WhatsApp Green Tick Verification in Saudi Arabia: Getting the Blue Badge

WhatsApp's green tick no longer exists in that colour: Meta unified its verification badge across Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp as a blue checkmark. Today there are two ways to get it: Official Business Account status for WhatsApp Business API numbers, which is free and decided by Meta, or a paid Meta subscription inside the WhatsApp Business app that includes the badge after Meta verifies the business.

Key takeaways

• The old green badge was replaced by a unified blue checkmark, and people search for it under both names.
• On the WhatsApp Business API: request Official Business Account status for free in WhatsApp Manager after 30 days on the platform, business verification, an approved display name and two-step verification.
• On the WhatsApp Business app: the badge is part of Meta's paid business subscription, while the app itself stays free.
• Business verification and display name approval are required steps, but neither grants the badge on its own.
• The badge builds trust and deters impersonation, but it does not raise messaging limits or exempt you from template review or consent rules.

What happened to WhatsApp's green tick?

For years a green tick next to a business name meant Meta had approved the number as an "Official Business Account". Meta then unified the colour of its verification badge across its apps, so official WhatsApp accounts now show a blue checkmark. Meta's developer documentation confirms that Official Business Account numbers display a blue checkmark beside their name in the contacts view.

Where does the blue badge appear?

Next to the business name in the chat, on the business profile and on the contact card. The point is to show customers the number really belongs to the brand they deal with, not an account copying its name and logo.

Do not confuse the badge with read receipts

The two blue ticks under a message mean it was read; they have nothing to do with verification. The verified badge is a single checkmark next to the business name, shown in every chat and on the profile.

Why do people still search for the "green tick"?

Because the name stuck and many ads still use it. Anyone promising the "green tick" means one of today's two routes; ask which one. No provider can guarantee approval: the decision is Meta's alone.

Two routes to the verified badge: quick comparison

Official Business Account on the WhatsApp Business API: requirements and steps

Eligibility

According to Meta's Official Business Accounts documentation, you need the following before requesting:

• Compliance with the WhatsApp Business Messaging Policy.
• Registration on the WhatsApp Business Platform (the API) for at least 30 days.
• A business portfolio verified through Business Verification.
• Two-step verification enabled on the business number.
• An approved display name for the number.

Beyond these formal conditions, Meta also weighs the business's authenticity and public recognition, so a complete request from a young brand without public presence may still be declined. Meta does not grant this status to business employees, test accounts or WhatsApp Business app numbers. If your number runs across the app and the API through Coexistence, check its status with your provider before applying.

Steps to request

1. Open WhatsApp Manager and select the business number from the Overview page.
2. Enable two-step verification if it is not already on.
3. Open the number's settings, then Profile, and choose Official business account.
4. Click Submit Request and add links that prove your brand's presence, such as independent press coverage.
5. Wait for the approval or rejection notice; your provider can also query the status via the API.

What if the request is rejected?

Meta says you must wait 30 days before submitting another request. Use that time to strengthen your brand's presence and fix any data mismatch. Rejection does not limit your business profile: your picture, description, email and website remain visible to customers.

The paid subscription in the WhatsApp Business app

For businesses on the WhatsApp Business app rather than the API, Meta offers the badge through a paid subscription. It was known as Meta Verified; on 15 September 2026 Meta launched Meta One globally with plans for creators and businesses, the Essential plan starting at $14.99 a month in US pricing, with prices and availability varying by country. Saudi Arabia was among the first markets to test these plans from May 2026.

What is included?

• A verified badge and verified channel on the WhatsApp Business app, after Meta verifies the business.
• Impersonation protection.
• More access to Meta Business Agent for customer replies, and on higher plans team access without sharing passwords, more linked devices and broadcast credits.

How to subscribe

According to WhatsApp Business's Meta One page, you find the subscription in the chat list or the Tools tab, choose a plan, and eligible new subscribers may get a seven-day free trial. It is purchased per business profile or phone number; the app stays free and subscriptions are optional. Because no SAR price was published in the official announcement, rely on the price shown in your app. We compare this subscription with the API in Meta's paid WhatsApp plans in Saudi Arabia.

Which route suits you?

