WhatsApp Will Stop Working for Many Residents in UAE | ExpatWoman.com
 

WhatsApp Will Stop Working on Thousands of Phones in the UAE

If you own any of these phones, you will no longer be able to use WhatsApp by February 2020

Posted on

10 December 2019

Last updated on 15 January 2020
WhatsApp Will Stop Working on Thousands of Phones in the UAE

The Facebook-owned messaging app will remove support for specific iPhones, Androids, and Windows Mobile devices

The UAE is home to an ever-growing economy and population. Thus, UAE expats always look to instant messaging providers to keep in touch with friends, family, coworkers, and others, such as Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp.

But following a recent announcement from Facebook, many expats in the UAE will no longer be able to use WhatsApp on their phones. By 2020, WhatsApp will soon stop working on thousands of phones that are not just in the UAE, but worldwide as they will phase out all support on some older mobile devices.

Owners of the following mobile platforms will be unable to download the app, receive software updates, create new WhatsApp accounts, or re-verify existing accounts.

  • iPhones running iOS 8 or older: WhatsApp support ends from February 1, 2020
  • Android devices running version 2.3.7 or older: WhatsApp support ends from February 1, 2020
  • All Windows Mobile phones: WhatsApp support ends from December 31, 2019

In recent months, the popular instant messaging app has been ending support for various smartphones that "don't offer the kind of capabilities we need to expand our app's features in the future".

In a previous post, WhatsApp had stated, "This was a tough decision for us to make, but the right one in order to give people better ways to keep in touch with friends, family, and loved ones using WhatsApp."

 
 

ON EXPATWOMAN TODAY