Best VPNs for Etisalat & UAE That Still Work in 2025

The UAE is known to have strict internet restrictions imposed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRA). They regularly monitor online content and activities and cause ISPs, such as Etisalat, to block access to certain sites and services. If you’re in the UAE and try accessing content that is prohibited, you’ll come across the following message: Access to this site is currently blocked. The site falls under the Prohibited Content Categories of the UAE’s Internet Access Management Policy. But don’t worry, the best VPNs for Etisalat can help you bypass these restrictions.

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) service redirects your internet traffic through a VPN server, encrypting your data and hiding your IP address. Unfortunately, Etisalat blocks most VPNs in an attempt to further restrict access. But there are some services that still work. In this article, we’ll list the best VPNs that work with Etisalat and explain exactly how to use them. We’ll go into more detail about each provider later, but in case you’re short on time. Here’s a quick summary.

Best VPNs for Etisalat:

1. NordVPN Best VPN for Etisalat. Provides the fastest speeds around, includes plenty of security features, has a strong record of protecting users’ privacy, and has a large server network of over 7,400. Also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
   TIP In our testing we found that the cheapest NordVPN plan (Standard) works perfectly for Etisalat.
   
2. Surfshark Best value VPN for Etisalat. Bypass VPN blocks with its NoBorders Mode. Servers in 100+ countries, MultiHop servers, no connection limits, and a strict no-logs policy.
3. IPVanish Provides eight reliable servers in the United Arab Emirates. Apps come with a Scramble function to obfuscate internet traffic and bypass blocks. Allows unlimited simultaneous device connections.
4. ExpressVPN A vast network of fast and secure servers that can unblock just about anything from almost everywhere. 24/7 live chat customer support.
5. PureVPN: Reliable privacy makes it perfect for using public wi-fi safely and making VoIP calls. Always-on obfuscation for bypassing blocks.
6. ProtonVPN: Reliable servers in over 117+ countries, including the UAE. Strong security and many advanced features. 24/7 live chat support.
7. Private Internet Access Solid security credentials, huge server network, unlimited connections, and 24/7 support.
8. PrivateVPN Lesser-known provider adept at staying under the censors’ radar. Effective stealth mode, strong unblocking ability. Allows up to 10 connections.

How we selected the top Etisalat VPNs

Not only is a lot of online content restricted by Etisalat in Dubai and the UAE, but most VPNs are also blocked. Our research involved testing providers in the areas outlined below. This enabled us to identify the best VPNs that still work in the UAE in 2025.

• Speed: The UAE ranks among the top countries for internet speed. If you currently enjoy quick internet, the last thing you want is for a sluggish VPN to drag it down. To find the fastest providers, we carried out speed tests while connected to each provider’s servers in the UAE.
• Server availability: In addition to checking whether VPNs worked in the UAE and other restrictive countries, we scored providers on the size of their server networks and the number of countries they supported overall.
• Security and privacy: Given that government bodies in the UAE actively monitor the internet, we’d recommend always using a VPN while online. We found the providers with the strongest security and privacy toolkits by evaluating them against 16 different criteria.
• Ease of use: We wanted to find the VPNs that helped users regain access to blocked sites and services in the UAE with the least hassle possible. To do this, we evaluated them against 10 ease-of-use criteria.
• Streaming: It’s not just the UAE that tries to block VPNs — streaming providers do it too. If you want to access content from abroad while in the UAE, you’ll need a VPN that can navigate blocks put in place by the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. To assess each provider’s relative streaming ability, we used nine different metrics.

You can learn more about this testing process and, crucially, see the results of these tests in the methodology section below. First, let’s take a closer look at the providers that made our list.

Best Etisalat VPNs: at a glance

We’ve compared the most important features of the top VPNs here. Prefer to read the in-depth reviews? Start with NordVPN – our #1 choice for Etisalat.

Best VPNs for Etisalat (2025)

At Comparitech, we use and test a huge variety of VPNs, so you don’t have to. The following reviews are based on our first-hand experiences and real-world testing. Let’s take a closer look at the ones that impressed us.

