Microsoft Teams • Direct Routing • Dubai & UAE
Microsoft Teams Direct Routing Dubai
Transform Microsoft Teams into a complete business phone system with Dubaitech's Direct Routing solutions. We help businesses across Dubai and the UAE connect their existing telephony infrastructure to Microsoft Teams — enabling seamless inbound and outbound PSTN calls without relying on Microsoft's default calling plans.
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Tell us about your current setup and we'll provide a customized Direct Routing proposal.
500+
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Monitoring & Support
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Average Setup Time
Understanding Direct Routing
What is Microsoft Teams Direct Routing?
Microsoft Teams Direct Routing is a method of connecting Microsoft Teams to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) using a SIP trunk and a certified Session Border Controller (SBC), instead of purchasing Microsoft's own Calling Plan.
In simple terms, it means your team can make and receive real phone calls — to any number, anywhere in the world — directly inside Microsoft Teams, using your existing telecom carrier and phone numbers.
This is especially valuable in the UAE, where Microsoft's native Calling Plan is not available as a standard offering, making Direct Routing the preferred and most practical voice solution for businesses here.
With Direct Routing, Microsoft Teams becomes your all-in-one business communication platform — handling calls, meetings, messaging, voicemail, call queues, and auto-attendants in one place.
How It Works
SIP Trunk connects to SBC
SBC routes calls to Teams
Teams handles all communication
Why Do UAE Businesses Need Direct Routing?
Microsoft's native Calling Plan is not available in the UAE. This means that without Direct Routing, Microsoft Teams cannot be used for external phone calls. Businesses that rely on Teams for collaboration but still need to make and receive regular calls have two options — use a separate phone system alongside Teams, or implement Direct Routing to unify everything.
Direct Routing is the smarter choice. It eliminates the need for a separate phone system, reduces costs, and gives your team a single platform for all communication.
Additionally, many UAE businesses already have existing telecom contracts, phone numbers, and infrastructure they want to keep. Direct Routing allows you to retain all of that while adding the full power of Microsoft Teams Phone System on top.
Note: Microsoft's Calling Plan is not available in UAE markets, making Direct Routing the only viable PSTN solution for Teams.
Dubaitech's Microsoft Teams Direct Routing Services
At Dubaitech, we deliver end-to-end Direct Routing solutions tailored to the needs of businesses in Dubai, Sharjah, and across the GCC. Our team of certified engineers handles every aspect of the deployment — from planning and configuration to go-live and ongoing support.
What's Included in Our Direct Routing Package
Our Direct Routing service covers everything your business needs to get up and running quickly and securely:
Certified Session Border Controller (SBC) setup and configuration connecting your SIP trunk securely to Microsoft Teams.
Custom SIP Trunking plans designed around your call volumes, number of users, and usage patterns.
Integration with your existing PBX or telephony infrastructure so you don't need to replace what's already working.
Number porting support to retain your current business phone numbers without disruption.
Advanced call routing rules including call queues, auto-attendants, failover routing, and business hours policies.
Microsoft Teams Phone System licensing guidance to ensure you have the right Microsoft 365 licenses in place.
Optional call recording add-on for compliance, quality assurance, or regulatory requirements.
UAE regulatory compliance ensuring your voice infrastructure meets local standards and security requirements.
24/7 monitoring and local support from our team based in the UAE.
Key Benefits of Direct Routing for Your Business
Significant Cost Savings
Reduce monthly telephony costs by using competitive local SIP trunk rates instead of Microsoft Calling Plans.
Keep Existing Numbers
Retain your established business phone numbers and telecom contracts without disruption.
Full Teams Integration
Make and receive calls directly within Teams on desktop, mobile, and web platforms.
Enterprise-Grade Security
Encrypted voice traffic through certified SBCs with advanced security protocols.
Scalability Without Limits
Easily add users, offices, or expand internationally without major infrastructure changes.
Business Continuity
Failover routing ensures calls continue during network disruptions or outages.
Who Should Consider Direct Routing?
Microsoft Teams Direct Routing is the right solution for a wide range of organisations across the UAE:
Corporate Enterprises
Multi-office organizations across Dubai, UAE, and GCC needing unified voice solutions.
Call Centers
Customer service teams requiring seamless Teams integration with CRM systems.
Healthcare Organizations
Secure, compliant voice communication with call logging and recording capabilities.
Financial Services
Encrypted voice paths with regulatory compliance and call traceability.
Legal & Professional Services
Secure client communications with encrypted voice infrastructure.
Government & Public Sector
Reliable, secure, and locally compliant telephony infrastructure.
SMEs & Growing Businesses
Enterprise-grade voice capabilities without expensive phone systems.
If your organisation uses Microsoft Teams and needs the ability to call external numbers, Direct Routing is your solution.
