After the near break-up over security issues, UAEs Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has now announced a new strategic partnership with Research In Motion (RIM) and telecom operators Etisalat and Du.

"We are pleased to be working with the TRA, Etisalat and Du on this important initiative to support mobile innovation across the Middle East. We are excited to build on our success in the region and to deepen our commitment to delivering industry leading products and services...," said Jim Balsillie, co-CEO of RIM.

The tie-up, focussed on fostering mobile innovation across the Middle East, will also support the TRAs mandate to encourage, promote and develop the telecommunications and information technology industry in the UAE and across the region.

The partnership is also committed to bringing more localised content and applications to the BlackBerry platform in the Middle East, Balsillie said.

Mohammed H Omran, Chairman of Etisalat said that deal would help expand the mobile developer community in the Middle East, as it was the true catalyst for success in the mobile economy.

"This partnership will also support Etisalat's endeavours to offer more mobile banking and commerce applications to its customers," Omran said.

Blackberry faced the threat of a ban in UAE before the government last week revoked its decision to suspend the operations of the Canada-based company.

It, however, faces a similar threat in India, if it fails to come out with a solution to allow security agencies lawful access to encrypted data in BlackBerry's popular messenger and enterprise-mail services. The company has been given time till December this year to comply with government directive.

There are a million BlackBerry users in India.