WhatsApp Business API Pricing in UAE (2026)
Meta charges per message in the UAE, billed in AED: marketing AED0.1832, utility AED0.0576, authentication AED0.0576 per message (plus 5% VAT). Here's the full breakdown, volume discounts, and the October 1, 2026 changes.
WhatsApp Business API Rates in the UAE (per message)
Meta's per-message rates for the UAE, effective July 1, 2026, from Meta's official AED rate card.
| Category | Rate (AED / message) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Marketing | AED0.1832 | Charged on every delivery |
| Utility | AED0.0576 | Free inside the 24h customer service window; charged outside it. Volume discounts apply. |
| Authentication | AED0.0576 | Charged outside the service window. Volume discounts apply. |
| Authentication-International | AED0.1872 | For authentication messages delivered to the UAE from international senders |
| Service | Free* | Non-template replies inside the 24h window |
VAT: Rates are exclusive of 5% VAT, added on your invoice in the UAE.
*Service is free today, and utility is free inside the 24-hour customer service window; both become chargeable from October 1, 2026. Verify against Meta's official rate card.
UAE Volume-Tier Pricing (Utility & Authentication)
Utility and authentication rates fall as monthly volume grows, up to 25% off. Marketing is not tiered.
| Discount | Utility & Auth rate (AED) |
|---|---|
| List rate | AED0.0576 |
| -5% | AED0.0547 |
| -10% | AED0.0518 |
| -15% | AED0.0490 |
| -20% | AED0.0461 |
| -25% | AED0.0432 |
Tiered rates apply to the messages within each tier. See Meta's volume tiers for exact thresholds.
What It Costs to Send WhatsApp Messages in the UAE
Meta's fee for marketing messages at AED0.1832 each, including 5% VAT.
| Marketing messages / month | Meta fee (AED) | + 5% VAT | With ChatMaxima ($19 flat) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | AED183.20 | AED192.36 | AED192.36 + $19 |
| 10,000 | AED1,832 | AED1,923.60 | AED1,923.60 + $19 |
| 100,000 | AED18,320 | AED19,236 | AED19,236 + $19 |
Utility and authentication cost far less (AED0.0576 each) and are free inside the customer service window until October 1, 2026. Use the pricing calculator for your exact mix.
Setup & Providers for the WhatsApp API in the UAE
Setup fees
Meta charges nothing to set up. Some BSPs add a one-time setup fee. ChatMaxima has no setup fee.
Providers in the UAE
BSPs active in the UAE include Unifonic and global providers, plus Meta Cloud API partners. WhatsApp is widely used for business across the Gulf. Meta's per-message rate is identical across all, only the platform fee differs, and the green tick is free from Meta.
No-markup provider
Meta's rate is fixed, so the cheapest provider adds the least. ChatMaxima is flat $19/mo with no markup.
Get started with ChatMaxima's WhatsApp API, onboarding help included.
How per-message billing works
Since July 1, 2025, Meta bills per message delivered. Utility and service messages are free inside the 24-hour customer service window, and everything is free for 72 hours inside a Click-to-WhatsApp free entry point window.
Read the full per-message model »Changes coming in 2026
From August 1, 2026, AI replies get a new per-token "Meta Business Agent" charge. From October 1, 2026, utility and service messages inside the service window become chargeable.
See the full 2026 changes »Predictable WhatsApp Costs in the UAE
ChatMaxima charges a flat $19/month. You pay Meta's direct per-message rates with no markup, plus the full omnichannel inbox, AI agents, and WhatsApp integration.
See ChatMaxima Pricing Global (USD) PricingPer-message AED rates from Meta's official rate card, effective July 1, 2026. Verify at Meta's WhatsApp pricing page.
WhatsApp API Pricing UAE: FAQs
Meta charges per message: marketing AED0.1832, utility AED0.0576, authentication AED0.0576 (effective July 1, 2026), plus 5% VAT. Service is free today, and utility is free inside the 24-hour service window.
Yes. 5% VAT applies on top of Meta's per-message rates and your BSP's platform fee.
Meta's per-message rate is identical across BSPs, so the cheapest adds the least. ChatMaxima charges a flat $19/month with no per-message markup.
Yes, for utility and authentication messages, from -5% down to -25% as monthly volume grows. Marketing is not tiered.