SMS Country Information Guide: Middle East

Bahrain

Best Messaging Channels by Use Case (Bird's Recommendations)

• Transactional SMS: Alphanumeric Sender ID (e.g., "YourBrand")

• Promotional SMS: Alphanumeric Sender ID (e.g., "YourBrand")

• Two-Way Conversations: WhatsApp (You can use your existing number or get a new one from Bird)

Sender Types Supported

• Alphanumeric Sender ID (Business names like "Bird" or "Netflix" that send one-way messages): Yes

• Bahrain Phone Number: Yes

• Bahrain Short Code: Yes

• International Phone Number: Yes

• Generic Sender ID (Sender IDs that don't clearly identify your brand): No

Restrictions

• Operator Registration Required: No

• Generic URL Shortening: Yes

• Quiet Hours/Do Not Disturb: No

Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations

Iran

Best Messaging Channels by Use Case (Bird's Recommendations)

• Transactional SMS: Alphanumeric Sender ID (e.g., "YourBrand")

• Promotional SMS: Alphanumeric Sender ID (e.g., "YourBrand")

• Two-Way Conversations: WhatsApp (You can use your existing number or get a new one from Bird)

Sender Types Supported

• Alphanumeric Sender ID (Business names like "Bird" or "Netflix" that send one-way messages): Yes

• Iran Phone Number: No

• Iran Short Code: No

• International Phone Number: No

• Generic Sender ID (Sender IDs that don't clearly identify your brand): No

Restrictions

• Operator Registration Required: Yes

• Generic URL Shortening: No

• Quiet Hours/Do Not Disturb: No

Additional Notes: Sender registration is mandatory on all Iran networks

Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations

Iraq

Best Messaging Channels by Use Case (Bird's Recommendations)

• Transactional SMS: Alphanumeric Sender ID (e.g., "YourBrand")

• Promotional SMS: Alphanumeric Sender ID (e.g., "YourBrand")

• Two-Way Conversations: WhatsApp (You can use your existing number or get a new one from Bird)

Sender Types Supported

• Alphanumeric Sender ID (Business names like "Bird" or "Netflix" that send one-way messages): Yes

• Iraq Phone Number: Yes

• Iraq Short Code: Yes

• International Phone Number: Yes

• Generic Sender ID (Sender IDs that don't clearly identify your brand): No

Restrictions

• Operator Registration Required: No

• Generic URL Shortening: Yes

• Quiet Hours/Do Not Disturb: No

Additional Notes: Zain network does not support numeric senders

Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations

Israel

Best Messaging Channels by Use Case (Bird's Recommendations)

• Transactional SMS: Alphanumeric Sender ID (e.g., "YourBrand")

• Promotional SMS: Alphanumeric Sender ID (e.g., "YourBrand")

• Two-Way Conversations: WhatsApp (You can use your existing number or get a new one from Bird)

Sender Types Supported

• Alphanumeric Sender ID (Business names like "Bird" or "Netflix" that send one-way messages): Yes

• Israel Phone Number: Yes

• Israel Short Code: Yes

• International Phone Number: Yes

• Generic Sender ID (Sender IDs that don't clearly identify your brand): No

Restrictions

• Operator Registration Required: No

• Generic URL Shortening: No (Only branded URL shortening like yourbrand.link is allowed)

• Quiet Hours/Do Not Disturb: No

Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations

Jordan

Best Messaging Channels by Use Case (Bird's Recommendations)

• Transactional SMS: Alphanumeric Sender ID (e.g., "YourBrand")

• Promotional SMS: Alphanumeric Sender ID (e.g., "YourBrand")

• Two-Way Conversations: WhatsApp (You can use your existing number or get a new one from Bird)

Sender Types Supported

• Alphanumeric Sender ID (Business names like "Bird" or "Netflix" that send one-way messages): Yes

