WhatsApp down: users around the world unable to send or receive messages

WhatsApp users around the world are reporting problems with sending and receiving messages.

According to site Downdetector, there was a sharp rise in reports of issues with the app shortly after 11am GST, with more than 9,000 users in the UAE reporting problems.

Users reporting problems sending and receiving WhatsApp messages around the world. Photo: Downdetector

The problems do not seem to be limited to one particular region and are affecting users around the world. WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta, was trending on Twitter on Tuesday, with thousands of users logging on to see whether they were alone in experiencing the problems.

"Feeling relaxed after confirming from Twitter that I’m not alone #WhatsApp," one user wrote.

"I've now realised how much I rely on WhatsApp," another user said.

WhatsApp outages were reported across the UAE on Tuesday morning. Photo: Downdetector

Users are able to open the app, type messages and read existing conversations, but new messages are currently undeliverable. The problems also seem to be affecting WhatsApp Web.

Messages in private chats are appearing with one tick, signifying they have not reached the recipient, and messages in groups are not sending at all.

WhatsApp users can now transfer chats from Android to iOS

WhatsApp is yet to release a statement on the outage.

Global glitches for WhatsApp users are rare. However, last October, the messenger platform, along with other Meta-owned apps Facebook and Instagram, suffered at six-hour outage, affecting as many as 2.7 billion people around the world.

Naturally, the masses migrated over to Twitter, which seemed ready to welcome the online crowds.

Quick to react to the flood of users, the Twitter account simply tweeted, "hello literally everyone".

The tweet received a lot of attention, with 3.2 million likes.

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Key figures in the life of the fort

Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.

Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.

Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.

Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae

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Marital status: Single

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Languages: Arabic, French, English, Portuguese and some Spanish

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