Our Direct Routing Deployment Process
We follow a structured, proven approach to ensure your Direct Routing implementation is smooth, fast, and causes minimal disruption to your business operations.
1
Assessment & Discovery
Evaluate current infrastructure, Microsoft 365 licensing, user requirements, and call volumes.
2
Solution Design
Design Direct Routing architecture with SBC configuration and routing policies.
3
Licensing & Provisioning
Configure Microsoft 365 Phone System licenses and provisioning.
4
SBC & SIP Trunk Setup
Configure Session Border Controller and connect to SIP trunk provider.
5
Teams Configuration
Configure dial plans, voice routing policies, call queues, and auto-attendants.
6
Testing & Quality Assurance
Comprehensive call quality testing across devices and locations.
7
Go-Live & Training
Live deployment with user training and Teams calling onboarding.
8
Ongoing Support
24/7 monitoring and support for configuration changes and scaling.
Direct Routing vs Microsoft Calling Plan
Many businesses ask whether they should use Microsoft's Calling Plan or Direct Routing. Here's a straightforward comparison to help you decide.
Microsoft Calling Plan
Microsoft's own telephony service where you purchase call minutes directly from Microsoft. It is simple to set up but is not available in the UAE, offers limited flexibility, and can be significantly more expensive than using a local SIP trunk provider.
Not available in UAE
Limited carrier choice
Higher costs
Direct Routing
Connects Microsoft Teams to any compatible SIP trunk using a certified SBC. It is available everywhere including the UAE, gives you full control over carrier choice and call routing, and is typically much more cost-effective for businesses with moderate to high call volumes.
Available in UAE
Full carrier choice
Cost-effective
For UAE-based businesses, Direct Routing is not just the better option — in most cases it is the only viable option for enabling PSTN calling within Microsoft Teams.
Why Choose Dubaitech?
As Dubai's leading Microsoft Teams specialists, we bring unparalleled expertise and local market knowledge to your Direct Routing implementation.
Microsoft Gold Partner
Certified expertise in Microsoft Teams and Phone System implementations with proven track record.
Local UAE Expertise
Deep understanding of UAE telecom regulations, TRA compliance, and local carrier relationships.
Fast Implementation
Average 2-week deployment time with minimal business disruption and comprehensive testing.
Enterprise Security
Military-grade encryption, fraud prevention, and compliance with UAE data protection laws.
Cost Optimization
Up to 60% savings compared to traditional PBX systems and Microsoft Calling Plans.
24/7 Support
Round-the-clock monitoring and support from our Dubai-based NOC and helpdesk teams.
With over 200 successful Teams implementations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, we understand the unique challenges of the UAE telecom landscape.
Ready to Enable PSTN Calling?
Let's discuss your Direct Routing requirements and create a custom implementation plan for your business.
What Happens Next?
1
Free consultation and requirements assessment
2
Custom solution design and cost proposal
3
Implementation planning and timeline
4
Seamless deployment and user training
Contact Our Teams Experts
Get a free consultation and discover how Direct Routing can transform your business communications.
Complete Setup Coverage
We handle everything from SBC procurement to Teams configuration and user training.
SBC deployment and configuration
SIP trunk registration with Etisalat/Du
Teams Phone System licensing
Direct Routing policy configuration
Call routing and dial plans
Auto-attendants and call queues
Voicemail and call forwarding
E911 compliance configuration
TRA Compliance
All Direct Routing configurations are fully compliant with UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) requirements. We only integrate with licensed SIP trunk providers like Etisalat and Du.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. We support full number porting, allowing you to retain your current business phone numbers. Your clients and partners will notice no change.
Not necessarily. Direct Routing can be configured to work alongside your existing PBX, allowing for a phased migration rather than an immediate replacement.
You need a Microsoft 365 plan that includes or allows the Phone System add-on. Common options include Microsoft 365 E5, which includes Phone System, or Microsoft 365 E3 or Business Premium with a Phone System add-on licence. Our team will advise you on the most cost-effective licensing path.
Yes. All voice traffic is encrypted using TLS and SRTP protocols. The certified SBC acts as a security gateway between your carrier network and Microsoft Teams, protecting against fraud and interception.
A standard Direct Routing deployment for a single-site business typically takes between five and fifteen business days from kickoff to go-live, depending on the complexity of your setup and the speed of number porting from your carrier.
Absolutely. Our architecture is designed for multi-site and multi-country deployments. We can connect offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and beyond under a single unified Teams voice environment.
We configure failover routing as standard. In the event of a network issue, calls can automatically redirect to mobile numbers, another site, or a voicemail service, ensuring business continuity.
Ready for Teams Calling?
Get a free consultation for Direct Routing setup and SBC deployment.