Selling of phone numbers forbidden, says UAE telecom regulator

Telephone regulators in the UAE have said that it is forbidden to sell your phone number.

ABU DHABI // Your phone number does not belong to you, it belongs to the government, according to local regulators.

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, which manages the distribution of phone numbers, has highlighted that it is forbidden for anyone to sell a phone number.

The authority highlighted that telephone numbers are national resources, and can be changed or withdrawn at any time.

The warning comes as Etisalat and the Khalifa Foundation plan to auction certain “VIP” phone packages with “special” phone numbers and other customer benefits.

“The TRA is pleased that Etisalat is supporting the Khalifa Foundation programme as well as other CSR projects through this auction and we remind all potential bidders that they will be bidding on certain VIP packages and if successful, they will have the right to use the associated special number in accordance with the terms and conditions of the VIP package,” said Majed Al Mesmar, deputy director general of the TRA.

“The winning bidder will not have ownership of the number and will not have the right to sell that number at a later date.”

Part of the proceeds of the auction will go to the Khalifa Foundation to support humanitarian initiatives.