Best VPN for UAE

Best VPN for the United Arab Emirates

As is the case with many Islamic nations in the Middle East, the governments of UAE tends to censor online content that doesn’t fit in with their religion, laws or culture. Despite that, many things online are allowed in UAE, they are certainly not as restrictive as China for example. Most foreign news sites can still be accessed and much more. But even with that being the case, things like Skype, betting, dating sites, etc. are completely forbidden and can rarely be accessed using standard methods.

If you try to access these sites that the Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRA) has forbidden, and you actually manage to get through, then you can easily get in trouble with the authorities. The TRA is the government’s agency and they decide what is to be censored online and when they do so, every Internet Service Provider (ISP) in the country must comply and block access to those sites. With that being the case, you need to have your IP masked when you access forbidden content, or the government will have no problems locating and subsequently punishing you in accordance with the law.

Thankfully, with a proper VPN, you will be able to mask your IP easily and do so much more than just safely accessing forbidden content online in UAE. With that in mind, this article will explain what you need to know about VPNs, the best VPNs to use in UAE, and much more. So if you are a person residing in UAE or just a tourist in the country these are our best UAE VPNs

Top 3 UAE VPN

Why is a VPN for UAE important?

When it comes to using a VPN in general, people will always assume that the most important thing that a VPN provides is convenience. The convenience of being able to easily access any site you want. This is true for UAE as well, but there is much more to it than just that.

First of all, a VPN is important as it will encrypt your data online and your browsing habits by giving you a different IP address that cannot be traced back to you. In UAE, as we have already mentioned, this is very important, because it does happen from time to time that the authorities punish people (with a fine in most cases, but in some rare cases with jail time as well) for doing things online that are forbidden. With a good VPN, you will always be able to efficiently mask your IP and thus the authorities will never be able to track you down. In that way, you would be able to do whatever you want online.

For some people in UAE, being able to visit certain blocked websites is important because of their work, so using a VPN is a must. People like journalists can’t get all the information that they need because the government blocks access to certain news sites like the ones that come from Israel. Most other people simply want to use Skype or any other VoIP apps with ease. Yes, Skype, WhatsApp, and many others are banned in UAE. This mostly comes from the fact the UAE wants to help local VoIP app business to succeed. However, this is of no concern to the regular people who are used to using Skype or WhatsApp. With a good VPN, they can, and so can you.

Furthermore, a lot of the content that you can easily find on most streaming sites in other countries is censored in UAE. If you use a VPN, you are able to go around this by appearing to be in another country. With so much content being geographically locked, using a VPN is becoming a necessity if you want to see everything you want to see. That’s not the case only in UAE but in many other places all around the globe. But it’s very true that this is more useful in UAE that it is in other countries. So if you want to use US Netflix, UK iPlayer, Australia Ten Network, or anything else, with a proper VPN, you will be able to do exactly that with ease!

How to use a VPN in UAE

The good thing here is that you can use it just like you do in any other place. The only difference here is that you need to be careful with which one you use, because, as you already know, using a bad VPN can get you discovered in UAE and you can get in trouble if you have been using it to visit websites that are forbidden and browsing content that’s censored.

First of all, you need to realize that using a free VPN in UAE is a big mistake. Don’t get me wrong, I wish it were because I want to sell you a VPN, it’s really because free VPNs don’t have the resources to worry about everything and provide you with enough protection in UAE. It’s easy in places where the government doesn’t care or they simply don’t have any laws about VPNs, but in UAE, that’s not the case. So it’s much safer to spend a few bucks per month and gain protection and a lot of other advantages than to risk it by using a free VPN service.

Furthermore, even a paid VPN can be bad in UAE, because it lacks a good encryption method, or it uses a bad protocol, or something entirely different. You need to be careful here and we will tell you all the things you need to look for before you buy a VPN in UAE later in the article. If you don’t really want to get into it, you can just take a look at our recommendations for the best VPNs in UAE and pick the one that suits you the most. We were careful in reviewing enough VPNs and picking the ones that will provide you with more than enough security, privacy, speed, and everything else that’s important for a VPN in UAE and in general.

Key UAE VPN Questions and Answers

  • Are VPNs legal? Are they legal in UAE? You have probably assumed by now that this is the most important question concerning VPNs in UAE. VPNs are legal, and they are legal in UAE as well. But their use in UAE is a little bit of a grey area, and no one is really sure what’s true. What we can safely tell you is that yes, there were rare instances when VPN users were fined for visiting banned sites via a VPN, but in an overwhelming majority of cases, the authorities turn a blind eye to the use of a VPN for illegal purposes. This is probably because there are simply too many people in UAE, both citizens, and foreigners, who regularly use a VPN in order to text or call a relative over Skype, place a bet or two on many gambling sites, read something that might be considered anti-religious, and much more. So in short, if you use a good enough VPN, you will be completely safe.
  • When I get to UAE, can I download a VPN there? Yes, you can, but since they are a legal grey area there, it’s safer for you to download it before you enter the country.
  • Will a VPN slow down my connection? To an extent yes. But most good VPNs (and especially the ones which we recommend) slow it down so little, that it’s barely noticeable. Even such unnoticeable lags are necessary due to the very nature of VPNs. The data needs to pass through a VPN server, in addition to all the regular things it does, which takes time, so the tiniest of lags are basically unavoidable.
  • Can I use a VPN on my phone? Yes, of course. You can use a VPN on basically any device as most VPNs offer their apps for PCs, laptops, smartphones, tablets and more.
  • If I use a VPN, will I be anonymous? No, unfortunately, you won’t. A VPN can only provide privacy by masking your IP, but it can’t offer anonymity.
  • Since my data passes through VPN servers, won’t they be able to see what I’m doing? Yes, technically they can. But most VPNs don’t keep logs of what their users do as that actually defeats their purpose.

