Tele-psychotherapy has seen significant growth in Arab countries over the past decade. However, this practice has not been thoroughly evaluated, especially regarding essential ethical concerns. This study aims to offer a comprehensive overview of tele-psychotherapy applications in the Arab Gulf States, specifically focusing on identifying existing platforms and examining the ethical issues associated with their practice.

An environmental scan was initially conducted through Google Play, App Store, and Google search engine to identify tele-psychotherapy applications in Gulf countries. Fourteen apps were found, and 9 were chosen for a qualitative content analysis. Data were gathered using a 12-item semi-structured evaluation form that focused on operational locations, practitioner qualifications (CVs), registration procedures, service protocols, types of services offered, session duration, and financial costs. The evaluation was based on publicly available information as of July 2025.

Many practitioners lacked adequate clinical training, often only holding a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Sessions typically lasted between 15 and 60 min, with costs ranging from 50 to 450 Saudi Riyals depending on the service type and therapist experience. Importantly, the study revealed a lack of publicly available guiding policies or ethical codes for these platforms. The most significant ethical issues identified included: (1) transnational applications and cultural sensitivity, (2) licensing problems, (3) competency, qualification, and training, (4) lack of supervision, (5) confidentiality and data security, (6) integrity, (7) professionalism, (8) emergency management, (9) session efficiency and cost, and (10) issues related to informed consent.

These findings underscore the necessity for increased oversight by psychological institutions in the Gulf region and the establishment of robust ethical guidelines for digital platforms. This research lays a practical foundation for future studies and policy enhancements in the field.