The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is known to be one of the countries with the most freedom among the Gulf Corporation Council (GCC) countries. However when it comes to the internet it still has a high rate of censorship and online surveillance on its internet users. Among the applications that are banned are the VOIP applications like Skype, Whatsapp, Viber, etc. In addition to that most sites with adult contents are banned like online gambling sites. As we all know UAE is filled with expats, and it’s said that the expats living in UAE are even more than its own citizens. This simply means that a large number of the UAE residents are in continuous needs to make international calls to their loved ones back home or access their local streaming sites like Netflix or BBC iPlayer. Regarding international calls, they can be extremely costly if you use the normal mobile service provider. This is why UAE expats depend greatly on VOIP services. Regarding streaming sites, we already know that they cannot be accessed from outside their local country (USA in the case of Netflix and UK in the case of BBC iPlayer).
Due to the above issues, it has become a high priority for UAE residents to acquire a reliable VPN service to be able to bypass these restrictions and also to protect their online privacy from unwanted monitoring. Since there are countless VPN names available, it is not easy finding a suitable one for these purposes. Here is where we come in. We have done the research for you to save your time and shined the light on the 3 best VPNs for UAE.
Best VPNs for UAE
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is considered the leading name in the VPN market today. This title was due to its comprehensive features. From a massive servers network to the highest security measure, it has definitely proved worthy of its place. So when we consider it as a reliable VPN for UAE, it’s no surprise.
Level of Security
- The entire ExpressVPN network is SSL secured with a 256-bit encryption which is referred to as military grade encryption as it is the highest form of network security available.
- The app supports highly advanced security protocols (OpenVPN with TCP/UDP, L2TP/IPSec, PPTP, and SSTP).
- An additional security feature is the Internet Kill Switch.
Network of Servers
- ExpressVPN has one of the largest networks in the field consisting of over 1000 servers in 145 cities, spread across 94 countires around the world.
- With a network this big, ExpressVPN provide their users with countless shared IP’s to hide their online Identity within and the availability to connect to any of these servers at any time to bypass any restrictions.
Logs Policy
- ExpressVPN does not keep any logs of its users’ online activities.
- Only the basic information required to register for the account is kept highly secured and is not enough to expose the users’ online identity.
ExpressVPN has been through tougher challenges than that of the UAE and so it doesn’t take much thought to realize that it’s one of the most reliable VPNs for the UAE. Even thoug some might argue that it’s a little on the costly side, yet, with all its features and security measures, users get what they paid for.
Wasel Pro VPN
Wasel pro VPN is considered the best VPN in the Middle East, and especially in UAE, due to a lot of reasons. The least of which, is that it is the only VPN provider with an Arabic speaking online support. Recently Wasel Pro merged with another big international VPN provider; b.VPN, making it one of the best VPNs worldwide.
Level of Security
- Wasel Pro uses a military grade 256-bit encryption to secure its network.
- The protocols supported by the app are extremely technologically advanced (OpenVPN, OpenVPN over SSH, L2TP/IPSec, SSTP, PPTP, and their very own Smoke)
Network of Servers
- Wasel pro users enjoy a network of servers strategically displaced across more than 20 worldwide locations.
- This network is continuously expanding.
- This network provides users with a large number of shared IP’s for the sake of hiding their online identity. It also allows users to bypass any geo-restrictions, either by their local government or by the countries of the sites.
- For example, if a user is in the UAE and wants to use a service that is banned in the UAE he/she can simply connect to any server outside the UAE and will have access as if he/she is outside the UAE. If a user is I the UAE and wants to access a service that can only be accessed in another country, for example, Netflix USA, he/she can simply connect to one of the servers within the USA and online he/she will appear as if inside the USA hence bypassing the geo-restriction.
Logs Policy
- Wasel Pro has a very strict privacy policy as it does not monitor or record its users online activities, In other words, no logs are kept what so ever.
- The only information kept is the very basic contact information needed to register for an account.
Wasel Pro has already made its mark in the Middle East and after the merge with b.VPN, there is no slowing down now. It is definitely a highly recommended VPN for the UAE.
Buffered VPN
Buffered VPN was founded in 2013 in Budapest, Hungary with the core goal of providing the world with a free, secure, and private internet experience. In a very short time and with lots of hard work and dedication they grew to be one of the most popular VPNs in the world. Their high-end security measures and features are what made them a trustworthy VPN in UAE.
Level of Security
- The Buffered VPN network is highly secured with a 256-bit Blowfish encryption.
- Regarding the security protocols supported, buffered VPN uses OpenVPN exclusively as it believes that it is the safest protocol available.
Network of Servers
- Buffered VPN’s network of servers spreads across more than 30 countries around the world.
- This number is regularly increasing as they add servers every week plus they provide the option of requesting a server in a specific location.
- Buffered VPN users are allowed full access to all these servers helping them hide their online identity and bypass any online restrictions.
Logs Policy
- The privacy policy of Buffered VPN is pretty straight forward as it states that some information is kept for the purpose of maintaining the users’ accounts. This information is very basic and very minor and is not enough to give away the online identity.
- No usage logs are kept and no online activities are monitored or recorded.
For UAE citizens and expats, if they are keen on keeping your internet sessions as private as possible, if they need to bypass restrictions placed by the government or want to bypass geo-restrictions, then Buffered VPN is a recommended option.
Conclusion
The main advantage of accessing the internet is to be able to be easily connected to the world and get easy access to unlimited information. If this is banned, then the internet will be of no use. In the UAE, residents need to be in contact with their loved ones abroad and not everyone can afford continuous international calls. For this reason having a VPN in the UAE is crucial. With a reliable VPN people can bypass any bans on VOIP applications and connect to their friends and family all over the world.
