If you’re running an e-commerce store targeting the UAE market, you know how powerful SMS can be. But you also know it can get messy. One wrong sender name. One message flagged. Campaign blocked.

Here’s the good news. You don’t have to start from scratch. I’ve pulled together a library of fully compliant, pre-approved SMS templates tailored for UAE use-cases: order confirmations, delivery updates, cart reminders, OTPs and more. Plus, you’ll get the compliance tips, real-life insights nobody else shares, and a smoother path to live campaigns.

And if you just want to send OTPs, you can use our platform Message Central's VerifyNow. Sign up, use our pre-registered sender ID and template set, and send OTPs right away—no waiting for template approval, no sender ID setup.

Why Templates Make All the Difference in UAE

In the UAE, doing SMS the “normal” way doesn’t always work. The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) sets strict rules on sender ID, message content, timing and consent.

For example:

• Promotional SMS must use sender IDs that start with “AD-” for marketing traffic.
• Marketing messages cannot be sent between 9 pm and 7 am UAE time. 
• Generic sender IDs like “INFO” or “SMS” are often blocked.

So a template isn’t just about “what you write.” It’s about what you’re allowed to write and how you’re allowed to write it.

If you use one of these templates below you’ll align with approval standards, reduce the chances of rejection or blocking, and spend more time selling, less time chasing compliance.

How to Use These Templates

1. Choose the use case.
2. Insert your brand name, order number, city, link, code or whatever the placeholder requires.
3. Make sure the sender ID you use matches exactly the brand name registered with UAE operators.
4. For promotional messages use the “AD-BrandName” format if required.
5. If you’re sending OTPs or transactional messages, make sure you send from a transactional route (not the promotional one).
6. Test your message on both major UAE networks (Etisalat & du) to verify delivery and latency.
7. Monitor delivery rates and keep logs. Later I’ll show you what metrics matter.

If you’re looking to get started with OTPs, you can start right away with our platform: Sign up for Message Central’s VerifyNow, use our pre-registered sender ID and templates, and start sending OTPs globally to 190+ countries in under 15 minutes.

E-commerce SMS Templates (UAE)

Below are ready-to-use templates. Use them for your e-commerce brand in UAE. These cover all major use cases.

1. OTP for Login / Account Verification (Transactional)

English: “Your [Brand] login code is [OTP]. It expires in 5 minutes. Do not share it with anyone.”
Arabic: “رمز تسجيل الدخول لـ[Brand] هو [OTP]. ينتهي خلال 5 دقائق. لا تشاركه مع أي شخص.”

Insight: OTP messages are often treated differently by carriers. Avoid any promotional wording. Use clean language focused purely on the code and urgency.

2. Order Confirmation (Transactional)

English: “Hi [FirstName], your order #[OrderID] from [Brand] is confirmed. Delivery to [City] scheduled for [Date]. Thank you for shopping with us.”
Arabic: “مرحباً [FirstName]، طلبك رقم [OrderID] من [Brand] تم تأكيده. سيتم التوصيل إلى [City] بتاريخ [Date]. شكراً لتسوقك معنا.”

Tip: Match the [Brand] in the message with the sender ID. If “BrandShop” is your sender ID, it must read “BrandShop”. That builds trust and improves deliverability.

3. Shipping / Delivery Update (Transactional)

English: “Good news [FirstName] - your [Brand] order #[OrderID] has been shipped via [Courier]. Track here 👉 [TrackingLink]”
Arabic: “خبر سار [FirstName] - طلبك رقم [OrderID] من [Brand] تم شحنه عبر [Courier]. تتبع هنا 👉 [TrackingLink]”

Hack: Use a branded short link (not generic bit.ly) to avoid carrier filters in UAE.
Reminder: If you include a link, ensure it resolves quickly and does not redirect to prohibited content.

4. Payment Received (Transactional)

English: “Your payment of AED [Amount] for order #[OrderID] has been received successfully. Thanks for choosing [Brand].”
Arabic: “تم استلام دفعتك بمبلغ AED [Amount] لطلب رقم [OrderID]. شكراً لاختيارك [Brand].”