Things to look for before buying a VPN

  • Don’t use a free VPN, like we previously mentioned. These just don’t have the money to provide all the proper security a paid-for VPN can.
  • A strong OpenVPN encryption. Most VPNs use OpenVPN, but it’s very important in UAE to get a VPN that definitely offers this.
  • A killswitch feature. Make sure your VPN of choice has it. The killswitch is basically a feature that automatically shuts down your connection when a VPN suddenly loses connection (it happens from time to time, just like with everything) and is thus not able to protect you. This feature is very useful in UAE as you will never accidentally be left unprotected.
  • Stealth mode. Since you will mostly be using your VPN for things deemed illegal in UAE, a stealth mode is a very useful feature a VPN can offer. It effectively makes the very use of a VPN concealed, so the government won’t even be able to see that you have a VPN IP, besides the fact that they already can’t see your own IP.
NordVPN

NordVPN

NordVPN is considered to be one of the, if not the best VPN for Tor, and rightfully so. It is perfectly optimized for the browser and even provides torrenting through Tor. It scores impeccably well in security and privacy fields, as it uses military-grade encryption to keep all of your data private. NordVPN also comes with some unbelievably affordable pricing packages. When paying, you have the option of using Bitcoin if you want to maintain true privacy and anonymity.

The main issue you may encounter when using NordVPN with Tor is that there might be some connection issues or drops during peak hours. Though it might present a problem for some users, this isn’t even noticeable for a casual VPN user.

CyberGhost

The best thing about CyberGhost is that they have more than 800 servers and global coverage. Thus it’s not surprising that they offer high speeds and a really good looking app that’s bound to be appealing to most people.

Furthermore, CyberGhost is really dedicated to civil rights and a full supporter of an uncensored internet, so you can be sure that your privacy is assured with them. They also have a no logs policy. This VPN service offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, with their monthly service plan, so you can test their network before committing to an annual plan.

ExpressVPN Logo

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is currently the leading VPN service in the world. They put a lot of effort into ensuring that the quality of their service always stays at a high level. Recently, the provider delivered on a long-awaited update promise. They have launched a .onion version of their website, to make sure all of their customers are satisfied, even those seeking absolute security. Apart from this, their service has a number of customizable settings and characteristics that offer some of the most robust internet protection available. Moreover, they also accept payments in Bitcoin, among other cryptocurrencies, and offer a 30-day money back guarantee if you find their services are not up to par with your browsing standards.

Best VPN for the United Arab Emirates

In-depth Review

NordVPN
NordVPN

NordVPN

NordVPN is one of the top dogs in the world of VPNs. They have over 4000 servers in 62 countries. One of these countries is UAE, so you can be certain that you will keep the connection speed you already have.

They keep no logs, so your data is safe even from them. They also offer you the ability to use their app on up to 6 devices at the same time, whereas many other VPNs only offer 5 or less.

Most importantly, NordVPN uses high-level SSL-2048-bit encryption, so you can be certain that your protection and privacy is assured with them.

Advantages of NordVPN

  • Fastest VPN connect recorded.
  • 4,402 servers in 62 countries, including 1,695 servers in the USA.
  • Double VPN, Dedicated IP, P2P, Anti DDoS and Obfuscated services.
  • 30-Day Money back guarantee.

Disadvantages of NordVPN

  • Nothing.
  • It delivers strong performance at a competitive price.
CyberGhost Review
CyberGhost

CyberGhost

The best thing about CyberGhost is that they have more than 800 servers and global coverage. Thus it’s not surprising that they offer high speeds and a really good looking app that’s bound to be appealing to most people.

Furthermore, CyberGhost is really dedicated to civil rights and a full supporter of an uncensored internet, so you can be sure that your privacy is assured with them. They also have a no logs policy.

In the end, the only noticeable con with CyberGhost is the fact that they no longer offer a free version of their service, but they do have a 30-day money back guarantee if you happen not to like their service.

Advantages of CyberGhost

  • 2nd Fastest VPN connection recorded.
  • Up to seven simultaneous connections.
  • 1,747 servers in 60 countries, including 177 servers in the UK.
  • Dedicated IP, P2P, Anti DDoS and Obfuscated services.
  • 30-Day Money back guarantee.

Disadvantages of CyberGhost

  • Some performance issues.
ExpressVPN Review
ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is one of the best VPNs to use specifically in UAE, for several reasons. First of all, they have proved that they consistently work fine in UAE, where many other VPNs don’t.

They keep no logs, they don’t store your browsing history and they really care about the privacy of their users and the need for privacy online in general.

Their encryption methods are among the best, and even some governments use their methods themselves, which really proves how good they are with encryption.

Advantages of ExpressVPN

  • Fantastic streaming speed with no buffering.
  • Up to five simultaneous connections.
  • Huge range of server locations and IPs to choose from.
  • Dedicated IP, P2P, Anti DDoS and Obfuscated services.
  • 30-Day Money back guarantee.

Disadvantages of ExpressVPN

  • More expensive than the rest of the pack, but worth the money.

In Summary

As you can certainly see by now, having a VPN in UAE is very important for your safety and convenience. Without it, so many things online will be unavailable to you and besides, you won’t be protected from the government that can usually easily check what you do online.

If you want to be safe and have your privacy secured in UAE while online, one of the VPNs we have provided is bound to provide this and much more.

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