Teams Direct Routing Dubai
Your UAE Number Inside Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Calling Plans are not available in the UAE — Direct Routing is the only way to make and receive PSTN calls inside Teams. We configure it on your existing Grandstream or Yeastar PABX using a TRA-licensed SIP trunk. No separate hardware needed.
What Is Teams Direct Routing — and Why Is It the Only Option in the UAE?
Microsoft Teams is installed in most Dubai offices. But the default Teams setup only supports internal chat, video meetings and calls between Teams users. The moment your staff need to call a client's landline or mobile — or receive calls from outside the organisation — Teams alone cannot do it in the UAE.
Microsoft Calling Plans, the standard international method for adding phone numbers to Teams, are not available for purchase in the UAE. The UAE's Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) requires all SIP and VoIP services to be provided by TRA-licensed carriers — Etisalat (e&) and du. Microsoft's own global calling infrastructure is not licensed to operate as a SIP provider in the UAE.
Teams Direct Routing solves this. It connects your Teams environment to your existing PABX and SIP trunk from Etisalat or du. Your staff make and receive calls from their existing UAE business numbers directly inside the Teams app — on desktop, mobile or a Yealink IP phone — without changing their number or their carrier contract. Direct Routing is not a workaround. It is the Microsoft-recommended, TRA-compliant, enterprise-standard method for PSTN calling in Teams across the UAE and GCC.
Important: Some providers offer Teams calling using unlicensed international VoIP routes. These violate UAE TRA regulations. VDS configures Direct Routing exclusively through TRA-licensed SIP trunks on Etisalat and du — every installation is fully compliant.
Do Microsoft Calling Plans work in the UAE?
No. As of 2026, Microsoft has not made Calling Plans available for purchase in the UAE. Attempting to activate a Calling Plan on a UAE Microsoft 365 tenant results in the UAE not appearing in the country selector. Teams Direct Routing via a TRA-licensed SIP trunk is the correct and only method.
Ready to Connect Teams to Your Phone System?
Tell us your current PABX model, your Microsoft 365 licence, and number of Teams users. We will confirm compatibility and quote within the hour.
WhatsApp Your PABX Details Call +971 4 450 4145How Teams Direct Routing Works
Three components connect your UAE phone numbers to Microsoft Teams. We configure all three as a single engagement.
SIP Trunk — Etisalat or du
Your TRA-licensed SIP trunk from Etisalat (e&) or du carries your UAE business numbers. This is the carrier connection that provides your DDI numbers and handles inbound and outbound PSTN calls. If you already have a SIP trunk, we connect to it. If not, we provision one during the project.
PABX — Grandstream or Yeastar
Your on-premise Grandstream UCM or Yeastar P-Series PABX acts as the Session Border Controller (SBC) between your SIP trunk and Microsoft Teams. The UCM and P-Series both include SBC functionality natively — no separate SBC appliance is needed. We configure the SIP trunk registration, dial plans, routing policies and call flows on the PABX.
Microsoft Teams — PowerShell Config
In your Microsoft 365 tenant we configure Online Voice Routing Policies, PSTN Usage Records, Voice Routes, and Phone System policies via PowerShell. Each Teams user is assigned their DDI number. The Teams dial pad activates in the desktop app, mobile app and Yealink Teams-certified phones. Configuration takes one day for a standard deployment.
What Teams Direct Routing Gives Your Team
Every capability that UAE businesses expect from a phone system — delivered inside Microsoft Teams.
UAE Number on Any Device
Your existing Etisalat or du business number rings in Teams on desktop, mobile and Yealink Teams-certified desk phones simultaneously. No missed calls — wherever your staff are.
Auto-Attendant & IVR
Inbound calls route through your existing IVR menu — "Press 1 for Sales, Press 2 for Support" — exactly as configured on your PABX. After-hours routing, voicemail and overflow to mobile all work as normal.
Call Queues
Incoming calls queue with hold music and ring group routing across your team. Queue dashboards, agent status and real-time monitoring work inside Teams alongside your existing call centre setup.
Anywhere Working
Staff in Saudi Arabia, working from home in Dubai, or travelling internationally all use the same UAE number inside Teams. Inbound calls find them wherever they are. Outbound calls show the UAE number on caller ID.
