What goes into a sender ID authorization letter
Operators register an alphanumeric sender ID only when they can tie it to a legal entity that is entitled to use the name. The letter is how you make that link in writing: who you are, which names you want, what you'll send, and that you take responsibility for it.
The generator builds every letter from the same set of fields, so nothing that operators routinely check is left out.
- Company details: legal name, commercial registration or trade licence number, registered address and contact.
- Date and, for Saudi letters, the Hijri date alongside the Gregorian one, plus an optional reference number.
- Addressee: the SMS provider filing the registration, which then submits to the regulator and the mobile operators.
- The sender IDs, each with its message type: transactional, promotional or OTP.
- A sample message, so the operator can see the sender ID matches real traffic.
- Declarations: you own the brand or trademark, you're responsible for content, you message only consenting recipients and offer an opt-out.
- Validity, the authorized signatory's name and title, a signature line and space for the company stamp.
LOA, NOC or Saudi-style bilingual: which one you need
Use a letter of authorization when the company that owns the brand is also the one sending. It authorizes the provider to register the sender ID and use it for that company's messages only.
Use a no objection certificate when someone else sends on the brand's behalf, such as a marketing agency, a reseller or a software platform. The brand owner confirms it has no objection to that party using its name, keeps responsibility for the content and can withdraw the permission in writing. The agency usually adds its own registration documents.
The Saudi-style bilingual letter puts formal Arabic and English side by side, shows the Hijri date and has a field for the Unified National Number. It's the format most Saudi submissions end up in, and it reads well in the UAE and the rest of the Gulf too.
Country notes for the Gulf and the Middle East
Registration is mandatory in all of these markets, and the letter goes through your SMS provider to the regulator and each operator. We confirm the exact list for each country during onboarding.
- Saudi Arabia: the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) sets the rules; stc, Mobily and Zain register the IDs. Promotional IDs may need the “-AD” suffix.
- United Arab Emirates: TDRA rules, registered with etisalat and du. Promotional sender IDs start with “AD-”.
- Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman: the national regulator plus each operator; a commercial registration copy is the usual companion document.
- Egypt: NTRA rules, with Vodafone, Orange, etisalat and WE. A commercial register extract and tax card are often requested.
- Jordan: TRC rules, with Zain, Orange and Umniah.
Why sender ID letters get sent back
Most rejections come down to a mismatch between the letter and the supporting documents, not the wording of the letter.
- The company name differs from the commercial registration, even by one word or abbreviation.
- The registration or trade licence has expired.
- No signature, no stamp, or a signatory who isn't on the registration and has no power of attorney.
- The sender ID doesn't resemble the company or brand name and there's no trademark certificate.
- Generic sender IDs such as “INFO”, “SMS” or “OTP”, which operators usually refuse.
- Promotional IDs without the country's required marker, such as “AD-” in the UAE.