If you're looking for the best VPN for Dubai and the UAE, this Dubai VPN guide will help you find the perfect VPN for your trip to Dubai, just make sure to only use a VPN in the UAE for legal purposes.

Let's get right into it!

I always recommend using a VPN in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) or any foreign country for online security purposes. A VPN encrypts your web traffic, securing your online browsing and VoIP calls. Plus, VPNs hide your IP address, so that nobody can track it online and associate it with your online preferences. 

That said, very few VPNs actually work well in Dubai and the UAE. They don’t refresh their server IPs fast enough, and also don’t provide obfuscation, so it’s easy for the government to block them. Plus, out of the few VPNs that do work there, many don’t provide good value — they’re slow, have buggy apps, or don’t have good streaming and P2P support. 

But all of the UAE VPNs I recommend here are excellent picks. I can personally confirm they work with zero issues in Dubai and the UAE since I have always been able to use these services. Also, all the VPNs I recommend provide access to strong security, fast speeds, and user-friendly apps.

🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best Overall VPN for the UAE and Dubai in 2024 ExpressVPN

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ExpressVPN works without issues in restrictive countries, it provides industry-leading security and privacy features, and it has the fastest speeds on the market. Plus, it backs all plans with a risk-free 30-day refund.

score

4.9

/ 5

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ExpressVPN is by far the best VPN to use in the UAE and Dubai. The provider works in these locations with zero issues, it provides industry-leading security and privacy features, it has the fastest speeds on the market, and it has extremely intuitive apps for all major platforms. 

The VPN works extremely well in the UAE because it refreshes its server IPs super fast. This makes it very difficult for the UAE government to detect and block this provider. I actually ran 15 leak tests on one of ExpressVPN’s servers to check its IP refresh rate — each leak test always displayed a different IP address. 

Plus, ExpressVPN also comes with obfuscation — this security feature hides VPN traffic by making it look like regular internet traffic. This helps the provider bypass VPN blocks since the UAE government can’t detect and block its connections. Also, it’s great that obfuscation is supported on all servers and via all VPN protocols.

And ExpressVPN is also ultra-secure — it protects your web browsing and VoIP calls with advanced security features, including full leak protection, perfect forward secrecy (offers a different encryption key for each VPN session), and RAM-only servers, which ensure every server reset wipes everything. Plus, the provider has a strict no-logs policy that has been independently audited and also proven true in a server seizure. 

I also really like the VPN’s Advanced Protection and ExpressVPN Keys features. Advanced Protection gets rid of ads and protects you from malicious websites, while ExpressVPN Keys is a password manager that lets you secure your logins (plus, it comes free with each ExpressVPN subscription). 

What’s more, ExpressVPN is the fastest VPN on the market. Whenever I use it when I’m in the UAE or traveling abroad, I always maintain blazing-fast browsing, streaming, gaming, and VoIP call speeds. This isn’t surprising, considering the VPN has servers in 100+ countries, including locations near the UAE like Israel, Lebanon, and Egypt — so you can easily connect to nearby servers to get the fastest speeds. 

And I love how intuitive this provider’s apps are. They’re available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Android TV, Fire TV, Apple TV, and even routers, and all come with easy-to-navigate interfaces. Plus, there’s a Shortcuts feature that you can use to set up 1-click app and site shortcuts that show up on your connection screen.

ExpressVPN’s prices begin at $6.67/month — it’s one of the more pricier VPN services on the market, but it’s 100% worth it since it provides the best value out there. Plus, its longest plan often comes with extra months of service for free, and there’s also a risk-free 30-day refund. 

Highly Recommended

ExpressVPN

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🥈2. PureVPN — Very Secure VPN for Users in the UAE and Dubai PureVPN

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PureVPN provides access to high-end security and privacy features, including an always-on audit structure, Quantum-Resistant servers, PFS, and RAM-only servers. It also has a larger server network, good streaming support, fast speeds, and user-friendly apps. It backs all plans with a 31-day money-back guarantee.

score

4.4

/ 5

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PureVPN provides high-end security and privacy, and also works in Dubai without any issues. That’s because the provider changes its server IPs very fast, and also because it comes with obfuscation — and I really like how the VPN provider supports obfuscation on all of its VPN servers.

I’m really happy with how secure this VPN provider is. It protects your data with advanced security features, such as RAM-only servers, perfect forward secrecy, and full leak protection (I ran a leak test on servers in 15 countries, and never experienced any leaks). Plus, the provider has an audited no-logs policy, and also releases regular transparency reports — the reports prove how the VPN provider doesn’t comply with any requests for user data from third parties.

And I also like how the VPN has Quantum-Resistant servers. Basically, these are VPN servers that are designed to future-proof user data against potential quantum threats in the future (once quantum computing becomes the norm). 

What’s more, PureVPN is also really fast, and it also provides access to 6,000+ servers in 65+ countries (including locations near the UAE, like Egypt, Oman, and Bahrain). Whenever I use it to surf the web, all the websites I visit load instantly. Plus, when I watch HD videos, they load in less than 3 seconds — and I also really like how the videos never buffer when I skip through them. And I also have very fast VoIP speeds when I make audio and video calls on apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime, and WeChat. 