Tip: Keep it short. Financial transactional messages with minimal content get faster delivery and fewer filters.

5. Subscription Renewal Reminder (Transactional)

English: “Your subscription for [Brand] with order #[OrderID] will renew on [Date]. You can cancel anytime here: [ShortLink].”
Arabic: “سيتم تجديد اشتراكك لدى [Brand] لطلب رقم [OrderID] بتاريخ [Date]. يمكنك الإلغاء في أي وقت عبر [ShortLink].”

Tip: Even though renewal reminders could be considered promotional, treat them as transactional if you’re informing users of an upcoming payment rather than offering a new deal.

6. Customer Support Follow-Up (Transactional)

English: “Hi [FirstName], your request with [Brand] has been resolved. If you need more help, reply or contact us at [ContactLink].”
Arabic: “مرحباً [FirstName]، تم حل طلبك لدى [Brand]. إذا كنت بحاجة للمزيد من المساعدة، رد أو تواصل معنا عبر [ContactLink].”

Note: Support messages are transactional and do not require marketing sender ID.

7. Cart Abandonment Reminder (Promotional)

English: “Hi [FirstName], you left items in your cart at [Brand]. Complete your order and enjoy 10% off with code SAVE10.”
Arabic: “مرحباً [FirstName]، تركت منتجات في سلة التسوق لدى [Brand]. أكمل طلبك الآن واحصل على خصم 10٪ برمز SAVE10.”

Note: Because this is promotional, your sender ID must be approved for marketing traffic. If you’re unsure use our templates and platform to get approved faster.

8. Post-Purchase Review Request (Engagement)

English: “Thanks for shopping with [Brand]! Tell us about your experience in under 2 minutes at [ShortLink]. We value your feedback.”
Arabic: “شكراً لتسوقك مع [Brand]! شارك تجربتك في أقل من دقيقتين عبر [ShortLink]. رأيك مهم لنا.”

Hack: Use mobile-friendly short links and keep message length under 150 characters to maintain single-SMS delivery.

9. Back-in-Stock Alert (Promotional)

English: “Hi [FirstName] – the item you wanted, [ProductName], is back at [Brand]! Grab it now while stocks last.”
Arabic: “مرحباً [FirstName] – المنتج [ProductName] متوفر الآن لدى [Brand]! أسرع قبل انتهاء الكمية.”

Tip: Because this is promotional, ensure marketing route and sender ID are correctly registered. Use an offer but avoid over-promising.

10. Flash Sale / Limited Time Offer (Promotional)

English: “Flash Sale at [Brand] starts now! 30% off everything, use code FLASH30. Valid today only.”
Arabic: “تخفيض فلاش لدى [Brand] يبدأ الآن! خصم 30٪ على كل شيء، استخدم الكود FLASH30. صالح اليوم فقط.”

Note: Promotional messages must include an easy opt-out (for example: “Reply STOP to unsubscribe”) in UAE.

11. Referral Invitation (Promotional)

English: “Love [Brand]? Get AED 50 off for you and a friend with code REFER50. Share now.”
Arabic: “تحب [Brand]? احصل على خصم AED 50 لك ولصديقك باستخدام الكود REFER50. شارك الآن.”

Advice: Because this is promotional, ensure sender ID is marketing-approved. Also limit send to opted-in users to avoid TDRA issues.

12. Sale Announcement (Promotional)

English: “Big Sale Alert at [Brand]! Get up to 50% off on selected items. Shop now [ShortLink]. Reply STOP to unsubscribe.”
Arabic: “تنبيه خصم كبير لدى [Brand] ! احصل على خصم يصل إلى 50٪ على عناصر مختارة. تسوق الآن [ShortLink]. للإلغاء أرسل STOP.”

Tip: Always include opt-out instructions and use a branded short link.

13. New Product Launch (Promotional)

English: “Discover the latest arrivals at [Brand]. Be the first to shop our new collection! Visit [ShortLink]. Reply STOP to unsubscribe.”
Arabic: “اكتشف الجديد لدى [Brand]. كن أول من يتسوق تشكيلتنا الجديدة! زورنا [ShortLink]. للإلغاء أرسل STOP.”