Here’s our list of the best VPNs for Etisalat:

1. NordVPN

Mar 2025 Works with EtisalatTested Mar 2025

NordVPN is our top choice VPN for Etisalat. It’s one of the very few VPNs that works with Etisalat in the UAE.

One of NordVPN’s biggest selling points is that it has a huge network of servers that seems to grow by the day. With well over 7,400 servers in 117 countries, this VPN service allows you to beat censorship and browse securely from almost anywhere in the world.

NordVPN works with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Skype and more. It also has a smart DNS feature that enables you to access geo-restricted content using a games console or non-Android smart TV.

Aside from having plenty of servers to choose from, NordVPN is very consistent (the provider promises 99% server uptime). To get a handle on its speeds, we carried out several speed tests while connected to its servers in the UAE.

Overall, NordVPN averaged 190.97 Mbps, making it the fastest VPN we tested and more than fast enough for making VoIP calls, streaming, or gaming while in the UAE.

NordVPN allows you to connect up to ten devices at a time and has apps that are responsive and easy to use. Aside from a ‘Quick Connect’ option, you can browse servers by country.

There’s even the option of specialty servers that include Onion Over VPN and Double VPN. NordVPN ticks all of the boxes when it comes to security with 256-bit AES encryption, DNS leak protection, an internet kill switch, and a proven no-logs policy.

You can download NordVPN apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, and Android TV. Browser extensions are available for Chrome and Firefox.

BEST VPN FOR ETISALAT:NordVPN is our top pick. Huge network of very fast servers. Also offers powerful security and privacy features and a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full NordVPN review here, or check out our video review below.

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2. Surfshark

works with EtisalatTested Mar 2025

Surfshark has a feature called NoBorders, which disguises your VPN use as regular web traffic. The ability to hide your browsing history and stay anonymous online makes this VPN service highly suitable for use with Etisalat and the UAE.

You’ll have more than 3,200 servers in 100+ countries to choose from while using the app. To get an idea of how fast they are, we tested the speed of the UAE servers over the course of a day.

Speeds were consistently quick, which makes Surfshark equally suited to daytime VoIP calls and late-night streaming.

With a single Surfshark account, it’s possible to connect an unlimited number of devices simultaneously. A subscription also includes access to 24-hour live chat and email support.

When it comes to security, Surfshark ensures your data is safe with military-grade encryption, protection from DNS and IPv6 leaks, and a kill switch feature. Extra protection can be had by connecting to one of its MultiHop servers.

To use Surfshark, simply download and install a VPN app for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, or Amazon Fire TV. Alternatively, you can use a Chrome or Firefox browser extension. Use with routers requires manual setup.

BEST VALUE VPN:Surfshark has a stealth feature for bypassing VPN blocks and has servers in 100 countries. High-speed connections for streaming and torrenting. No-logs VPN with MultiHop servers available. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Surfshark review here, or check out our video review below.

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3. IPVanish

Works with EtisalatTested Mar 2025

IPVanish is consistently one of the fastest VPNs for the United Arab Emirates. The company, which owns most of its network hardware, has eight servers in the UAE. We tried a few of these out during our speed tests, and the results were impressive.

The provider peaked at 186 Mbps and had an average of 175.86 Mbps. In addition, IPVanish makes finding fast servers easier by listing their ping time and relative load.

If you have trouble connecting, IPVanish has a Scramble function that obfuscates user-generated traffic. To enable Scramble, you need to switch from the default WireGuard protocol to the OpenVPN protocol and toggle the function on.

Other IPVanish features include an ad and malware blocker and free access to a SOCKS5 proxy. Split tunneling is available, which allows users to select which apps or domains they wish to use with VPN protection and which without. An auto-connect feature ensures users don’t unwittingly connect to Wi-Fi hotspots without first being connected to the VPN.