• Jordan Phone Number: Yes

• Jordan Short Code: Yes

• International Phone Number: Yes

• Generic Sender ID (Sender IDs that don't clearly identify your brand): No

Restrictions

• Operator Registration Required: No

• Generic URL Shortening: Yes

• Quiet Hours/Do Not Disturb: No

Additional Notes:

• Promotional traffic: Only allowed from 7AM to 9PM local time

• SMS traffic is divided into local/international and transactional/promotional

• Two-way SMS is not available

• Gambling, betting, spam, loan traffic, crypto, forex, and adult content are likely to be blocked

Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations

Kuwait

Best Messaging Channels by Use Case (Bird's Recommendations)

• Transactional SMS: Alphanumeric Sender ID (e.g., "YourBrand")

• Promotional SMS: Alphanumeric Sender ID (e.g., "YourBrand")

• Two-Way Conversations: WhatsApp (You can use your existing number or get a new one from Bird)

Sender Types Supported

• Alphanumeric Sender ID (Business names like "Bird" or "Netflix" that send one-way messages): Yes

• Kuwait Phone Number: No

• Kuwait Short Code: No

• International Phone Number: No

• Generic Sender ID (Sender IDs that don't clearly identify your brand): No

Restrictions

• Operator Registration Required: Yes

• Generic URL Shortening: No

• Quiet Hours/Do Not Disturb: Yes (Monday-Sunday 20:00-09:00)

Additional Notes:

• STC network additionally supports local/international numeric and short code senders

• Sender registration is mandatory on all networks except STC

Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations

Lebanon

Best Messaging Channels by Use Case (Bird's Recommendations)

• Transactional SMS: Alphanumeric Sender ID (e.g., "YourBrand")

• Promotional SMS: Alphanumeric Sender ID (e.g., "YourBrand")

• Two-Way Conversations: WhatsApp (You can use your existing number or get a new one from Bird)

Sender Types Supported

• Alphanumeric Sender ID (Business names like "Bird" or "Netflix" that send one-way messages): Yes

• Lebanon Phone Number: No

• Lebanon Short Code: No

• International Phone Number: No

• Generic Sender ID (Sender IDs that don't clearly identify your brand): No

Restrictions

• Operator Registration Required: No

• Generic URL Shortening: No (Only branded URL shortening like yourbrand.link is allowed)

• Quiet Hours/Do Not Disturb: No

Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations

Oman

Best Messaging Channels by Use Case (Bird's Recommendations)

• Transactional SMS: Alphanumeric Sender ID (e.g., "YourBrand")

• Promotional SMS: Alphanumeric Sender ID (e.g., "YourBrand")

• Two-Way Conversations: WhatsApp (You can use your existing number or get a new one from Bird)

Sender Types Supported

• Alphanumeric Sender ID (Business names like "Bird" or "Netflix" that send one-way messages): Yes

• Oman Phone Number: No

• Oman Short Code: No

• International Phone Number: No

• Generic Sender ID (Sender IDs that don't clearly identify your brand): No

Restrictions

• Operator Registration Required: Yes

• Generic URL Shortening: No

• Quiet Hours/Do Not Disturb: No

Additional Notes:

• This market has Local and International traffic segmentation

• Sender registration is mandatory for all Oman networks

• Letter of Authorization (LOA) is required for sender ID registration only for Local traffic

Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations

Qatar

Best Messaging Channels by Use Case (Bird's Recommendations)

• Transactional SMS: Alphanumeric Sender ID (e.g., "YourBrand")

• Promotional SMS: Alphanumeric Sender ID (e.g., "YourBrand")

• Two-Way Conversations: WhatsApp (You can use your existing number or get a new one from Bird)

Sender Types Supported

• Alphanumeric Sender ID (Business names like "Bird" or "Netflix" that send one-way messages): Yes (Alpha only, no numbers)

• Qatar Phone Number: No

• Qatar Short Code: No

• International Phone Number: No

• Generic Sender ID (Sender IDs that don't clearly identify your brand): No

Restrictions

• Operator Registration Required: Yes

• Generic URL Shortening: No

• Quiet Hours/Do Not Disturb: No

Additional Notes:

