How to find the best VPN for Dubai and UAE in 2021
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attention.
In the UAE, the internet is censored.
This means that some websites chosen by the government are not legally accessible, which means that they are blocked and you cannot see them.
Usually blocked websites in the UAE are related to any of the following topics:
- pornography
- gambling
- drug related websites
- Which site do they consider attacking their religion?
- Israel related sites
- Basically any site that may raise controversy with the system
The above censorship seems pretty straightforward, and in fact, many non-democratic countries around the world follow the same rule, so unless you’re celibate and need a frequent dose of bad movies, it doesn’t seem like a very big deal.
However, in the past few years, their censorship has gone beyond, and expats are using some of the blocked websites in the UAE on a regular basis, on a daily basis.
I’m talking about VoIP services (Voice over Internet Protocol), which are Internet services for free communication such as:
- Skype
- WhatsApp calls
- Google Hang Outs
Yes, as tough as it sounds, Skype in Dubai is banned and the reason is that they don’t want expats to call abroad for free, because they want to protect their local carriers, same saying they want you to use a local SIM to call your family at home.
Personally, I find it a pathetic move, a very poor regulation, but Dubai is a dictatorship – well, an autocracy – and if you want to be part of the game, you have to adapt.
Fortunately for all the expats and travelers, there is a very easy way to access these blocked websites in the UAE and that is through a VPN.
In this article, I will help you find the best VPN for Dubai and UAE.
In this guide you will find:
How to access blocked websites in the UAE
Best VPN for UAE
VPN and the law in Dubai
How to use a VPN in 3 easy steps
Free VPNs
How to access blocked websites in UAE – What is a VPN and how is it used?
VPN means “Virtual Private Network“It is, essentially, a service that allows you to access the Internet in privacy and security, by connecting to a server from a different country, thus masking your online actions.
There are two main reasons people use a VPN:
- For safety reasons – It prevents hackers from stealing your personal information. This can happen when using public Wi-Fi. Most VPN users use it for this very reason.
- To access blocked websites in the UAE – Most expats and travelers will want a VPN to be able to use Skype, WhatsApp Call, and other blocked services and websites.
How to access blocked websites in the UAE with a VPN
Essentially, when you use a VPN, you select the server from the country you want to connect from – free and bad VPNs will pick a random server – which means you’ll browse as if you were in that country, and then it could access any blocked website.
For example, if you are in Dubai and you connect your VPN to a server located in the UK when you enter Google, you will see that by default, your browser will redirect you to Google UK, instead of Google UAE.
And like Skype, WhatsApp Calls and Google Hang Outs are not banned in the UK, you will be able to use them without any problem.
More reasons to use a VPN in Dubai
- To watch Netflix – As you know, the content on Netflix varies depending on the country you are watching it from. Some content available on Netflix USA may not be available in UAE, so by connecting your VPN to USA server you will be able to watch all USA content.
- To use Tinder and other dating sites – Yes, popular dating sites like Tinder are banned in Dubai, but you can access them using a VPN.
Mosque in Dubai
Best VPN for UAE and Dubai
See, if you check out other technology related websites, you will see that when talking about VPNs, they use very complex terms like DNS queries, browsing history, PPTP protocols and things like that.
They want to be very technical and professional, but, seriously, for entertainment purposes like calling your boyfriend or girlfriend, using Tinder or watching that movie on Netflix, you don’t need to know any of that.
That is why I categorized them according to the following criteria, in that you will fully understand:
- the price
- protection
- Speed (a VPN will slow down your connection)
- Number of countries and servers it can connect to
As a regular traveler or expat, this is all you need to know. This is the different VPN that I trust the most and have used.
By the way, they are all:
- Really easy to use
- Can be used for both desktop and mobile
- Available for both Android and iPhone.
- Compatible with Netflix (note that Netflix is really good at detecting VPNs and proxies and depending on which server you are trying to connect to, it may not work, but this happens with all VPNs)
- Offer a 30-day money-back guarantee
In my opinion, these are the best VPNs:
Let’s check them one by one.
Fastest VPN for Dubai and UAE – Express VPN
price per month – 12.95 USD
Price for 6 months – $9.99 per month
Price for 1 year – 8.32 USD per month
Express VPN It is the greatest VPN.
Seriously, it’s really fast, has the strongest encryption in order to ensure data is protected at the highest levels and can connect to more than 3000 servers from 160 cities in 94 different countries.
Before using Express VPN, I signed up for other VPN plans, but after trying and comparing their speed with others, I no longer see myself using any other VPN.
Seriously, it’s so fast, that sometimes I don’t even remember being connected to a VPN.
Advantages:
- The most unique VPN ever, because it is the fastest and most secure, so if you are looking for the absolute best, look no further.
Negatives:
- It has an excellent price, but you get what you pay for.
Special offer through this link – get 3 months free!