If a team runs your business and you need automation, store notifications and organised campaigns, your natural home is the WhatsApp Business API, where the badge comes through an OBA request once your brand matures. If you run things yourself from the phone and mainly want to protect your name from impersonators, the paid app subscription is the shorter route. Choose the platform that fits how you work, not the badge.

Business verification and display name approval: required, but not the badge

Business Verification

It runs from the Security Center of your Meta business portfolio, using an official document that matches the business name and address; for a Saudi business the closest is the commercial registration. Verification raises messaging limits and the number of phone numbers allowed, and is a condition for requesting OBA, but it puts no badge next to your name.

Display name approval

Every API number needs a display name reviewed by Meta. An accepted name reflects your brand as it appears on your website, signage and channels, and avoids generic words alone, emojis, excess punctuation and any implied link to a brand you do not own. Without an approved name you cannot request OBA at all. If you are still on personal WhatsApp, start with our guide to switching personal WhatsApp to WhatsApp Business.

What improves your chances of OBA approval?

• Verifiable public presence: coverage in independent, unpaid media that names your brand, not just press releases on your own site.
• Consistent details: one name across the commercial registration, business portfolio, website and display name.
• A clear website: showing the business name, WhatsApp number and contact details, ideally with an email on the same domain.
• A clean messaging record: high number quality and templates that do not trigger blocks and reports, in the first 30 days and beyond.
• A brand people search for: names known in their category or city are more likely to be approved than generic ones.

What the blue badge does not do

• It does not raise messaging limits; those depend on business verification and message quality.
• It does not exempt templates from Meta's review or change message prices.
• It does not protect the number from restrictions if you break policy or message people without consent.
• It does not replace compliance with the Personal Data Protection Law when collecting numbers and marketing.
• It does not raise sales by itself; fast replies and good service turn trust into orders.

How to protect customers from impersonators, even before the badge

Impersonation worries every known store and brand: an account copies your name and logo and asks customers for a bank transfer or card details. The badge helps, but it is not the only defence:

• Publish your official number everywhere trusted: your website, Google Maps profile, invoices, packaging, social accounts and your wa.me link.
• Take payment only through your store links, and tell customers you never ask for card details or OTPs in chat.
• Keep a stable display name and picture; frequent changes confuse customers and make copying easier.
• Report the impersonating account in WhatsApp using the report-business option, and ask customers to do the same.
• Alert customers with a service message when you spot impersonation, repeating your one official number.

How Watily helps

Watily is a Saudi platform approved by Meta to activate the official WhatsApp Business API, and we support you through the steps that come before an OBA request:

• Official activation in 24–72 hours and a display name that matches your brand to reduce the risk of rejection.
• Help organising your business portfolio details before verification, and a reminder to enable two-step verification.
• An approved template library and segmented campaigns that protect your number's quality, plus a team inbox, chatbot and AI replies grounded in your knowledge base.
• Arabic support in Riyadh, Sunday to Thursday.

For the full activation path see the complete WhatsApp Business API guide for Saudi Arabia, and to budget messages after verification see WhatsApp API pricing in SAR.

Start with the right foundation for the badge: an official number, an approved display name and a verified business. Explore Watily's WhatsApp Business API solution and talk to our team about your number.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the WhatsApp green tick still exist?

Not in that colour. Meta unified its verification badge as a blue checkmark across Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, and Official Business Accounts now show a blue badge next to their name.

Is WhatsApp blue badge verification free?

Official Business Account status on the WhatsApp Business API is free and decided by Meta. On the WhatsApp Business app, the badge is part of Meta's paid business subscription.

How long must I wait before requesting OBA?

Meta requires your business to be registered on the WhatsApp Business Platform for at least 30 days, with business verification, an approved display name and two-step verification. If rejected, you must wait 30 days before reapplying.

Can any provider guarantee the badge?

No. The decision is Meta's alone; a provider's role is to prepare the number, display name and data and submit the request correctly. Be wary of any offer promising guaranteed approval for a fee.

What is the difference between the badge and the two blue ticks?

The two blue ticks under a message only mean the customer read it. The verified badge is a single mark next to the business name showing Meta verified the account.

Does the badge increase how many messages I can send?

No. Messaging limits grow with business verification, message quality and sending volume, not with the badge. The badge is a trust and anti-impersonation tool.