Many businesses use apps to reach customers, but it’s not always easy to tell if a message is actually legitimate. One thing changes from April 30: banks in the UAE won’t reach out to you on messaging apps like WhatsApp anymore.
The Central Bank of the UAE has ordered all licensed financial institutions to stop using such channels for any kind of customer communication. Banks can no longer:
- request or share your personal or banking details
- send verification codes or OTPs
- process transactions
- handle service requests
Banks, insurers, exchange houses, and finance companies must follow the rule and confirm compliance by April 30. If a message on WhatsApp or other platform comes after this date, it isn’t coming from your bank.
Customers are already being informed about the changes through SMS, email, and official apps.
Messaging platforms often make scams easier to pull off, including fraud, identity theft, and account takeovers. Another related concern: customer data is stored outside the UAE. That won’t be the case anymore.
The change follows earlier steps in the same direction. Last year, UAE banks stopped sending one-time passwords (OTP) via SMS and email, moving to in-app verification instead.