Call Recording
Call recording configured on the PABX continues to work for all Teams-routed calls. Compliance recording, quality monitoring and CRM integration remain unaffected by the Direct Routing configuration.
Existing Numbers — No Porting
Your Etisalat or du DDI numbers stay on their current SIP trunk. Teams Direct Routing maps those numbers to Teams users — no number porting, no carrier change, no disruption to existing desk phones.
Microsoft 365 Licence Requirements
Teams Direct Routing requires the Phone System add-on. Check which licence your team already has before enquiring — this determines what additional cost, if any, is needed.
- E3 licence you already own
- Add Phone System (~USD 8/user/month)
- Direct Routing can then be configured
- Does not include Calling Plan
- Does not include Audio Conferencing
- Phone System included in E5
- No additional add-on needed
- Direct Routing can be configured immediately
- Audio Conferencing included
- Advanced compliance features included
- Phone System not available
- Direct Routing cannot be configured
- Must upgrade to E3 or E5
- Internal Teams calls only
- Video meetings with Teams users only
We verify your existing Microsoft 365 licences as part of the free assessment. No charge for the licence check.
Compatible PABX Systems — In Stock in Dubai
We configure Direct Routing on the three most deployed PABX platforms in UAE offices. No separate SBC appliance is required for Grandstream and Yeastar.
Grandstream UCM Series
The Grandstream UCM6302, UCM6304 and UCM6510 include a built-in SBC that supports Teams Direct Routing natively via SIP trunking. No additional hardware. Configuration is done in the UCM web interface and via Microsoft Teams PowerShell. Most cost-effective path for UAE offices that already have a Grandstream UCM installed.
Yeastar P-Series
The Yeastar P550 and P570 include the P-Series App Centre with a native Microsoft Teams Direct Routing module. The Yeastar Teams app handles SBC functionality, dial plan translation and routing policy configuration within the Yeastar web interface. Recommended for offices wanting deeper integration between Teams presence and the PABX extension system.
Avaya IP Office
Avaya IP Office supports Teams Direct Routing via SIP trunking through its Session Manager component. Suitable for larger deployments where Avaya IP Office is already managing hundreds of extensions across multiple sites. We configure the SIP interconnect between Avaya and Teams following Avaya's certified Direct Routing configuration guide.
Don't have a PABX yet? If your office is new or you are replacing a legacy system, we can supply and install a Grandstream UCM or Yeastar P-Series as part of the same engagement — PABX installation, SIP trunk provisioning and Teams Direct Routing configuration in a single project. WhatsApp to discuss →
Who Uses Teams Direct Routing in Dubai
Any UAE business where Microsoft Teams is the primary collaboration tool and staff need to make and receive external calls.
Offices on Microsoft 365
Companies that have standardised on Microsoft 365 for email and Teams for meetings want a single application for all communication. Direct Routing eliminates the need for a separate softphone or desk phone for external calls — Teams becomes the complete phone system.
Remote and Hybrid Teams
Staff working from home, travelling in the Gulf, or in branch offices across Saudi Arabia and Oman use their UAE business number inside Teams on their laptop or mobile. No VPN, no softphone app, no separate SIM — Teams handles all inbound and outbound calls on the UAE number.
Businesses Reducing Desk Phones
Offices replacing ageing desk phone fleets use Direct Routing to move staff to Teams on their laptops, supplemented by Yealink Teams-certified desk phones where a physical handset is needed. Lower hardware cost, simpler maintenance, same UAE number.
Call Centres Moving to Teams
Contact centres already using Teams for internal communication add Direct Routing to handle inbound customer queues inside Teams. Agent status, call queues, real-time wallboards and CRM click-to-dial all integrate with the Direct Routing configuration. We have deployed this for UAE call centres from 8-seat to 80-seat operations.
How We Set It Up
A four-step process from assessment to live calling — typically completed within one week.
Free Assessment
We verify your Microsoft 365 licence, PABX model, SIP trunk provider and number of Teams users. Confirms compatibility and defines scope before any work begins.
SIP Trunk & PABX Config
We configure the SIP trunk registration on your Grandstream UCM or Yeastar P-Series, set up dial plans, outbound routing and inbound call flow for Teams-destined calls.
Microsoft Teams PowerShell
Voice routing policies, PSTN usage records, voice routes and phone number assignments are configured in your Microsoft 365 tenant. Each user's Teams dial pad activates with their UAE DDI.
