Is the WhatsApp “green tick” green or blue?
People in the UAE still search for the “green tick”, but none of the Meta pages we read on 5 November 2026 use that word. Meta’s developer documentation says an Official Business Account shows a “blue checkmark” next to its name. WhatsApp’s help pages call the Meta Verified result a “verified badge (blue tick)”.
So when a supplier or a colleague promises you the green tick, ask which of the two they mean. They are different products, for different kinds of numbers, with different rules and costs.
Which route fits your number: Official Business Account or Meta Verified?
It depends on how your number runs WhatsApp. A number on the WhatsApp Business API (Meta calls it the WhatsApp Business Platform) can request an Official Business Account, or OBA. A number on the free WhatsApp Business app on a phone can subscribe to Meta Verified. Meta’s OBA page says it does not grant OBA status to WhatsApp Business app numbers.
| Question | Official Business Account | Meta Verified for Business |
|---|---|---|
| For which number | A number on the WhatsApp Business API | A number on the WhatsApp Business app |
| What it is | A status you request from Meta | A paid monthly subscription |
| Where you apply | WhatsApp Manager, or through the API | In the app: Tools, then Meta Verified |
| Main conditions | Business Verification, 30 days on the platform, two-step verification, an approved display name, policy compliance | Aged 18 or over, a number in a country where Meta offers it, time on the app, recent messages, a profile name and picture |
| Cost on Meta’s pages | No fee mentioned on the pages we read | From USD 14.99 a month per WhatsApp number, list price |
| If Meta says no | A new request after 30 days | The payment is refunded |
If you are not sure which one you run, we explain the difference in WhatsApp Business app vs API.
What does Meta require for an Official Business Account?
Meta’s Official Business Accounts page, updated 19 September 2026, lists five conditions. All of them must be met before you request:
- The business has been registered on the WhatsApp Business Platform for at least 30 days.
- The business portfolio that owns the number has passed Meta’s Business Verification.
- Two-step verification is turned on for the business phone number.
- The number’s display name has been approved.
- The business follows the WhatsApp Business Messaging Policy.
Meeting the list lets you request the status. Meta then reviews the request and tells you whether it is granted. Meta also says it does not grant OBA status to business employees, test accounts or WhatsApp Business app numbers.
Which documents Meta can ask a UAE company for during Business Verification, such as the trade licence, is in our guide on how to get the WhatsApp Business API in the UAE.
How do you request it in WhatsApp Manager?
Meta’s page describes the request like this:
- Open WhatsApp Manager and go to the Overview.
- Click the business phone number you want verified.
- Turn on two-step verification if it is not on yet.
- Under Phone numbers, Profile, Official business account, click Submit Request.
The request can also be sent through the API. If Meta rejects it, you can submit a new request after 30 days. If the button does not appear although you meet every condition, Meta’s page says to contact your Meta point of contact, your provider’s support or Meta Support.
Meta’s pages that we read do not mention a fee for an OBA request. That is an absence on the page, not a statement from Meta that it is free.
What does an Official Business Account change for customers?
Meta’s page points to two things. The blue checkmark appears beside the business name in the contacts view. And search: a number that is not an OBA “will not appear in search results” when people search inside WhatsApp, and Meta recommends OBA status “for improved discoverability”. A customer who has saved your number still finds your display name in search either way.
If your inquiries come from an ad, a website button or a QR code, customers reach you without search. The badge helps people trust that the chat is really you; it does not bring the inquiries by itself. That part is the job of your click-to-WhatsApp ads and how fast you answer.
How does Meta Verified work, and what does it cost?
Meta Verified for Business is a subscription you buy inside the WhatsApp Business app. From the chat list you tap Tools, then Meta Verified, pick the package Meta recommends, pay, select your business and choose a verification method. If the option is missing, WhatsApp’s help page says it may not be available to you yet.
Meta lists these prices in US dollars, per month, for one WhatsApp phone number:
| Plan | USD per month | Linked devices |
|---|---|---|
| Business Standard | 14.99 | 4 |
| Business Plus | 49.99 | 6 |
| Business Premium | 149.99 | 8 |
| Business Max | 499.99 | 10 |
Payment goes through the Apple App Store or Google Play, is charged monthly and renews automatically. Refunds are available if you did not complete verification or Meta could not verify your business. There are no partial refunds, and every refund request is subject to approval. None of the Meta pages we read shows an AED price, so the amount you see in the app is the one to budget.
On 15 September 2026, Meta introduced Meta One, a subscription with plans for businesses. Meta says its Essential plan, starting at USD 14.99 a month, includes a verified badge and a verified channel on the WhatsApp Business app, “pending successful verification”. Pricing and availability may vary by region, app and account, Meta adds. Meta’s Meta Verified page now carries a banner saying its features are available in Meta One.
Does paying for Meta Verified give you the badge?
Not automatically. WhatsApp’s help page says subscribing “doesn’t guarantee a verified badge”. After you subscribe, one of three things happens: Meta verifies you from your activity across its apps, Meta asks you to submit documents, or you subscribe without a verification option.
A few rules from WhatsApp’s help pages decide whether the badge stays:
- The business name on your subscription must match the name on the documents you provide.
- Your WhatsApp Business profile name must match that business name too, or Meta cannot verify you.
- A newly registered business is told to try again after 4 weeks.
- Editing your business profile after verification can cost you the verified status.
- The badge is not permanent: Meta can remove it, and the rest of the subscription stays.
Is Meta Verified available in the UAE?
None of the Meta pages we read names the UAE. WhatsApp’s help pages say Meta Verified for businesses “is slowly rolling out” and that plans “may be limited to select businesses and/or locations”, based on your business activity. The honest test is the app itself: open Tools and look for Meta Verified. If it is not there, it is not offered to your number yet.
Two more points are not settled on Meta’s pages. They do not say Meta Verified can be bought for an API number; WhatsApp’s help pages describe the app only. And they do not say how many days on the app Meta wants before you are eligible.
Do you need the tick before you start selling on WhatsApp?
No. An API number answers customers, sends templates and connects to an AI sales agent for WhatsApp without the badge. Use the first 30 days on the platform, which Meta requires before an OBA request, to get your display name approved, finish Business Verification and keep every message within the policy. Request the badge when the list above is complete, and keep the number on your own business account so the status stays with you; why that matters is in who owns your WhatsApp number and data.