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Current Regulations of the UAE Telecommunications Market

Federal Decree-Law No. 3 of 2003 (the UAE Telecom Law) established a duopoly for public telecommunications services. Only two operators — Etisalat and du — hold an Individual Licence (Licence) to provide mobile, internet and fixed-line services over public telecommunications networks under TDRA supervision.

  • Article 24: “The exclusive privilege … ceased to exist but subject to High Committee regulations” — in practice, only Etisalat and du may operate on public networks.
  • Article 37: explicitly prohibits providing telecom services over a public telecommunications network without a valid licence/licence.
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What this means for expats and foreign companies

Expats and foreign-owned entities cannot obtain an Individual Licence (Licence) for mass-market public telecom services. You can, however, establish a company in a Free Zone or on the Mainland and operate under a Class Licence (Licence) / TDRA NOC if your activity does not use public telecommunications networks.

Two compliant operating models

  1. Public networks (mobile / fixed / internet) — reserved for Etisalat and du. Expats may only engage via MVNO-style partnerships operated by the incumbents; TDRA does not grant third-party Individual Licences/Licences.
  2. Private and auxiliary telecom services — operate under a Class Licence/Licence or NOC for:
    • B2B cloud solutions (SaaS, enterprise VoIP within an organisation)
    • IoT and Smart-City solutions
    • private networks, VPN, SD-WAN
    • integrations with licensed telecom platforms.

Mainland vs Free Zone: where to register your company?

CriteriaMainlandFree Zone
Operating on public networks❌ Not permitted❌ Not permitted
Class Licence / TDRA NOC✅ Available via TDRA✅ Available via Free Zone Authority (subject to TDRA rules)
B2B services (cloud, IoT, VPN)✅ Allowed✅ Allowed
Government contracting✅ Possible❌ More limited
Speed to launchModerate timelines✅ Typically faster and simpler
Looking to launch a telecom project in the UAE?

MIRAD helps you obtain the right Class Licence/Licence or TDRA NOC, set up integrations and operate legally — without the risk of Telecom Law breaches.

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HowTo: How to launch a telecom business in the UAE (legally)

  1. Define your model: cloud (SaaS/VoIP), IoT, VPN/SD-WAN, data-centre services or integrations.
  2. Choose jurisdiction: Mainland or Free Zone.
  3. Prepare a business plan, network architecture and service description.
  4. Apply for a Class Licence/Licence or NOC with the TDRA (Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority).
  5. Obtain the TDRA NOC or the relevant Free Zone Authority approval.
  6. Set up equipment and integrations (with Etisalat/du where required).
  7. Register employees and configure WPS payroll compliance.
  8. Maintain ongoing compliance (no use of public networks without an Individual Licence/Licence).

What MIRAD does

  • Assess your business model and select the correct Class Licence/Licence or TDRA NOC.
  • Prepare and file TDRA submissions: business plan, IP-network diagrams, security certifications.
  • Arrange integrations with Etisalat / du where applicable.
  • Design and implement IoT, SaaS and VPN/SD-WAN solutions for B2B clients.
  • Draft NDAs and regulatory agreements to satisfy compliance requirements.

Why MIRAD

  • Track record launching IT and telecom projects across 15+ UAE Free Zones.
  • Direct experience with TDRA and local regulators.
  • We protect clients from fines and breaches under the UAE Telecom Law.
  • Hands-on expertise in IoT, cloud and data-centre environments.
  • End-to-end support — from licensing to infrastructure deployment.

FAQ: Telecom services and licensing in the UAE

❓ Can I launch an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) in the UAE?
✅ No. TDRA does not issue Individual Licences/Licences to third parties. Only Etisalat and du operate on public networks.

❓ How much does a Class Licence/Licence cost?
✅ From ~AED 15,000–25,000 depending on service scope and infrastructure.

❓ How long does approval take?
✅ Around 1–3 months including TDRA reviews and clearances.

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