We tested IPVanish’s built-in leak protection and discovered no IP, DNS, or WebRTC leaks while connected to a server in the UAE. IPVanish says that it stores no record of user activity. This claim has been verified by third-party auditors.

Apps are available for Windows, Android, iOS, macOS, and Amazon Fire Stick/ FireTV. Subscribers can connect as many as they want simultaneously. IPVanish offers one of the most reasonable single-month plans on the market, ideal for those who don’t want to be tied into a long-term deal. Those willing to commit can sign up for the two-year plan for the equivalent of $2.19 a month, and for just over $1 a month more, you can subscribe to the Advanced Tier, which comes with 1TB of cloud storage and access to a secure server.

SCRAMBLE FEATURE:IPVanish has consistently fast connection speeds, eight servers in the UAE and can obfuscate user traffic to bypass blocks and provides access to a SOCKS5 proxy. Plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full IPVanish review here, or check out our video review below.

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4. ExpressVPN

Works with EtisalatTested Mar 2025

ExpressVPN is a great VPN service to use around the world, with over 3,000 servers in 105+ countries. This means you’ll be able to browse safely not only in the UAE but also in the likes of the USA, UK, and Japan.

In the past, we’ve found ExpressVPN connections to be consistently high-speed. To find out if this was still the case, we carried out several speed tests using the provider’s UAE servers.

Speeds averaged 111.25 Mbps, which makes this an excellent VPN for streaming HD-quality videos with no buffering or lag.

Accessing geo-restricted content in the UAE is quick and easy, thanks to ExpressVPN’s user-friendly apps and always-on obfuscation. Simply select a location, and you’ll be connected to a VPN server in seconds. If you do encounter any issues with Etisalat, you can always contact ExpressVPN support. There’s a live chat feature which we’ve tested ourselves and found to be excellent.

Some of the sites and services that ExpressVPN works with on Etisalat include Netflix, Amazon Prime, Facebook Messenger, Skype, and WhatsApp.

Online security is always important, particularly in countries where users worry about legal consequences for mistakenly accessing content deemed inappropriate. ExpressVPN features 256-bit AES encryption (military-grade) — one of the most widely used encryption standards.

Also important is the kill switch feature, which prevents your data from being exposed should the VPN connection drop. Finally, ExpressVPN has DNS, WebRTC, and IP leak protection and doesn’t keep any identifying connection or activity logs of its users.

ExpressVPN offers apps for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS. It’s also one of the few VPNs to offer apps for Linux and routers. Browser extensions are available for Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. ExpressVPN MediaStreamer also makes it easier to use ExpressVPN on games consoles, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV.

EXCELLENT SECURITY:ExpressVPN puts your privacy first. It offers fast speeds for downloading and streaming and is excellent at unblocking content in the UAE including Skype. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full ExpressVPN review.

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5. PureVPN

works with EtisalatTested Mar 2025

PureVPN is an ideal choice for UAE residents needing a budget-friendly, fast VPN. It has thousands of servers in its network, which spans over 65 countries.

Compatible with Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android, it suits various devices, perfect for use at home or on public wi-fi in the UAE. It has robust encryption, allowing you to make VoIP calls using apps like WhatsApp or Viber.

PureVPN is effective for streaming both local UAE content and international shows, making it versatile for diverse viewing preferences. In our tests, it worked to watch OSN, Starz Play, and Wavo from abroad. It also worked with big-name providers such as Amazon Prime Video and Netflix.

In our tests, PureVPN achieved an overall average download speed of 117.59 Mbps. While not as fast as some, it’s nevertheless quick enough for streaming, gaming, torrenting, and video calling.  

PureVPN’s always-on obfuscation allows UAE users to bypass local restrictions with complete privacy, useful for accessing regional services like UAE internet banking from abroad, or for streaming BBC iPlayer and Netflix US from the UAE. It can also bypass restrictions on work or college networks and beat government-imposed blocks on gambling sites, for example.

