In the UAE, your phone now tells you to stay at home when you're making a call

Ring tones have been replaced by safety messages imploring people to self-isolate

Residents in Dubai can now report any suspicious people or behaviour through the Dubai Police mobile app. AP

If you're making an outgoing call in the UAE any time soon, don't expect to hear a familiar ring tone as you wait for the receiver to pick up.

Instead, service providers in the country have introduced a new safety message that kicks in before your call begins.

"Dear caller, staying at home keeps you and your loved ones safe from corona," the message states in both Arabic and English.

The measure has been adopted by Du, Virgin and Etisalat, according to calls made by The National.

The change is part of an initiative by the UAE's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, which thanked service providers for taking part as it revealed the message was designed to "support current precautionary measures in co-operation with the Dubai Health Authority".

Etisalat has gone one step further and changed its Twitter display name to #StayHome; Du has also been regularly posting updates using the hashtag, while Virgin has opted for #StaySafeStayConnected.

The initiative comes after the UAE introduced increasingly strict measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Public gatherings of any kind have been banned and people have been asked not to venture out unless absolutely necessary.

The total number of confirmed cases in the UAE now stands at 248, with 45 recoveries.

The UAE Attorney General, Dr Hamad Al Shamsi, warned that anyone caught not adhering to the precautionary measures or found to be breaking self-isolation would face legal action.