Also, I’m happy with how user-friendly the provider’s apps are. They all come with a quick-connect feature that automatically connects you to the fastest VPN server. Also, the interface is really intuitive, so it doesn’t take more than 5 seconds to find and connect to a VPN server. 

PureVPN has several tier-based subscriptions, and its plans start as low as $2.11/month. I personally think the Standard subscription is enough for most users, as it provides access to all of the provider’s VPN features. Also, PureVPN backs all purchases with a 31-day money-back guarantee. 

Highly Recommended

PureVPN

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🥉3. PrivateVPN — Good and Minimalist Dubai VPN With Fast Speeds PrivateVPN

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PrivateVPN is a super-affordable VPN that’s great for beginners and people who download torrents very often. It also comes with great streaming support, it’s really good for security and privacy, and it works in restrictive countries. Plus, it backs all purchases with a risk-free 30-day refund.

score

4.4

/ 5

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PrivateVPN’s apps feature a really minimalist design, as they don’t come with a lot of settings to change or features to enable. This might make the VPN a good pick for people who are new to VPNs — they’ll have an easy time getting the hang of how PrivateVPN works since its app design won’t feel overwhelming. 

PrivateVPN also refreshes its server IPs really fast and also provides obfuscation. Due to this, the VPN works without issues in the UAE and Dubai. Its obfuscation is enabled via the Stealth VPN feature and works on all servers, which is really convenient. 

And the provider also maintains really good VPN connection speeds —  I ran several speed tests, and most sites loaded instantly, HD videos took just 3 seconds to load (and didn’t buffer at all), and my VoIP calls never dropped or froze. The VPN has servers in 60+ countries, including locations near the UAE (like Turkey, Israel, and India, so it’s easy to connect to nearby servers to get fast speeds. 

Also, PrivateVPN is good for securing your internet traffic in the UAE. It uses perfect forward secrecy, and it also provides strong leak protection. Plus, it has an app-based kill switch that automatically shuts down apps if the VPN disconnects — I tested the feature with WhatsApp on my device, and it always successfully closed it when I disconnected from the VPN.

PrivateVPN is very affordable, with prices beginning at just $2.00/month. In addition, the provider also backs all purchases with a 30-day refund. 

Highly Recommended

PrivateVPN

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4. Astrill VPN — Secure VPN With Several Obfuscation Options Astrill VPN

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Astrill VPN is a great VPN for accessing the free web in restrictive countries, and also for securing your online data with advanced features. It also has good speeds on all servers, accesses most streaming sites, is good for gaming, and provides helpful customer support. 

score

4.5

/ 5

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Astrill VPN works really well in the UAE since it provides obfuscation via 2 proprietary protocols. Its protocols are called OpenWeb and StealthVPN, and they’re available on most of the provider’s VPN apps — I personally prefer using OpenWeb more since it’s more lightweight than StealthVPN, so it provides faster speeds. I also like how Astrill VPN’s obfuscation protocols are available on all of its servers. 

This is also one of the most secure VPN providers out there, as Astrill VPN comes with advanced security features — this includes RAM-only servers, full leak protection, and perfect forward secrecy. Plus, it comes with other extra security features, including an ad and malicious site blocker, and multihop VPN connections that secure your data with multiple layers of encryption (this is a paid add-on, though).

The VPN also has servers in 55+ countries, including places near the UAE like India, Israel, and Turkey. So, it’s pretty easy for most users to connect to nearby servers to get fast speeds for surfing the web and accessing VoIP apps. But if the number of locations isn’t enough for you, try ExpressVPN instead since it has servers in 100+ countries.

Astrill VPN has prices that start at $12.50/month. This is really expensive compared to other top competitors, so I only recommend getting it if your main goal is to obfuscate your VPN traffic. Also, keep in mind this VPN doesn’t come with a money-back guarantee.

5. TunnelBear — Beginner-Friendly Free VPN for Dubai TunnelBear

TunnelBear

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TunnelBear is a good VPN for beginners, as it has very intuitive apps that are also fun to use. Plus, the provider has a pretty good free plan, provides access to strong security and privacy features, has a pretty big server network, and has good speeds on all servers. Also, it works in restrictive regions (like China and Egypt) without any issues, and it also supports split-tunneling on iOS.

score

3.5

/ 5

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TunnelBear is one of the only free VPNs that actually works in Dubai and the UAE. This is because its free servers refresh their IPs very fast, and also because you get access to obfuscation (via the GhostBear feature) to hide your VPN usage. 

I also like how the free plan comes with beginner-friendly apps. The design is extremely fun, and you can also use a digital map to connect to different server locations, which is very convenient. Plus, whenever you connect to a server, a cute animated bear pops up on the map and digs a tunnel to it. What’s more, this VPN allows unlimited simultaneous connections, so you can use it on as many devices as you want. 

