Internet censorship is widespread in the UAE. State-owned ISPs like Etisalat has blocked various popular apps and websites in the country. For instance, video-chat apps such as Skype and WhatsApp do not work in the UAE.
Due to strict restrictions, accessing free apps for communication and other blocked websites is near impossible. But there’s still hope out there. In fact, you can bypass strict geo-restrictions through an Etisalat VPN.
So keeping this in mind, I’ve compiled a list of some of the best VPN for Etisalat that can help you bypass any geo-restrictions in the UAE.
So without further ado, let get on with the brief overview…
- PureVPN – A super secure VPN with 2000+ servers makes it the best VPN in UAE.
- Surfshark – Fastest Etisalat VPN with 1040+ servers to bypass UAE VPN law.
- Ivacy – Secure VPN for Etisalat with over 1000+ servers in 100+ locations.
- ExpressVPN–Most reliable VPN in UAE with over 3000 super-fast servers worldwide.
- CyberGhost – A budget UAE VPN with global 3200+ servers and an amazing 45-day refund policy.
- NordVPN– A massive Etisalat VPN with 5600+ obfuscated servers worldwide.
Best Etisalat VPN
The importance of VPN services has recently increased in UAE because of geo-restricted content and bans on VoIP services like Skype. This is exactly why you’ll need a reliable that’s operational in the UAE.
Speaking of working UAE VPNs, below is a list of 6 best VPN for Etisalat that are still working in 2019:
1.PureVPN – Best for Etisalat
PureVPN is an offshore Etisalat VPN service based in Hong Kong. One of the best aspects of PureVPN is its zero-logging policy. This means that the government cannot trace your online activities. It allows you to access web content and apps without problems.
PureVPN offers more than 2000+ servers dispersed across the globe. Therefore, you can gain access to any website virtually from anywhere in the world. It is operational from within the UAE too. You may read our review for best VPN for Dubai, which also includes PureVPN as a top-of-the-line paid VPN provider.
Additionally, PureVPN uses strong encryption techniques to prevent your data from falling into the hands of privacy intruders. You can avail of all these great features of PureVPN at highly affordable subscription plans.
As per our best VPN prices guide, PureVPN is the cheapest VPN we have found so far. Read our in-depth PureVPN review for more information on this service provider.
- Provides an extensive list of server locations to choose from
- Offers military-grade encryption
- Follows zero-logging policy
- Multi-login supports up to 5 devices
Cons of PureVPN
- Does not offer free trial feature
- Sluggish Windows app
2.Surfshark – Fastest for Etisalat
Using a VPN in UAE is unbelievably affordable with Surfshark. Although a relatively new VPN service, Surfshark still offers powerful features like split-tunneling, Kill Switch, Whitelister and much, much more.
In terms of coverage, Surfshark is probably the best VPN for Etisalat wifi, as it offers over 1040 super-fast servers all over the world.
Other than that, Surfshark is headquartered in the safe jurisdiction of the British Virgin Islands and follows a true no-logging policy.
It is also the fastest VPN service of 2019 as well. To find out more about this service, explore our Surfshark review.
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
- Cheapest VPN in the industry
- Fast speeds
3. Ivacy – Etisalat VPN with Powerful Security
Ivacy VPN is another super affordable and reliable VPN you can use with Etisalat. It is headquartered in Singapore and follows a strict no-logs policy.
Aside from not logging user data, Ivacy also offers plenty of amazing features to help you bypass Etisalat’s strict geo-restrictions. Speaking of features, Ivacy offers IPsec & IKEV Protocols, 256-Bit Encryption, Internet Kill Switch, and 1000+ servers worldwide.
Best of all, Ivacy is compatible with macOS, Windows, Android, iOS and other platforms and offers a full 30-days refund policy.
You can read our Ivacy review for more information.
- Provides 1000+ servers in 100+ locations
- Zero logging policy
- 256-Bit encryption
- Kill Switch
Cons of Ivacy
- Nothing worth complaining about
4.ExpressVPN – Best for Streaming on Etisalat
ExpressVPN has the reputation of providing superior VPN service features to users all over the world. The large list of servers located in more than 94 countries allows you to access any app or content irrespective of geo-restrictions.
Because of its strong bypassing ability, it would be safe to say that it’s one of the best VPN for streaming video content that’s restricted in your region.
Moreover, ExpressVPN is fortunately available for users in the UAE. It offers support for P2P file-sharing, accessing Netflix, and streaming all kinds of shows and events. The company operates from the British Virgin Islands and takes advantage of the strong privacy policies of the lands.
ExpressVPN is a reliable solution for enabling VoIP services like Skype, making it the best VPN for calling. Based on the above characteristics, we strongly recommend using ExpressVPN as the best VPN for Etisalat.
