What the WhatsApp Business API costs in the Gulf and Jordan
Meta charges per delivered message, and only for messages your business sends. The price depends on the type of message and the country of the person receiving it. Messages customers send you are free, and so are your first 1,000 customer service replies each month on every number.
The four message types you will use
- Marketing: Offers, announcements and abandoned cart reminders. Usually the most expensive type.
- Utility: Order confirmations, shipping updates and appointment reminders.
- Authentication: One time passwords and login codes.
- Service: Normal replies inside the 24 hours after a customer writes to you. The first 1,000 each month are free for each number.
How each country is priced
| Country | On Meta's rate card |
|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | Its own rate |
| United Arab Emirates | Its own rate |
| Kuwait | Its own rate since 1 October 2026 |
| Qatar | Its own rate |
| Oman | Its own rate |
| Bahrain | Rest of Middle East rate |
| Jordan | Rest of Middle East rate |
Checked against Meta's developer documentation on 5 November 2026. Meta changes this from time to time, so check its rate card before you budget.
The 24 hour rule
When a customer messages you, a 24 hour window opens and you can reply freely. Each new message from them restarts it. After it closes, you can only reach them with a template that Meta has approved.
A way to pay less: ads that open WhatsApp
If someone reaches you through an ad that clicks to WhatsApp on their phone and you reply within the 24 hours, a free window of up to 7 days opens. Inside it, Meta does not charge for your marketing, utility, authentication or service messages.
What you pay on top of Meta
Most platforms charge a subscription, and Meta bills the messages separately. Inboxi starts at $49 a month with an AI agent included, and Meta's charges go to your own account.
Questions
Is the WhatsApp Business API free?
Getting access has no fee from Meta, and customer messages to you are free. You pay Meta for the messages you send, apart from the free service replies, and you usually pay a platform for the tool you use to send them.
Do I pay if the message is not delivered?
No. Meta charges only when a message is delivered.
Which price applies if my number is Saudi and my customer is in Jordan?
The customer's country. Meta prices by the country code of the number receiving the message, so that message is charged at the Rest of Middle East rate.
- How the WhatsApp Business API works on Inboxi
- How to get the verified badge
- WhatsApp campaigns that follow the rules
Connect your number and see your real costs
Start with one number and your customer conversations. The first 1,000 service replies each month cost you nothing from Meta.