Your complete guide to TDRA in the UAE
Telecommunications and digital regulatory authorities are crucial for a healthy digital landscape in a country. They ensure fair competition among service providers, protect consumers and promote technology advancements. The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) in UAE plays a similar role.
TDRA plays a vital role in supporting the government’s digital transformation efforts. This guide explains its initiative and services in more detail.
An Overview of TDRA UAE
Established under Federal Law by Decree No. 3 of 2003, the Telecommunication and Digitial Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) oversees the telecommunications sector and all licences of the UAE. It organises various tasks for the UAE’s telecommunications and information technology sectors. Its reach extends beyond the UAE’s borders, as it represents the country in international organisations like the UN’s International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Council.
Additionally, they hold memberships in regional groups focused on telecommunications, such as the Arab Regulators Network (AREGNET) and the Arab Spectrum Management Group (ASMG), as well as the GCC Telecommunications Office. Within the UAE, TDRA plays a central role, as described in the following details:
- Monitor competition within the telecom sector
- Approve telecommunications equipment
- Develop and implement the National Numbering Plan, the National Spectrum Plan and the Number Portability Policy
- Coordinate radio frequency issues nationally, regionally, and internationally
- Manage internet networks
- Manage radio frequencies
- Issue authorisations for spectrum frequency and wireless equipment use
- Develop the telecom and IT sector through various initiatives
Initiatives Offered by Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority
From customer happiness to cyber security, TDRA UAE has introduced hundreds of initiatives to innovate and streamline telecommunications and digital services offered by the government.
Here are some of the popular initiatives taken by TDRA UAE:
aeDomain: The .ae Domain Administration (.aeDA) acts as the governing body for the UAE’s internet domain names. They establish and enforce all policies related to the operation of both “.ae” and “.امارات” (dotEmarat). Additionally, they oversee the entire registry system that manages the registration and administration of these domain names.
National Cybersecurity Strategy: Create a safe and resilient cyber infrastructure in the UAE that enables citizens to fulfil their aspirations and empowers businesses to thrive.
Hesabati: This initiative allows subscribers to see all the mobile and fixed-line phone numbers linked to their Emirates ID with any telecom service provider in the UAE. This transparency enables subscribers to identify any unauthorised numbers registered under their name, helping to prevent fraud and misuse.
Kashif: To enhance customer experience and align with global best practices, TDRA UAE has collaborated with service providers to launch the “Kashif” feature. This innovative service displays the caller’s name instead of just the number on the recipient’s phone screen, even for unknown contacts. This allows users to make informed decisions about answering calls and provides greater transparency within the telecommunications sector.
The UAE Hackathon: Fulfilling its social responsibility and commitment to building a smart federal government, TDRA launched the UAE Hackathon “Data for Happiness and Well-being.” This initiative signifies their focus on empowering the public to use data for positive social change.
You can visit the TDRA official website to learn about the other initiatives.
TRDA UAE Services
The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA)—Dubai offers a wide range of services to individuals, businesses, and government entities.
Let’s take a look at these services:
Services for Individuals
As an individual, you can avail the following services from TRDA AUE:
- Inquiry about TDRA’s services or initiatives
- Submit a suggestion about TDRA’s services or initiatives
- Complaint about TDRA
- Dispute resolution with service providers
- Customs release permit for telecom devices
- Block or unblock websites
- Issue wireless authorisations
- Modify wireless authorisation
- Renew wireless authorisation
- Cancel wireless authorisation
- NOC for practicing e-activity
Services for Businesses
In addition to the services offered to individuals, businesses can apply for additional services like:
- Program Making and Special Events (PMSE)
- Internet of Things services registration
- Request for linking to UAE PASS
- Apply, modify, renew and cancel SIM card point-of-sale registration
- Allocate number resources
- Ex-post competition complaints
- Price Control Request (PCR)
- Public lands allocation recommendation
- Request to resolve interconnection disputes between licence holders
- Return number resources
- License of Certification Service Provider (CSP)
- Apply or renew notification of foreign certificate services provider
- Accredited domain registrar licence
- Renew the licence of accredited domain registrars
- Accredited registrar account top-up service
- Accredited registrar technical support service
- Renew the licence of the certification service provider
- Register, modify, renew and cancel registration of telecom supplier
- TDRA supplier registration
- Renew TDRA supplier registration
- Electronic invoicing system
- Equipment registration
- Renewal of registration of telecommunications equipment
- Modification of telecommunications equipment type approval
Services for Government Agencies
Other than the services offered to individuals, government agencies or entities in the UAE are eligible to apply for the following services offered by the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) – Dubai:
- Request exception from blocking system
- Social media support
- Program Making and Special Events (PMSE)
- Internet of Things services registration
- Providing cloud infrastructure (IaaS)
- Email as a service
- Activate a government service on the federal network
- Network technical support service
- Data backup (BaaS)
- Disaster recovery as a service
- Government Service Bus (GSB)
- Technical consultancy service for government entities
- mSurvey
- Information security awareness sessions
- Private dedicated connectivity
- Request to provide digital participation tools
- High-performance internet gateway
- Request for linking to UAE PASS
- Malware analysis
- Endpoint protection
- Phishing assessment
- Report a cyber incident
- Penetration testing
- Digital forensics analysis
- Detecting security vulnerabilities
- Providing a Security Incident Management System (SIEM)
- UX experience testing – UX Lab
TDRA services are only available through UAE PASS in addition to the official website.
FAQs About TDRA
Who are the Telecommunications Licensees in the UAE?
The telecommunications licensees are the following:
- The Emirates Telecommunications Corporation – Etisalat
- Emirates Integrated Telecommunication Company PJSC – du
How can I contact TDRA?
The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority contact details are as follows:
- Toll-free number: +971-800-12
- International calls: +971-4-777-4444
- Fax: +971-2-777-2229
- Email: Info@tdra.gov.ae
What is the role of TDRA in the UAE?
TDRA strives to make the UAE’s ICT sector a global leader and create an ideal environment that fosters competition, fair access to infrastructure and efficient resource use by implementing best practices across the board.
How can I block marketing SMS in Dubai?
Receiving random marketing calls and seeing your inbox pile up with promotional messages can be extremely irritating. To avoid these unwanted calls and texts, read our guide on how to report and block marketing calls and SMS in Dubai.
With this, we reach the end of our guide to UAE’s Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority. You can also read our profile on UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UAE’s Ministry of Community Development.
