FaceTime in Saudi Arabia

This is not an issue. The reason FaceTime was restricted on your replacement phone was because it was restricted on the phone you replaced.

You have no call to complain about this.

If FaceTime was important to you, you should not have purchased a phone in KSA.

I have this problem too. Worse, it's not because i bought a Saudi phone. I was given a replacement phone by Apple service center when my phone was under warranty. I did ask if there is any Facetime restriction at the point of replacement. The service center said no and i proceed to receive the phone. I only realised this issue a few months later after my warranty had finished.

I had returned to service center and also raised Apple case tickets. To my surprise, all the service center staff and even Apple Support Staff are ignorant of the issue (or pretend to be). They are offering all the usual troubleshooting methods to update new software which will not work. Then Apple Support staff promised to get back to me but failed to do so. Reference Apple case ***. See my youtube video to demonstrate the disappearing Facetime icon. https://youtu.be/d144KepATGo

It seem that there is an issue but Apple is not acknowledging it and still claiming there is no Facetime restriction in all their Iphones.

[Personal Information Edited by Host]

for all meddle east iPhone’s owner without FaceTime

to install FaceTime App must follow these steps:

1- go to settings

2- general

3- iPhone storge

4- search for FaceTime App and press it

5- press on (Reinstall App)

6- go to home screen and search for FaceTime App it’s going to appear in your home screen (and DO NOT OPEN IT JUST YET)

7- you must move it in your dock and press on it to start downloading

8- after downloading is completed it’s going to appear in your home screen again, now you’re done and enjoy (^^,)

I have iphone 7 which I buy from Saudi Arabia. Now a days its showing facetime app like this. Yesterday the Facetime app appeared suddenly. When I click to open its give Alert that this App is not allowed on ur phone. And again Disappeared.

i just purchased iphone X and then direct update to IOS 12 from 11.2

i have the same issue once i reinstall it hide.

i search favtime in home screen then it stuck on WAITING FOR ACTIVATION.

I also try General - about but didnt recive the CARRIER UPDATE message.

can any one help me?

I bought my iPhone 7 Plus last March 2017 while I was still working in Saudi Arabia (without FaceTime activated), and I am already back home here in the Philippines. I was not bother anymore having no FaceTime feature in my iPhone, but after knowing that Saudi Arabia had already lifted the ban on FaceTime, I decided to chat with Apple Support just 2 days ago. I was entertained by several Apple Support Advisors trying to resolve my problem with FaceTime. Several attempts but they were not able to resolve the problem, but one Apple Phone Support Advisor send me the below link:

Get help with FaceTime on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch in Saudi Arabia - Apple Support

Now, the good thing is that, I still have my old Mobily SIM Card with me here in the Philippines though the SIM no longer has network coverage. But i tried to put the old Mobily SIM Card into my iPhone 7 Plus, restarted the phone, and to my surprise, i found FaceTime in my phone settings, though at first, i did not see FaceTime app in my home screen. I tested FaceTime calling from my MacBook to my iPhone, then from my iPhone to my MacBook, and it is working. I then searched for the FaceTime app in the App Store and re-downloaded it because I deleted the app before and it is now in my home screen. I tested it again and it is working. Then I removed the old Mobily SIM Card and inserted my local SIM Card, and to my surprise, FaceTime is still there. Again, I tested FaceTime calling again using my local SIM and it is still working. Now, I cannot be sure if FaceTime will permanently stay in my iPhone, or it might be gone suddenly later on. But as of this writing, I still have FaceTime in my iPhone 7 Plus (bought from Saudi Arabia).

I suggest you may want to try it guys and see if it works for you.

I bought my iPhone 7 Plus last March 2017 while I was still working in Saudi Arabia (without FaceTime activated), and I am already back home here in the Philippines. I was not bother anymore having no FaceTime feature in my iPhone, but after knowing that Saudi Arabia had already lifted the ban on FaceTime, I decided to chat with Apple Support just 2 days ago. I was entertained by several Apple Support Advisors trying to resolve my problem with FaceTime. Several attempts but they were not able to resolve the problem, but one Apple Phone Support Advisor send me the below link:

Get help with FaceTime on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch in Saudi Arabia - Apple Support

Now, the good thing is that, I still have my old Mobily SIM Card with me here in the Philippines though the SIM no longer has network coverage. But i tried to put the old Mobily SIM Card into my iPhone 7 Plus, restarted the phone, and to my surprise, i found FaceTime in my phone settings, though at first, i did not see FaceTime app in my home screen. I tested FaceTime calling from my MacBook to my iPhone, then from my iPhone to my MacBook, and it is working. I then searched for the FaceTime app in the App Store and re-downloaded it because I deleted the app before and it is now in my home screen. I tested it again and it is working. Then I removed the old Mobily SIM Card and inserted my local SIM Card, and to my surprise, FaceTime is still there. Again, I tested FaceTime calling again using my local SIM and it is still working. Now, I cannot be sure if FaceTime will permanently stay in my iPhone, or it might be gone suddenly later on. But as of this writing, I still have FaceTime in my iPhone 7 Plus (bought from Saudi Arabia).

I suggest you may want to try it out and see if it works for you.

They were incorrect.

Sorry to tell that in step no. 4 FaceTime still not available!!!

i don’t know what to do ?

Hi,

Is your facetime still working using local SIM other than Saudi SIM?

Thanks

This link is terminated. How to activate FaceTime? . I can see it in storage.

Carriers are responsible for their own updates - Apple does

not make the update, only provides notification after the

update has been issued by the wireless provider.

There has been no information released as to how the problem

of someone using a restricted iPhone in a non-restricted location

will be addressed.

just search in the search bar for facetime it will be available

sometimes when you try to reinstall it the icon still hidden the your home screen but the app is already downloaded

or keep trying from step 4 and then press (offload app)

and reinstalling it again until the app appears in your

According to saudi telecom authority apple responsible to update the FaceTime feature as its mentioned on the media , I did all steps but I failed . I ask apple to response fast to update FaceTime for saudi iPhone people to see how much they care for us

Apple dose not care about customers in Saudi Arabia . No comments or announcement to iPhone people. They are very proud on FaceTime on the advertising and marketing in the world and when Saudi Arabia permits it they ignored the action. I called it Apple failed to lunch with no strategy. It is sad