Testing & Handover
Full end-to-end call testing — inbound, outbound, transfer, voicemail, IVR, after-hours. User walkthrough of the Teams dial pad. Documentation provided for your IT team.
Teams Direct Routing — All UAE Emirates
VDS configures and supports Teams Direct Routing across all seven UAE emirates. Our engineers are Dubai-based with same-day site visit capability across the northern emirates. Remote configuration available for all Grandstream and Yeastar deployments.
Dubai Free Zones
Experienced with free zone building management, NOC requirements and TRA compliance documentation:
Abu Dhabi: ADGM, KIZAD and mainland commercial districts. Remote configuration available for GCC countries — Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain.
Teams Direct Routing UAE — Frequently Asked Questions
Questions we get from every Dubai office considering Teams Direct Routing.
Is Microsoft Teams Direct Routing the only way to make phone calls in Teams in the UAE?
Yes. Microsoft Calling Plans are not available for purchase in the UAE. Teams Direct Routing — connecting Teams to a TRA-licensed SIP trunk via Etisalat or du — is the only lawful method for PSTN calling inside Teams in the UAE. Without Direct Routing, Teams is limited to internal calls and video meetings only.
What Microsoft 365 licence do I need for Teams Direct Routing?
You need a licence that includes the Phone System add-on. Two options: Microsoft 365 E5 (Phone System included) or Microsoft 365 E3 plus the Phone System add-on (approximately USD 8 per user per month). Business Basic, Standard and Premium plans cannot be used for Direct Routing. We verify your licences as part of the free assessment.
Which PABX systems support Teams Direct Routing in Dubai?
Grandstream UCM6302, UCM6304 and UCM6510 support Direct Routing natively via their built-in SBC. Yeastar P550 and P570 support it via the P-Series App Centre Teams module. Avaya IP Office supports it via SIP trunking through Session Manager. No separate SBC appliance is required for Grandstream and Yeastar systems.
Does Teams Direct Routing work with Etisalat and du SIP trunks?
Yes. Direct Routing in the UAE uses SIP trunks from TRA-licensed providers: Etisalat (e&) and du. These are the only two carriers authorised by the TDRA for SIP trunking in the UAE. We configure the full chain — SIP trunk to PABX, PABX to Teams — in one engagement.
Can I keep my existing UAE business phone numbers?
Yes. Your existing DDI numbers from Etisalat or du stay on your SIP trunk. Teams Direct Routing maps those numbers to Teams users — so staff make and receive calls on their existing UAE business number inside Teams. No number porting required in most cases.
How long does Teams Direct Routing setup take in Dubai?
For a standard deployment on an existing Grandstream UCM or Yeastar P-Series with an active SIP trunk: one day on site for configuration and testing. If a new SIP trunk needs to be provisioned first, add 3-5 business days for Etisalat or du carrier provisioning before the configuration day.
Does Teams Direct Routing work for remote staff outside the UAE?
Yes. Once configured, Teams Direct Routing works on any device anywhere — staff in Saudi Arabia, the UK or working from home in Dubai all use the same UAE number inside Teams. Inbound calls route to their Teams app regardless of location. Outbound calls show the UAE number on caller ID.
What happens to existing desk phones after Direct Routing is configured?
Existing IP desk phones registered to the PABX continue to work exactly as before. Direct Routing adds Teams calling capability alongside the existing phone system — it does not replace it. Staff can use their desk phone, Teams desktop app and Teams mobile app interchangeably on the same extension number.
What is the cost of Teams Direct Routing configuration in Dubai?
Configuration cost depends on the existing PABX platform, number of Teams users, and whether a new SIP trunk is required. We provide a fixed AED quote after a free assessment call. Ongoing costs are your existing SIP trunk monthly fee plus Microsoft 365 Phone System add-on per user — no additional monthly fees from VDS for standard configurations.
Related PABX & Phone Solutions
Teams Direct Routing works alongside these systems. Every platform we supply and install across the UAE.
Connect Your UAE Numbers to Microsoft Teams
Tell us your current PABX model, your Microsoft 365 licence type, and how many Teams users need calling. We confirm compatibility and give you an AED quote — same day.
Or email sales@vdsae.com · PABX Systems Dubai · Video Conferencing Dubai