FaceTime is not yet available in the United Arab Emirates since Apple launched technology in 2010, but the policy may decrease – at least temporarily. The FaceTime call AP report suddenly works in the UAE on October 10, allowing those who have an application (not available on the Apple Gear sold in the UAE) making high-quality video and sound calls. These features work when talking to people at home and abroad.
It is uncertain if this is a permanent or intentional change. Dubai kicked the Expo 2020 (yes, the city knew it was 2021) on October 1, and will continue until the end of March 2022 – such movements can encourage visitors who want to keep in touch and show what they have seen. UAE telecommunications and digital government supervisory authorities have so far silent about visible changes, however, and the limit seems to be mostly intact for rival services such as Skype and WhatsApp outside the exhibition.
Officials never formally explained the prohibition. Some suspect it is a simple effort to protect the country’s telecommunications benefits, especially in the early years when FaceTime will consume many disproportionate bandwidth. Others, meanwhile, have suspected security problems. UAE is believed to have hacked an iphone to spy on their activities, and direct video chat might make the supervision difficult.
We will not rely on the suspension of this sentence so far. However, if this is a policy change, it can represent the recognition of time change or only a problem of practical needs. Video calls are often the only way to see friends and family during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the UAE ban does not help the problem.