Why FaceTime is not working in UAE

How can I use it there? Is there anyway to install it

Or it has to do with the network functionality and no work arounds can be done

Posted on Sep 10, 2013 9:05 AM

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Sep 10, 2013 9:28 AM in response to Mrmssq

Mrmssq wrote:


But I bought iPhone from etisalat and now I am outside UAE

If you bought the phone in the UAE, it will NEVER (repeat NEVER) have FaceTime.


And, in case it's unclear, "never" means there is not way to put FaceTime on the phone. If you want Facetime, sell that phone and purchase one that has Facetime.


Best of luck.

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Mar 18, 2014 4:01 PM in response to kyounis

Hi, I also speak from a firsthand knowledge. I have an iPhone 5s bought from Apple Store UAE. It was activated for the very first time in a country where FaceTime is not banned, with a SIM card of a company in the same country and FaceTime does not work...


When an iPhone is built, it is initially configured depending on which country it is intended to be sold.

Of course, devices built to be sold in UAE do not support FaceTime and it doesn't matter in which country you activate your iPhone nor the SIM card you use.

You can check your model in 'Settings/general/about/model'.


Sometimes, if they run out of 'official' UAE iPhones, they sell devices with a different regional configuration. You still won't be able to use FaceTime if you use an UAE SIM card. But, if you travel abroad, you will be able to use FaceTime by using a SIM from a company which does not ban FT (maybe restore is required).


So the key is, what regional configuration has been applied to original settings (see model).

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Sep 10, 2013 9:12 AM in response to Sodaboy1978

Sodaboy1978 wrote:


Need to be connected to wi-fi and have internet connection.

FaceTime doesn't require WiFi on the iPhone 4S and 5.


If your signed in it may be possible that the firewall in the router is blocking the port.

No, as noted, it's blocked by the government.

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Why FaceTime is not working in UAE

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