Although live chat support can be slow, the VPN’s ease of use, stringent no-logs policy, obfuscation, and a kill switch make it a secure option for maintaining privacy in the UAE. You can test it yourself using its 31-day money-back guarantee.

VALUE VPN FOR UAE:PureVPN is very affordable and provides fast speeds. It allows you to get an IP address in Dubai and works with popular UAE ISPs. Reliable privacy makes it perfect for using public wi-fi safely and making VoIP calls privately. It has IPs in the UAE and 65+ other countries. Allows torrenting. 31-day money-back guarantee to try it risk-free.

Find out more in our PureVPN review.

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6. ProtonVPN

works with EtisalatTested Mar 2025

ProtonVPN is a Swiss VPN developed by Proton Mail. It has a stellar reputation for privacy, enhanced by Switzerland’s strong privacy laws and a watertight no-logging policy that has been audited.

The VPN offers advanced applications equipped with AES encryption, a kill switch, multiple protocols, obfuscation, multi-hop connections, and Tor over VPN. The inclusion of self-owned Secure Core servers provides an additional layer of security.

The provider uses the WireGuard protocol by default, which helps ensure speedy connections. When we tested the speeds of its UAE servers, ProtonVPN averaged 123.73 Mbps. 

In practice, this is fast enough for streaming simultaneously on multiple devices.

ProtonVPN’s UAE servers grant local IP addresses, which is crucial for accessing UAE streaming services like OSN, Starz Play, and Wavo. The provider also works with international platforms such as Disney Plus, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video.

In our tests, ProtonVPN seamlessly accessed a variety of UAE streaming services and popular content from over 85 countries, including popular platforms in the US and the UK. This VPN is especially beneficial for torrent users, thanks to its split tunneling and port forwarding features, which are ideal for efficient seeding.

Offering 24/7 live chat support and a 30-day money-back guarantee, ProtonVPN ensures easy setup and testing. While it may be slightly more expensive than some other options, its advanced capabilities and reliability make it a worthwhile investment for those in the UAE seeking a high-quality VPN experience.

FULLY FEATURED:ProtonVPN is a highly secure and reliable VPN based in Switzerland. It has an outstanding reputation, a no-logs policy, and many advanced features. It has servers in over 117+ countries, including the UAE. 24/7 live chat support. Port forwarding for torrenting. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Find out more in our ProtonVPN review.

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7. Private Internet Access

works with EtisalatTested Mar 2025

Private Internet Access is a solid choice that allows access to Etisalat and other popular streaming providers like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer.

PIA has servers in 91+ countries overall, including the UAE. It’s not the fastest provider, as we found out when speed-testing its UAE servers.

PIA’s fastest speed was 68.50 Mbps. Overall, though, its average download speed was 59.51 Mbps. This is by no means sluggish and is still fast enough for streaming in 4K. However, if you do need a speed bump, PIA is unusual in that it allows users to reduce the level of encryption used on their traffic in order to increase speed.

Private Internet Access shines in its security offering, providing military-grade encryption, an in-app kill switch, an ad blocker, and a malware blocker. DNS leak protection ensures your privacy remains watertight, and its no-logs policy ensures your activities are never recorded.

Unlimited simultaneous connections are standard, allowing you to connect all your devices with VPN protection under a single account. Speeds are decent across its servers, and apps are available for desktop and mobile. WireGuard is its standard protocol, boosting your connection for streaming and gaming. 24/7 support is available via live chat, including a 30-day money-back guarantee.

WIREGUARD READY:Private Internet Access uses 256-bit encryption, it includes around-the-clock support and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full Private Internet Access review.

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8. PrivateVPN

Works with EtisalatTested Mar 2025

PrivateVPN is a smaller VPN provider that still works well with Etisalat. Despite having a smaller network of around 200 servers, these are strategically located worldwide in an impressive 63 countries.

PrivateVPN has consistently found ways around anti-VPN measures. As such, you can use PrivateVPN to regain access to Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Skype, and more.