The free plan also provides access to a large server network — 5,000+ servers in 45+ countries, to be exact. You also get access to server locations near the UAE, like Kenya, Cyprus, and Nigeria, so it’s easy to get fast speeds on nearby locations. That said, if you think the number of countries is too small, just get ExpressVPN instead since it has servers in 100+ countries.

That said, the free version limits you to 2 GB per month. That’s only enough for a few hours of basic web browsing — on the plus side, that should still give you enough time to test the VPN to see if it’s right for you.

TunnelBear’s paid plans start at $3.33/month, and they add unlimited bandwidth. Unfortunately, the provider lacks a money-back guarantee. 

Comparison of the Best VPNs for Dubai in 2024

	Starting Price	Obfuscation	Number of Countries	No-Logs Policy	Free Plan	Money-Back Guarantee
🥇1. ExpressVPN	$6.67/month		100+	(independently audited)		30 days
🥈2. PureVPN	$2.11/month		65+	(independently audited)		31 days
🥉3. PrivateVPN	$2.00/month		60+			30 days
4. Astrill VPN	$12.50/month		55+
5. TunnelBear	$3.33/month		45+

How to Choose the Best VPN for Dubai in 2024

• Get a VPN that works with zero issues in the UAE — I only recommend picking a VPN service that refreshes its server IPs very fast, and also comes with obfuscation to hide your VPN usage. This way, the VPN is very likely to actually consistently work in the UAE. 
• Pick a VPN that’s very secure —  You’ll need a VPN that comes with all essential VPN security features to ensure that your browsing traffic and VoIP calls are 100% secure. This includes military-grade encryption, a no-logs policy, a kill switch to protect against traffic leaks, and DNS leak protection. All the VPNs I recommend are very secure. 
• Pick a provider with fast speeds — When you use a VPN, it will always cause your original speeds to slow down. So I recommend testing the VPN’s speeds before you fully commit to it. Basically, make sure the websites you surf and videos you watch load fast, that it doesn’t take too long to download large files, and that your audio and video calls don’t drop on apps like WhatsApp and WeChat.
• Get a VPN with server locations near the UAE — To get the fastest speeds, you need to connect to a nearby server location. So it’s best to pick VPNs that have servers near the UAE. My top pick, ExpressVPN, has servers in 100+ countries, including locations near Dubai and the UAE, such as Lebanon and Egypt.
• Opt for a VPN that’s easy to use — When I pick VPNs, I always make sure they have a really intuitive VPN app for each major desktop, mobile, and smart TV platform. I also only use VPNs whose apps are very simple to navigate (it really shouldn’t take more than 5 seconds to find and connect to a server). 
• Go for a VPN that provides good value — I always make sure to check if the VPN also provides other bonuses, like good streaming and P2P support, and additional features (like split-tunneling or an ad blocker). Also, most of the VPNs I recommend on my list are affordable and have a generous money-back guarantee. 

Why Do You Need a Dubai VPN?

The main reason I use a VPN in the UAE is to secure my online traffic. The VPN encrypts all of your internet data, making it 100% unreadable — this means nobody can spy on your web browsing and VoIP calls. What’s more, VPNs also secure your privacy, as they hide your IP address (so nobody can use it to track your real location). 

VPNs are also good for streaming and torrenting. If you travel to the UAE from another country, you could use a VPN to access streaming sites and content that are only available in your home country. And if you download legal torrents, you could use a VPN to secure your P2P traffic and protect your privacy (since nobody in the torrent swarm will be able to see your real IP). 

Using a VPN can also enhance your online gaming. In addition to securing your gaming traffic, a VPN can also protect you from Distributed-Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks — since it hides your IP address, sore losers can’t use it to DDoS your network and force you offline. 

Finally, a VPN can prevent bandwidth throttling — this is when ISPs intentionally slow down your online speeds when you use too much data for streaming, downloading files, or playing online games. Since VPNs make your data unreadable, ISP’s can’t see what you’re doing online, so they can’t selectively throttle your internet speeds. 

How Does the UAE Block VPNs? 

The main way the UAE VPN ban works is through IP blocks. Basically, the government makes internet service providers (ISPs) detect and block VPN server IP addresses — they likely have access to them via paid online services that provide access to VPN and proxy IP databases. For VPNs to avoid this type of blocking, they need to refresh their server IPs very frequently.

The government might also use deep packet inspection (DPI). This is a network traffic analysis method that is used to detect VPN traffic and block it. The only way for VPNs to get around this is via obfuscation, which hides VPN traffic and makes it look like regular internet traffic.

Not many VPNs work well in the UAE, but the ones I mentioned here work without issues. I personally think the best VPN to use is ExpressVPN — it refreshes its server IPs super fast, it allows obfuscation on all servers and via all protocols, it has servers in 100+ countries, it maintains the fastest speeds on the market, and it comes with industry-leading security and privacy features.

Frequently Asked Questions

Best VPNs for Dubai in 2024 — Final Thoughts:

ExpressVPN

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