Self-hosted AI assistant for UAE founder: WhatsApp chat plus PSTN calls hits provider walls
Ok-Area2784 · reddit · 2026-11-03
A developer is building a self-hosted AI executive assistant for a UAE-based founder: WhatsApp chat via a Baileys bridge (allow-list of one user), plus proactive outbound PSTN calls — necessary because WhatsApp and Telegram voice calls are blocked in the UAE. Stack: Pipecat + Twilio Media Streams, SQLite with FTS5 and optional sqlite-vec, open-source models, eventually a Mac mini in Dubai.
Findings so far: Twilio docs claim UAE outbound calling works with caller ID preserved, but UAE geographic numbers are inbound-only; Retell blocks +971; a Vapi support bot claims Twilio can't call the UAE (contradicting docs, untested). Most CPaaS providers (Telnyx, Vonage, Plivo) seem to offer only toll-free numbers there. The author asks the community about working providers, caller-ID delivery, VoIP regulatory limits, WhatsApp number setup, and handoff between the two channels, promising to share live-test results.
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