Insight: Launch messages should stay within allowed timing and sender ID rules.

14. Loyalty Program Invitation (Promotional)

English: “Join [Brand] loyalty program today and earn exclusive rewards. Sign up here [ShortLink]. Reply STOP to unsubscribe.”
Arabic: “انضم إلى برنامج الولاء لدى [Brand] اليوم واحصل على مكافآت حصرية. سجل عبر الرابط [ShortLink]. للإلغاء أرسل STOP.”

Tip: Use only after customer opt-in and on marketing-approved sender ID.

15. Birthday Offer (Promotional)

English: “Happy Birthday [FirstName]! Celebrate with a special 20% off at [Brand]. Use code BDAY20. Reply STOP to quit.”
Arabic: “عيد ميلاد سعيد [FirstName]! احتفل معنا بخصم خاص 20٪ لدى [Brand]. استخدم الرمز BDAY20. للإلغاء أرسل STOP.”

Advice: Personal and timely offers boost engagement but must respect timing caps.

16. Wishlist Reminder (Promotional)

English: “Hi [FirstName], items on your wishlist at [Brand] are waiting. Grab them before they're gone! Shop now [ShortLink]. Reply STOP to unsubscribe.”
Arabic: “مرحباً [FirstName]، العناصر في قائمة الرغبات الخاصة بك لدى [Brand] بانتظارك. اقتنصها قبل نفاد الكمية! تسوق الآن [ShortLink]. للإلغاء أرسل STOP.”

Tip: Ideal for re-engaging customers, keep messaging concise and within timing rules.

Compliance & Delivery Tips You Might Miss

• Always use alphanumeric sender IDs matching your brand. Numeric or generic ones are commonly blocked in UAE.
• For marketing SMS your sender ID must often start with “AD-” prefix.
• Promotional SMS must not be sent between 9 pm and 7 am UAE time.
• Make sure you have opt-in consent recorded. Without it, your number may flag as spam.
• Messages over 160 characters may split into multiple SMS and cost more, plus increase latency.
• Delivery latency matters: Users expect update messages (like shipping) within 4-5 seconds. Longer delays reduce trust.
• Use branded links instead of generic shorteners. UAE carriers often filter bit.ly links.
• For OTPs use a transactional route; avoid mixing with promotional messages. This protects your sender ID reputation.

Final Thoughts

SMS remains one of the highest performing channels for e-commerce in the UAE. But success depends on doing it right. By using these pre-approved templates, aligning with local rules and focusing your content, you set yourself up for high deliverability, strong engagement and fewer compliance headaches.

Start by picking the template relevant for your use-case, personalise it, send your message via a compliant sender ID and monitor results. If you need help, we are here for you.

Ready to send today? Sign up on our platform, test with free credits, and see how fast you can go live. Your UAE e-commerce SMS game just got stronger.

FAQs

What are the main rules for SMS marketing in the UAE?

In the UAE, all SMS marketing must follow TDRA and operator (Etisalat and du) regulations.
Use a sender ID starting with “AD-” for promotional campaigns, always include a clear opt-out option like “Reply STOP”, and send messages only between 7 am and 9 pm UAE time. Keep your SMS under 160 characters, written in both English and Arabic, to meet compliance standards and reach a wider audience.

Can I send OTPs in the UAE without a sender ID approval?

Yes, you can. With Message Central’s VerifyNow, you can send OTPs immediately using pre-approved sender IDs and ready-to-use templates that comply with UAE telecom rules.
There’s no waiting period or operator registration needed; simply sign up, get free test credits, and start authenticating users globally within 15 minutes.

What’s the best platform for UAE e-commerce SMS campaigns?

The best platform for UAE e-commerce SMS campaigns is Message Central. It delivers 100% message success rates through direct carrier partnerships with Etisalat and du, ensuring lightning-fast OTP and marketing delivery. Its multi-channel fallback system (SMS, WhatsApp) guarantees no message or OTP is ever lost. Unlike other providers, Message Central also offers 24/7 proactive customer support, so your business is never left waiting for help when it matters most.