Introduction
If you have shopped for a phone in Saudi Arabia recently, you have probably noticed it: brand-new Huawei flagships like the Pura 90 series take excellent photos and feel premium — yet they arrive with no Google services. No Play Store, no Gmail app, no YouTube or Google Maps preinstalled. This is not a defect or a regional choice; it is the result of a political decision taken in 2019 that still shapes every Huawei phone sold in 2026.
The short version: the United States government restricted American companies from supplying technology to Huawei, Google could no longer license its apps and services to the company, and Huawei responded by building its own software universe — HarmonyOS, Huawei Mobile Services (HMS), and the AppGallery store. This explainer walks through what happened, what works today, and what to check before buying.
The 2019 Ban: What Actually Happened
On 16 May 2019, the US Department of Commerce added Huawei to its "Entity List", a trade blacklist that requires American companies to obtain a government license before selling or transferring technology to a listed firm. Washington cited national-security concerns about the Chinese company's telecom equipment and its alleged links to the Chinese state — accusations Huawei has consistently denied.
The consumer impact was immediate. Google confirmed it would comply, which meant Huawei could no longer pre-install Google Mobile Services (GMS): the Play Store, Gmail, YouTube, Google Maps, Google Pay, and the background services many third-party apps rely on for notifications, location and sign-in. Phones already sold kept their Google access, but every model launched after the ban — starting with the Mate 30 series in late 2019 — shipped without it.
Crucially, Huawei phones still run apps. Android itself is open source, and Huawei continued using Android Open Source Project code for years; what disappeared was only Google's proprietary layer on top. That distinction explains why a Huawei phone can run WhatsApp perfectly well yet cannot offer the Play Store.
HarmonyOS and AppGallery: Huawei's Answer
Huawei's answer had two tracks. The first was Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) and the AppGallery, its own app store, which had launched in China in 2011 and gone global in 2018. After the ban, Huawei poured money into developer programs to bring essential apps across, and AppGallery grew into what the company describes as one of the world's largest app marketplaces, with hundreds of millions of monthly users.
The second track was HarmonyOS, Huawei's own operating system, unveiled in 2019 and rolled out to phones in 2021. Early versions stayed compatible with Android apps; the newer HarmonyOS NEXT generation — the basis of the software on current flagships such as the Pura 90 family launched in April 2026 — removed Android compatibility entirely and runs only native HarmonyOS apps distributed through AppGallery.
For buyers in the Gulf, the practical picture is decent for everyday local use. Saudi and UAE banking apps, government services, food delivery, and regional shopping apps are widely available on AppGallery, and Huawei's own Petal Maps covers navigation. Popular global apps such as WhatsApp, TikTok, Snapchat and Telegram are present too. The gaps appear with Google's own apps and with services that depend deeply on Google's frameworks.
What Works and What Doesn't in 2026
What works out of the box: calling, messaging, cameras, Huawei's cloud and backup tools, AppGallery apps, and web versions of almost everything — Gmail, YouTube and Google Maps all run in the browser. Microsoft apps, Zoom, and most streaming services are available natively or work well through the web.
What does not work natively: the Google Play Store and apps that require Google Play Services to function. Some banking and ride-hailing apps fall into this category in certain countries, though most major Gulf banks have published AppGallery versions. Google Pay does not work; contactless payments rely on alternatives such as bank apps, local wallet solutions, or wearable payment features.
Workarounds exist — open-source projects such as microG, and container apps like GBox or Gspace that create a Google-friendly sandbox. They can restore Gmail, YouTube and Google sign-in for many apps, but they are unofficial, occasionally break after updates, and rarely support Google Pay or full banking functionality. Treat them as a hobbyist fix, not a guarantee.
Should You Buy a Huawei Phone?
Whether a Huawei phone suits you in 2026 depends on your app list. Before buying, open AppGallery on any Huawei demo device — or on the web — and search for the ten apps you use daily. If they are all there, the hardware is easy to recommend: Huawei's cameras, batteries and build quality remain competitive, and prices in the Gulf are often aggressive.
If your life runs on Google's ecosystem — Gmail with multiple accounts, Google Photos backups, Google Maps timeline, Android Auto — the friction is real. The browser covers casual use, but it does not replace deep integration. Some users carry a Huawei as a second phone for its camera while keeping a Google-certified device as their main.
There is no sign of the US restrictions being lifted, and Huawei has invested too heavily in HarmonyOS to reverse course. The realistic expectation for the next few years is more of the same: better Huawei hardware, a steadily improving AppGallery, and Google services remaining absent. For other big technology questions, see our explainers on ChatGPT, Google Gemini, AI agents, large language models, and prompt engineering.
Sources
- Huawei Consumer — HarmonyOS — official operating system and device pages.
- Huawei AppGallery — official app store; check app availability yourself.
- GSMArena — Huawei Pura 90 specifications and 2026 launch details.
- Wikipedia — HarmonyOS — operating system history, versions, and the 2019 ban context.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why don't Huawei phones have Google Play?
Since May 2019 Huawei has been on the US Entity List, so Google cannot license its apps and services to the company. Huawei phones launched after the ban ship without the Play Store, Gmail, YouTube and Google Maps preinstalled.
Can I install Google services on a Huawei phone?
There is no official way. Unofficial tools such as microG or container apps like GBox can restore some Google apps, but they are not guaranteed, may break with updates, and rarely support Google Pay or full banking features.
Does WhatsApp work on Huawei phones?
Yes. WhatsApp is available through AppGallery in most markets and works normally for chats, calls and backups to Huawei's cloud or local storage.
Do Saudi banking apps work on Huawei?
Most major Saudi and Gulf banks publish AppGallery versions of their apps, and government services are widely available too. Check your specific bank's app on AppGallery before buying, and remember Google Pay itself is unavailable.
Is HarmonyOS the same as Android?
No. Early Huawei phones after the ban used open-source Android code with Huawei's own services. The newer HarmonyOS NEXT generation, seen on 2026 flagships like the Pura 90 series, is a separate system that runs only native HarmonyOS apps.