UAE mobile phone users ask to re-register SIMs in 18 months

On pretext of curbing illegal phones, the mobile phone users in the UAE are asked to re-register their SIMs in 18 months or risk having their telephone services cut off.

Reported by the Arabian Business, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) said in a statement that mobile phone subscribers are expected to fully update their data and ensure that the sim cards they’re using are registered under their names.

All customers will receive notification of the programme either through text message or phone call.

According to TRA, Re-registration prevents any unauthorised or criminal usage of sim cards and helps in curbing legal or social violations besides reducing frauds that have been noticed during the last few years.

Etisalat has 105 registration points across the UAE while du has 46.

Apparently this is an attempt by the government to curb the use of fake / replica cellphones, freely sold across UAE. Rather than stopping the sales, the authorities are punishing the subscribers.