-internet voice and video calls - have been blocked in the United Arab Emirates for years, angering many particularly since the start of the pandemic https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-gulf-telecoms-idUSKBN21A2DR.
On Wednesday Reuters found people were able to make and take voice calls using WhatsApp and Skype from the Expo site, which will open to businesses and other exhibitors from almost 200 countries on Friday.
Expo organizers directed queries about the change to the UAE's Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, which did not respond to requests for comment.
Dubai is hoping to boost its economy by attracting 25 million business and tourist visits to the world fair which has been built from scratch on 4.3 sq. km (1.7 sq. mile) of desert.
It was not immediately clear whether the relaxation will last beyond the six-month expo, or whether it would be applied to other areas of the UAE, a federation of seven emirates.
On Wednesday, the internet services appeared to cut off again outside the site.
The government has in the past said people can only use licensed services such as BOTIM, without spelling out its reasons. Other countries have made similar restrictions for security reasons and to protect the revenues of telecoms providers.
The block on calls using the popular WhatsApp, FaceTime and Skype applications has particularly galled UAE residents who were separated from families and friends by restrictions during the pandemic.
As the disease spread and education and work moved online, the UAE's two telecoms operators - Etisalat and Du - enabled Microsoft Teams over both Wi-Fi and mobile data connections as well as Blackboard, Zoom and CloudTalk.
The block remained on more popular applications including WhatsApp and Skype. Etisalat and Du did not respond to requests for comment.
Expo 2020 Dubai, the first world fair to be held in the Middle East, was delayed for a year by the pandemic.
REUTERS
Breaking Headlines
Expo 2020 Dubai
Internet Calls
Subscribe to our VOD
SUBSCRIBE
Our visitors readings
d-none hideMe
0
World News
2025-05-09
Ukraine hopes new European-led tribunal will sentence Putin
World News
2025-05-09
Ukraine hopes new European-led tribunal will sentence Putin
0
World News
2025-04-06
Russia says captures village in Ukraine's Sumy border region
World News
2025-04-06
Russia says captures village in Ukraine's Sumy border region
0
Lebanon News
2025-04-27
Israeli strike hits Hadath in Beirut's southern suburbs
Lebanon News
2025-04-27
Israeli strike hits Hadath in Beirut's southern suburbs
0
Israel-Gaza War Updates
2025-05-16
Gaza rescuers say 50 killed in Israeli strikes since midnight
Israel-Gaza War Updates
2025-05-16
Gaza rescuers say 50 killed in Israeli strikes since midnight
Videos
d-none hideMe
0
Lebanon News
2025-07-01
Massive fire erupts at unregulated dumpsite in Bchannine, Zgharta district
Lebanon News
2025-07-01
Massive fire erupts at unregulated dumpsite in Bchannine, Zgharta district
0
Lebanon News
2025-06-10
Clash between Lebanese Army and residents of Deir Qanoun Al Nahr results in injuries (Video)
Lebanon News
2025-06-10
Clash between Lebanese Army and residents of Deir Qanoun Al Nahr results in injuries (Video)
0
Lebanon News
2025-06-04
Mexico dedicates garden around Lebanese Emigrant Statue in Beirut to mark 80 years of diplomatic ties
Lebanon News
2025-06-04
Mexico dedicates garden around Lebanese Emigrant Statue in Beirut to mark 80 years of diplomatic ties
0
Lebanon News
2025-05-19
President Aoun to seek Egyptian support for Lebanese Army in detecting explosives and tunnels
Lebanon News
2025-05-19
President Aoun to seek Egyptian support for Lebanese Army in detecting explosives and tunnels
0
Lebanon News
2025-05-15
LBCI Exclusive: US steps up pressure on Hezbollah, Morgan Ortagus details sanctions and vision for Lebanon's future
Lebanon News
2025-05-15
LBCI Exclusive: US steps up pressure on Hezbollah, Morgan Ortagus details sanctions and vision for Lebanon's future
0
Lebanon News
2025-05-11
Kuwait rolls out official welcome for Lebanon's President Aoun – video
Lebanon News
2025-05-11
Kuwait rolls out official welcome for Lebanon's President Aoun – video
0
Lebanon News
2025-05-11
Security incidents temporarily disrupt voting in several Akkar and Minieh-Danniyeh centers
Lebanon News
2025-05-11
Security incidents temporarily disrupt voting in several Akkar and Minieh-Danniyeh centers
0
News Bulletin Reports
2025-05-09
EU ambassador says 'we are not just donors, but genuine partners to Lebanon': Insights from exclusive LBCI interview
News Bulletin Reports
2025-05-09
EU ambassador says 'we are not just donors, but genuine partners to Lebanon': Insights from exclusive LBCI interview
0
Lebanon News
2025-04-23
US envoy Morgan Ortagus hails Lebanese diaspora, says country stands at a crossroads
Lebanon News
2025-04-23
US envoy Morgan Ortagus hails Lebanese diaspora, says country stands at a crossroads
Most read
d-none hideMe
24 hours
7 days
Month
1
News Bulletin Reports
12:55
Syria considers closing its land border: What are the consequences for Lebanon?
News Bulletin Reports
12:55
Syria considers closing its land border: What are the consequences for Lebanon?
2
Lebanon News
07:17
Lebanese Army denies claims of militant infiltration and troop withdrawal in Bekaa
Lebanon News
07:17
Lebanese Army denies claims of militant infiltration and troop withdrawal in Bekaa
3
News Bulletin Reports
12:48
Talks advance in Azerbaijan: Israel and Syria prepare for next diplomatic step with draft deal in hand
News Bulletin Reports
12:48
Talks advance in Azerbaijan: Israel and Syria prepare for next diplomatic step with draft deal in hand
4
News Bulletin Reports
13:00
Maritime demarcation deal: Beirut prepares to host Cypriot delegation for maritime border talks
News Bulletin Reports
13:00
Maritime demarcation deal: Beirut prepares to host Cypriot delegation for maritime border talks
5
Middle East News
05:27
Netanyahu says working with Trump on Arab normalization
Middle East News
05:27
Netanyahu says working with Trump on Arab normalization
6
Lebanon News
09:29
MP Ibrahim Moussawi slams US envoy's remarks, calls for official response
Lebanon News
09:29
MP Ibrahim Moussawi slams US envoy's remarks, calls for official response
7
Lebanon News
08:09
Lebanese Army helicopters return from firefighting mission in Syria's Latakia countryside
Lebanon News
08:09
Lebanese Army helicopters return from firefighting mission in Syria's Latakia countryside
8
Lebanon News
10:19
Kuwaiti Interior Minister arrives in Lebanon to boost bilateral security cooperation
Lebanon News
10:19
Kuwaiti Interior Minister arrives in Lebanon to boost bilateral security cooperation
Download now the LBCI mobile app
To see the latest news, the latest daily programs in Lebanon and the world
Google Play
App Store
We use
cookies
We use
cookies
to make
your experience on this
website better.
Accept
Learn More