PrivateVPN’s speeds are adequate for streaming in high resolution, though, with an average download speed of 47.77 Mbps, you may want to opt for a faster provider if you plan on using the VPN simultaneously with several devices.

Like PIA, PrivateVPN allows users to choose the level of encryption as needs dictate. We can recommend PrivateVPN for both beginners and more experienced VPN users alike. That’s because this VPN’s apps offer simple and advanced menus. You can simply click and connect to a server or explore the various settings on offer.

PrivateVPN can be used on 10 different devices simultaneously, letting you secure everything from your laptop to your mobile. Speaking of security, PrivateVPN is safe to use since it offers a high level of encryption (256-bit AES), an internet kill switch feature, and DNS leak protection. PrivateVPN also states that it has a zero-data logging policy.

PrivateVPN offers apps for the following operating systems: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS.

FAST SPEEDS:PrivateVPN offers fast speeds for HD streaming, works with Netflix and Skype and has a zero data logging policy. 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our full PrivateVPN review.

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Methodology: How we found the best VPNs for Etisalat

Browsing the web in the UAE can be frustrating due to the strict internet censorship that’s in place. Of course, there are other factors to consider as well, such as server speed and security. Below, we detail our methodology for finding the best VPNs for Etisalat:

Server availability

We started by testing each provider’s obfuscation — its ability to disguise VPN traffic as regular internet traffic. A good benchmark in this respect is whether the obfuscation is effective in China as well as the UAE. We then scored providers on the number of countries they supported. If you want to connect to a server outside the UAE, then it’s good to know that there are plenty of options (servers nearer your actual location tend to be faster). We also scored providers on the overall number of servers they had. The larger a network, the less server load there is likely to be.

These scores were summed, averaged, and converted to an overall score out of 10 for quick comparison.

NordVPN’s score of 9.5 suggests it has the best server availability overall. Surfshark secured second place, with a score of 9.2. It primarily lost out to NordVPN due to a smaller server population (it has roughly half as many).

Speed

There are multiple reasons why a VPN might slow your connection. Server proximity and user load, as well as encryption, are factors at play. However, some VPNs are simply faster than others, which is particularly evident when testing them.

We carried out three speed tests for each provider while connected to their servers in the UAE: one in the morning, one at noon, and one in the afternoon. Measurements were taken using the desktop version of the Ookla speed-testing app. We rate-limited our base connection speed to 250 Mbps to help us more closely replicate a user experience in Dubai (where the median fixed broadband speed is 270.91 Mbps).

Once we’d collected the results, we averaged the data for each provider and converted it to an overall score out of 10.

NordVPN was the fastest provider overall, though Surfshark was a very close second. Either provider is a great option, and you’re unlikely to notice any impact on your connection speed while using them. The same can’t be said for PIA and PrivateVPN — although both are still fast enough for most tasks.

Security and privacy

Whether you’re in the UAE or traveling abroad, there are always security risks to be aware of. By using a VPN, you can ensure your data is encrypted and secure from hackers. The best VPNs for the UAE performed well against the criteria shown in the table below.

Each of the above criteria was assigned a score, which we converted to an overall score out of 10 for ease of comparison.

NordVPN and Surfshark both scored 9.5 and are more than capable of keeping your online activities safe from interested third parties in the UAE. If you’re looking for alternatives, ProtonVPN and PIA also scored highly, though their obfuscation isn’t quite as effective as the top two providers.

Streaming

You’ll need a VPN with strong unblocking ability in the UAE if you want to access the full gamut of online services. We tested providers’ ability to access streaming platforms, such as Netflix, and evaluated them against other streaming-related metrics.

Each metric was scored, and then the scores combined to generate scores out of 10 for each VPN’s relative streaming ability.

NordVPN, Surfshark and ExpressVPN each scored 9.2. This reflects their ability to unblock pretty much anything, as well as their pro-streaming features, such as smartDNS for VPN-incompatible devices.

Ease of use

All of the above means very little if the VPN is too complicated to use. User-friendly providers tend to perform well against the metrics shown in the table below.