Find out more about this service provider in our detailed ExpressVPN review.
- Offers support for VoIP services like Skype
- 3000+ super-fast servers
- Delivers responsive customer support 24/7
- Strong privacy policy
- Secure encryption protocols
Cons of ExpressVPN
- Does not offer free or paid trial
- Expansive pricing
5.CyberGhost
Last up on this list, we have CyberGhost. This is a Romanian VPN service that works flawlessly in the UAE. Part of the reason behind CyberGhost’s excellent performace is its massive server park.
With over 5500+ servers optimized for streaming and torrenting, you can easily access any blocked websites in the country.
Other than server coverage, CyberGhost is super-secure as well. With features ranging from powerful 256-bit encryption to secure Kill switch, it is probably the best VPN in UAE right now.
Best of all, CyberGhost offers excellent apps compatibility and full 45-day money back gaurantee.
Find out more about this VPN in our in-depth CyberGhost review.
- Intuitive modes
- Supports 7 simultaneous connections
- Great user interface
- Offer 5500+ servers
Cons
- Nothing worth complaining about
6. NordVPN – Etisalat VPN with Great Coverage
NordVPN UAE is one of the most well-reputed VPN services in the market. It is a Panama-based VPN provider and follows the user-friendly privacy policies of the country.
As a result, you can forget about any data logging issues if you are a user of NordVPN. The company emphasizes the privacy of its users above all other considerations which is quite reassuring for Etisalat subscribers.
Furthermore, NordVPN’s strong OpenVPN encryption protocol ensures that your digital footprint will remain hidden from the eyes of the government or ISPs. NordVPN also offers dedicated apps for macOS, Windows, Android, iOS and other platforms.
NordVPN also provides a double VPN feature that can make your encryption twice as strong. Nonetheless, enabling the double VPN feature can lead to slower Internet speeds.
Overall, the quality of encryption and strength of NordVPN’s security, make it one of the best VPN for Etisalat.
You can read our NordVPN review for more information.
- Provides 5000+ servers in more than 60 countries
- Zero logging policy
- Double VPN encryption
- Supports anonymous P2P networking
Cons of NordVPN
- Internet speeds may drop when double encryption is enabled
Best Free VPN for Etisalat
To be honest with you, I would never recommend free Etisalat VPN providers to you guys. This is because most free VPN for UAE usually have poor privacy policies.
That being said, you can still avail of some dependable VPN providers that offer free versions of their privacy software.
Speaking of which, ZenMate is one of the best free VPN services. Unfortunately, it is inaccessible from the UAE. The best VPN for Etisalat available for free includes:
These are some of the few remaining VPN providers still working in the UAE.
Is it Legal to Use a VPN for Etisalat/UAE?
Can I use VPN in UAE? If you’re asking yourself this question, you’re not alone. Now I’m not going to beat around the bush here, It is legal to use VPN services in the UAE. However, accessing blocked and censored content through VPNs can be deemed illegal.
Here are a few examples of blocked contents in the UAE:
- Fraud or phishing websites
- Selling drugs and paraphernalia
- All majorVoIP sites
- Gambling activities
- Nudity or Pornography
- Racism
- Religious insults
It is for this reason that you should opt for a reliable VPN provider that values your privacy and applies robust encryption mechanisms.
If you use one of the VPN providers in the list above, the likelihood of your data being leaked to the government is minimal.
Famous calling apps that are blocked in the UAE
As I mentioned earlier, UAE actually blocks a lot of mainstream calling apps to force people to bear expensive calling costs. In fact, here’s a complete list of blocked calling apps in the UAE:
- Whatsapp (calling only)
- IMO
- Line
- Viber
- Tango
- Facetime
- Facebook Messenger
- Skype
Although these apps are technically inaccessible in the UAE, you can simply use a VPN to bypass any regional geo-restrictions.
Is your VPN not working with Etisalat? Try troubleshooting
Although PureVPN and other VPN mentioned above are tried and tested to work with Etisalat, if you’re still facing issues, you might find these troubleshooting steps helpful:
- Try using servers from the UK, Canada or the US.
- Instead of using different protocols, use the automatic selection.
- If one server doesn’t work, simply try switching servers.
- Restart your router and the VPN app.
Wrapping Up!
The UAE is a heavily censored country when it comes to using online content and apps. We strongly advise you to protect your own privacy through the best VPN for Etisalat.
This will not only help you stay safe from government prosecution but also grant you access to geo-locked content from around the world.
Got something to add on the subject? I’ll be more than happy to hear from you. Drop me a comment below.
For more versatile VPNs, make sure you check out our handpicked best VPN services.