Click here to claim your ExpressVPN deal!
Best Cheap VPN for Dubai and UAE – NordVPN
price per month – 11.95 USD
Price for 1 year – 6.99 USD per month
Price for 2 years – 4.99 USD
Price for 3 years – $3.49 per month
Before getting Express VPN, I had a long-term plan with NordVPN.
It was a good experience because, according to geeks, it has double encryption, which makes navigation very secure, plus you can choose 64 countries to connect from.
However, when I was using public Wi-Fi I really felt like my internet slowed down, even for browsing, so having a job that relies so heavily on having a good internet connection forced me to look for something faster, which is why I switched to Express VPN.
However, don’t get me wrong, this is a really good VPN, and much faster than average, so if you only want it for regular browsing, etc., it might be enough for you, especially because their long-term plans come at a very good price.
Advantages:
- It’s cheap, especially if you get the 3-year plan
- Faster than average VPNs
Disadvantages vs ExpressVPN
- If you only get 1 month, you can get Express VPN for only $1
- ExpressVPN is definitely faster, and if you don’t have a strong Wi-Fi connection, your Skype video might not be of the best quality.
- They have poor customer service and can take up to 30 days to return your money if you are not satisfied with the service.
- 64 countries to choose from (ExpressVPN 94)
Special Offer – Save 70%!
Click here to claim your NordVPN deal!
Best Budget VPN for Dubai and UAE – PrivateVPN
price per month – 7.12 USD
Price for 3 months – 4.20 USD per month
Price for 3 years – 1.89 USD
PrivateVPN It is an up and coming VPN provider based in Sweden, which, with no more than 100 servers, is positioned as one of the best VPN on the market.
According to internet experts, it offers an outstanding level of security, with strong encryption features, as well as leak protection.
Some people also claim that it is very fast, and it has been proven in some speed tests that it is faster than Express VPN, So with these low prices, why not go for it?
Because their speed is very inconsistent, which means that one day it might be fast and you can watch a Netflix movie with no buffering at all and the next you’ll be watching an episode of Narcos through a completely pixelated screen.
This is the reason why PrivateVPN is cheap but still a great VPN and if you don’t do any fancy things that require a strong connection, this might be enough for you.
Advantages
- It’s very, very cheap, especially if you get one of their long-term plans
- At this price you won’t find anything better
Disadvantages vs ExpressVPN
- Speed is inconsistent
- It can only connect to 100 servers, while in others you can connect to thousands
Special Offer – Save 65% + 1 Month Free
Click here to get your own PrivateVPN offer
VPN and the Law in UAE
It is clear that VPN use in Dubai is prohibited, and in 2016, they implemented a new regulation that stated that anyone who uses a fake address or a third party IP address and thus uses a VPN in Dubai, may be temporarily imprisoned and forced to pay a fine of 500,000 Dirhams to 2,000,000 dirhams ($130,000 to $540,000).
I know, it’s crazy, right?
Imagine going to jail and being fined half a million dollars for calling your mom for her birthday…
Sure, this is a possible scenario, but if you are an expat living in Dubai, you will know that every day Westerners do many things that are actually forbidden.
I’m talking about things like having sex, sharing an apartment with your unmarried partner, homosexuality, partying at home, getting drunk on the street, big etc.
Come on, the government just knows that its conservative laws are being violated every minute, but it can’t do anything because otherwise, Dubai wouldn’t be attractive, so the expats will leave and that’s something the Emirates can’t afford.
The same rule applies to VPNs.
They know that expats need to contact their loved ones via Skype, so unless you’re trying to do something very illegal, like planning a cyber attack, for example, they won’t even notice as is proof that VPN sites aren’t banned in Dubai.
If using a VPN in the UAE is illegal, why not just block their websites?
However, if you are traveling, it is recommended that you download your VPN before going to Dubai.
How to connect to a VPN in 3 easy steps
A VPN seems like a complicated concept but it is very easy to use.
Step 1 – Enter ExpressVPN through this link And choose your plan
Step 2 – Download Express VPN on your desktop or get the app from Google Play or the Apple Store.
Step 3 – Choose a location from the list and get connected – it’s so easy!
Click here to get your super discount with ExpressVPN!
Free VPNs for UAE and Dubai
Free VPNs exist of course, but they are not recommended for the following reasons:
- Really low speeds
- Usually, it doesn’t really work on desktop, only on mobile
- Unsafe
- Lots of ads
- Can’t select country or server but they assign one randomly
- It is said that the VPN creators themselves may have created a free VPN for dishonest reasons, such as stealing your personal data
The reasons not to use one are endless and very compelling but still, if you don’t want to spend a single dollar, you can try Turbo VPN Unlimited But it is only available for Android.
More articles about Dubai and the region
Find here all my Articles and guides to the United Arab Emirates
Here is all I have Travel guides for Saudi Arabia
Here’s all I have Content for Oman
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