As before, each metric was scored, and then the scores were combined to generate an overall score of 10 for each provider.

NordVPN and PIA scored highest overall, thanks in part to their beginner-friendly apps that are available for a variety of operating systems. IPVanish and ExpressVPN are also well-suited to new users.

Using a free VPN with Etisalat

There are several reasons why we advise against using free VPNs, particularly in the UAE:

1. The vast majority of free VPNs simply won’t work with Etisalat, which blocks VPNs on a regular basis. Indeed, if you’re trying to access VoIP services such as Skype, you’ll need a quality VPN to get past the blocks implemented by the UAE government.
2. Free VPNs have far fewer servers. This makes unblocking content from other countries more difficult. In contrast, the best-paid VPNs have thousands of servers worldwide, often in dozens of countries.
3. With fewer servers and more people trying to use the service, free VPNs often suffer from poor performance. As such, you’ll find streaming videos and making video calls will be difficult due to buffering and lag.
4. A VPN should improve your online security. Free VPNs do not offer as many security features as paid VPNs. At the very least, you should look for a VPN that uses 256-bit AES encryption, has DNS leak protection, and an automatic kill switch.
5. Last but certainly not least, free VPNs often keep logs of your data and activity. This is especially risky in countries such as the UAE, where accessing content that is deemed inappropriate or illegal may have legal consequences. For this reason, we strongly advise you to choose a VPN with a no-logs policy.

For these reasons, we highly recommend opting for a quality paid VPN instead. That being said, if you are committed to trying to find a free VPN, here are some tips you help you do so safely:

How to get a free VPN for Etisalat:

• Opt for a VPN that offers a free trial. These range from 1 – 7 days, so it could be enough if you just want to be protected for a short time.
• Make the most of the money-back guarantees of the providers we’ve listed here. They tend to last 30 days, so they should be enough to cover you for a vacation or short work trip. Unlike free trials, you do have to pay upfront but can at least rest assured that if you’re not 100% happy with the service, you can claim a full refund. Check out our step-by-step guide to claiming a full refund from NordVPN to see how simple it is.

Using a VPN in the UAE: the legalities

It is generally considered legal to use a VPN in the UAE, despite the anti-VPN measures implemented by internet service providers such as Etisalat. The UAE actually has laws related to the use of VPNs. Indeed, UAE law says that a VPN is only illegal if it’s used to commit a crime.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRA) is responsible for internet censorship in the UAE. Content that is prohibited in the UAE is:

any content that offends against, is objectionable to, or is contrary to the public interest, public morality, public order, public national security, Islam morality or is otherwise prohibited by any applicable UAE law, regulation, procedure, order or requirement…

Some examples of prohibited content include:

• VoIP sites such as Skype
• Pornography and nudity
• Fraud, impersonation, and phishing
• Drugs and mind-affecting substances
• Gambling and similar activities (bets, lottery, electronic gambling)
• Discrimination, racism, and contempt of religion

You can read more on using a VPN in our guide to the best VPNs for UAE.

Disclaimer: Comparitech does not condone or encourage any violation of copyright restrictions. Please consider the law, victims, and risks of piracy before downloading copyrighted material without permission. If you’re unclear about the legal ramifications, then it’s best to speak with a lawyer first. We are not legal experts, and you should seek out qualified legal advice on these matters.

VPN not working with Etisalat? Try this

We’ve found NordVPN to be by far the most reliable VPN in the UAE. However, even this provider can occasionally struggle to work with Etisalat. If your VPN is not working with Etisalat, try this:

1. Leave the protocol on Automatic.
2. Try connecting to any of the UK or USA server locations.
3. It may take longer than usual to connect (up to a minute or more at times), but that’s normal.
4. Try a few other server locations if the above step fails.
5. As a last resort, switch protocol to L2TP and then try connecting again. We don’t advise users always to use L2TP, but it might work in the UAE.

Best VPNs for Etisalat: FAQs