• This market has Local and International traffic segmentation

• Sender registration is mandatory for all Qatar networks

• No Objection Certificate (NOC) is required for sender ID registration

Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations

Saudi Arabia

Best Messaging Channels by Use Case (Bird's Recommendations)

• Transactional SMS: Alphanumeric Sender ID (e.g., "YourBrand")

• Promotional SMS: Alphanumeric Sender ID (e.g., "YourBrand")

• Two-Way Conversations: WhatsApp (You can use your existing number or get a new one from Bird)

Sender Types Supported

• Alphanumeric Sender ID (Business names like "Bird" or "Netflix" that send one-way messages): Yes

• Saudi Arabia Phone Number: No

• Saudi Arabia Short Code: No

• International Phone Number: No

• Generic Sender ID (Sender IDs that don't clearly identify your brand): No

Restrictions

• Operator Registration Required: Yes

• Generic URL Shortening: No

• Quiet Hours/Do Not Disturb: Yes (Monday-Sunday 22:00-08:00)

Additional Notes:

• This market has Local/International and Transactional/Promotional traffic segmentation

• Only international traffic supported

• For Promotional traffic:

  • Sender name must start with prefix AD- (e.g., AD-YourBrand)

  • Allowed only between 8AM-8PM (summer) or 8AM-7PM (winter)

  • Messages sent outside allowed hours will be queued and delivered at 8AM

  • Opt-out is automatically added

  • Local enterprise clients need opt-ins from end users on operator's DND base

  • Racism, sex, and alcoholic promo content is strictly forbidden

• For Transactional traffic:

  • No time restriction (delivered instantly)

• Sender ID is case sensitive

• Letter of Authorization (LOA) and Certificate of Incorporation required for sender ID registration

• URL whitelisting is required

Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations

United Arab Emirates

Best Messaging Channels by Use Case (Bird's Recommendations)

• Transactional SMS: WhatsApp (You can use your existing number or get a new one from Bird)

• Promotional SMS: WhatsApp (You can use your existing number or get a new one from Bird)

• Two-Way Conversations: WhatsApp (You can use your existing number or get a new one from Bird)

Sender Types Supported

• Alphanumeric Sender ID (Business names like "Bird" or "Netflix" that send one-way messages): Yes

• UAE Phone Number: No

• UAE Short Code: No

• International Phone Number: No

• Generic Sender ID (Sender IDs that don't clearly identify your brand): No

Restrictions

• Operator Registration Required: Yes

• Generic URL Shortening: No (URL whitelisting required)

• Quiet Hours/Do Not Disturb: Yes (Monday-Sunday 20:30-07:30)

Additional Notes:

• All promotional sender IDs must be prefixed by AD (e.g., AD-YourBrand)

• Letter of Authorization (LOA) and Certificate of Incorporation required for sender ID registration

Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations

Yemen

Best Messaging Channels by Use Case (Bird's Recommendations)

• Transactional SMS: Alphanumeric Sender ID (e.g., "YourBrand")

• Promotional SMS: Alphanumeric Sender ID (e.g., "YourBrand")

• Two-Way Conversations: WhatsApp (You can use your existing number or get a new one from Bird)

Sender Types Supported

• Alphanumeric Sender ID (Business names like "Bird" or "Netflix" that send one-way messages): Yes

• Yemen Phone Number: Yes

• Yemen Short Code: Yes

• International Phone Number: Yes

• Generic Sender ID (Sender IDs that don't clearly identify your brand): No

Restrictions

• Operator Registration Required: Yes

• Generic URL Shortening: No (Only branded URL shortening like yourbrand.link is allowed)

• Quiet Hours/Do Not Disturb: No

Additional Notes:

• Yemen Mobile requires registration otherwise sender ID will be overwritten to INFO

• On Ytelecom network, all senders will be received with A2PSMS

Opt-out Rules: No specific opt-out regulations