Which is the best VPN to use in the UAE for video calls?

A VPN for video calls in the UAE must have all the requirements described in the guide. Among those, though, two are critical: obfuscation and high speeds. The most robust service for this purpose is ExressVPN, but NordVPN and Surfshark are just as good and cost less.

I want to unblock WhatsApp for calls and other VoIP uses. Is it safe to do so with a VPN?

Yes, it's safe, but keep reading, please. The stories about people getting in trouble in the UAE because of VPNs are a dime a dozen. Most are exaggerated. But you need only one of them to be true to understand that overconfidence in digital matters is not the way to go in the UAE. It seems that the local government there is more worried about the worse criminal activities you could do with a VPN rather than for VoIP – which is not to say that it's happy about you using a VPN for VoIP and will decorate you for that. However, don't take risks; use a good VPN and be discreet. Also, remember that the UAE's digital landscape can change anytime without warning, so be ready for everything.

Is it safe to do my shopping with a VPN?

It's not merely safe but recommended. This has nothing to do with the UAE per se. Shopping from within a secure VPN tunnel is always a good idea wherever you are on our lovely planet.

Will a VPN secure my online banking activities within the UAE?

Very much indeed! VPNs give you an additional security layer when you're banking online. This is especially necessary if you intend to do any banking operations from a public WiFi hotspot, which will be unavoidable if you travel and lack a home connection. WiFi hotspots are notorious for their magnetic quality for hackers, so they're always a security risk. If you're going to do any online banking using one, you must have a VPN. This is true in the UAE and everywhere else.

Who are the UAE ISPs?

The entire ISP market in the UAE comes down to two licensed vendors, DU and Etisalat. They get some benefits and privileges from the government, and consequently, they are heavily aligned with it in their policies.

Is Netflix legal in the UAE?

Yes, Netflix is perfectly legal in the UAE, and you can use it freely if you are subscribed. However, the catalog available to users based in the UAE is less than half the titles available to US users – but you can unblock all of the US content if you use a US-based server in your VPN network. Netflix is dead against VPN services, spending a lot of effort trying to neutralize them, just as the UAE ISPs do. But our chosen VPNs know how to deal with both.

Can somebody track my online activities if I use a VPN in the UAE?

If you use a VPN that adheres to a no-logs policy, nobody will know what you're doing online except for your VPN provider, which is why it's so vital that it keeps no logs. That's also the reason why you should never use free VPNs. They will also know everything you do, but they won't erase all your records. Instead, they will sell them to a commercial partner.

5 Best VPNs for UAE in 2023

Sneak peek at UAE VPNs

UAE leads among the countries famous for the worst internet censorship and restriction laws for its residents. Until now, a considerable number of websites are blocked in UAE. Moreover, VoIP services are also restricted. Thus, free calling via WhatsApp, Skype, Facetime, and similar services is nearly impossible. Nevertheless, Emirates’ local ISPs Du and Etisalat can block VPNs too, specifically, when used for accessing VoIP services. Therefore, choosing the VPN for UAE is challenging, as not all services available today can bypass those harsh restrictions. In this guide, we have enlisted the best UAE VPNs to protect you from the prying eyes of the Emirates government, ISPs, third parties, and cyber attackers. These VPNs are also best known for unblocking the content and websites otherwise inaccessible to you.

If you are in a successful business, you will probably end up in Dubai for whatever reason at some point in the future; the sooner, the better. Maybe you’re already there, and that’s why you are reading this.

And if you become Dubai-based, temporarily or permanently, you will have to use the domestic internet services there – and you’ll find them very problematic.

Internet censorship in the UAE is substantial. Hence, the providers like Du and Etisalat do their best to restrict VPN services. Of course, they can’t go against VPNs wholeheartedly because they’re too important to keep business as usual in the UAE, but it’s not for lack of trying. That’s why you need a UAE VPN right now that works in Dubai and all over the United Arab Emirates.

The official policies in UAE are very progressive in so many subjects, and yet VoIP is banned. Skype, WhatsApp, and Facetime are banned too. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The UAE’s internet restrictions are medieval if such an adjective applies to state-of-the-art communications.

If you want internet freedom like in your own country (almost every government is better than the UAE), you need a good UAE VPN. And this applies to you even if you’re just looking to spend a few days on holiday in the Emirates.