WhatsApp AI and WhatsApp Business API by country (2026)
What WhatsApp AI costs in each country's own currency, which Meta rate market each one sits in, the consent law that governs messaging there, and the working week your customers keep. One page per market, from KIRA, a Meta verified Business Solution Provider.
Every market, side by side
The four columns that actually change a plan. The price is resolved from KIRA's own pricing service, the rate market is Meta's own classification, and the reach figure carries its source on the country page.
| Country | Lojain, one plan | Meta rate market | Weekend | WhatsApp reach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia +966 | 6,400 SAR / year, AI included | Saudi Arabia has its own standalone rate on Meta's WhatsApp rate card, not a pooled regional rate, and it is one of nine markets eligible for the higher authentication-international rate. | The Saudi weekend is Friday and Saturday. | 83.1 percent of Saudi internet users aged 16 to 64 use WhatsApp, about 21.46 million people, on 2024 data. |
| the UAE +971 | 6,200 AED / year, AI included | The UAE has its own standalone rate on Meta's WhatsApp rate card and is one of nine markets eligible for the higher authentication-international rate. | The UAE is the Gulf exception. | 85.8 percent of UAE internet users aged 16 to 64 use WhatsApp, about 5.66 million people, on 2024 data. |
| Qatar +974 | 6,200 QAR / year, AI included | Qatar left the pooled Rest of Middle East rate and moved to its own standalone rate on Meta's WhatsApp rate card on 1 July 2026, with higher utility and authentication rates. | Qatar's weekend is Friday and Saturday, with the working week Sunday to Thursday. | 93 percent of internet users in Qatar use WhatsApp, on Northwestern University in Qatar's Media Use in the Middle East survey. |
| Oman +968 | 650 OMR / year, AI included | Oman still sits in Meta's pooled Rest of Middle East rate market, under calling code 968, alongside Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon and Yemen. | Oman's weekend is Friday and Saturday and the working week runs Sunday to Thursday. | 96 percent of Omani citizens used a social media application in the last three months, and 99 percent of those used WhatsApp, far ahead of YouTube at 75 percent, Instagram at 69 percent and Facebook at 20 percent. |
| the United States +1 | 1,690 USD / year, AI included | The United States has no standalone row on Meta's WhatsApp rate card. | The working week is Monday to Friday and the weekend is Saturday and Sunday, which is the opposite pattern to the Gulf. | 32 percent of US adults say they use WhatsApp, up from 23 percent in 2021. |
| Canada +1 | 2,400 CAD / year, AI included | Canada has no standalone row on Meta's WhatsApp rate card. | The working week is Monday to Friday and the weekend is Saturday and Sunday. | 47 percent of adult Canadian internet users say they use WhatsApp, up from 35 percent a year earlier and from 33 percent in 2019. |
| the United Kingdom +44 | 1,280 GBP / year, AI included | The United Kingdom has its own standalone rate on Meta's WhatsApp rate card and is not pooled into a Rest of Western Europe bucket. | The working week is Monday to Friday and the weekend is Saturday and Sunday. | WhatsApp reached 90 percent of UK adults online in 2025, up from 87 percent the year before. |
| India +91 | 165,000 INR / year, AI included | India has its own standalone rate on Meta's WhatsApp rate card, it is one of the cheapest markets in the world to message, and it is one of nine markets eligible for the authentication-international rate. | Most private companies work Monday to Friday with a Saturday and Sunday weekend, but a large share of businesses and public offices treat only Sunday as off, or take the second and fourth Saturday. | 50 percent of Indian adults say they use WhatsApp, and India is WhatsApp's single largest market worldwide by user count. |
| Nigeria +234 | 2,400,000 NGN / year, AI included | Nigeria has its own standalone rate on Meta's WhatsApp rate card and is one of nine markets eligible for the higher authentication-international rate, which matters because authentication codes are a large share of Nigerian message volume. | The working week is Monday to Friday with a Saturday and Sunday weekend, but market trading and small business selling run through Saturday, so the commercial week is effectively six days. | WhatsApp reaches 95 percent of internet users in Nigeria, one of the highest penetration rates measured anywhere in the world. |
| South Africa +27 | 30,000 ZAR / year, AI included | South Africa has its own standalone rate on Meta's WhatsApp rate card and is one of nine markets eligible for the higher authentication-international rate. | The working week is Monday to Friday with a Saturday and Sunday weekend. | WhatsApp reaches 96 percent of internet users in South Africa, the highest penetration of any market on this page. |
Kuwait
KIRA was founded in Kuwait and Kuwait has its own set of pages, which is why it is not repeated here. Kuwait currently sits in Meta's pooled Rest of Middle East rate market and moves to a standalone rate on 1 October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Does WhatsApp Business API pricing change by country?
Yes. Since 1 July 2025 Meta charges per delivered template message, and the rate is set by the calling code of the person receiving it, not by where your company is registered. Some countries have their own standalone rate and others are pooled into a regional market, and countries move between the two on quarter dates.
Does Lojain cost more in one country than another?
No. Lojain is one plan at one price, and what changes is the currency it is shown in. The figure is converted at the daily rate with enough head room that the amount KIRA receives is the same wherever the customer is. The card is charged in Kuwaiti dinar.
Which countries does KIRA serve?
KIRA is a global company. It was founded in Kuwait and sells worldwide. The countries listed on this page are the ones with a dedicated page because their local facts could be sourced and verified; KIRA serves businesses outside that list as well.
Does Lojain answer in Arabic?
Yes, Arabic and English on the same number, in whichever language the customer opened the conversation in. Every page on this site exists in both languages.
One number, every language, no closed hours
Tell us which country your customers message from and we will show you Lojain answering them in their own language on WhatsApp.
Talk to Us on WhatsApp