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, and can unblock even the toughest platforms. 24/7 support and a risk-free 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. Total VPN: A no-logs service with great everyday usage potential. Reliable servers in Dubai and very impressive speeds, plus beginner-friendly apps.
4. ProtonVPN: Reliable servers in over 120+ countries, including the UAE. Strong security and many advanced features. 24/7 live chat support.
5. ExpressVPN: A vast network of fast and secure servers that can unblock just about anything from almost everywhere. 24/7 live chat customer support.
6. IPVanish: This quick, zero-logs VPN works perfectly in the United Arab Emirates. Can protect every device you own and has strong security tools.
7. PureVPN: A speedy, versatile VPN that makes it easy to browse safely as an Etisalat customer. Great for streaming, torrenting, and beating censorship.
8. Private Internet Access: Solid security credentials, huge server network, unlimited connections, and 24/7 support. No issues sidestepping online restrictions either. Highly customizable settings.
9. 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

The UAE has tough online restrictions, meaning various types of content are inaccessible. Worse still, most VPNs are also blocked. Our testing involved making sure they work properly in Dubai and the UAE, then evaluating each VPN’s performance in the five key areas laid out 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.
• Value for money: We want to make sure you get a first-class VPN without spending more than you have to. That’s why we consider factors like lowest monthly cost, sale frequency, and whether each VPN offers a student discount.

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 compared

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

Dec 2025 Works with EtisalatTested Dec 2025

NordVPN is our top choice for Etisalat. It boasts an expansive network that seems to grow by the day, with over 8,000 servers in 120+ countries. As such, this is a great option for anyone hoping to beat country-wide censorship, access streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ abroad, or torrent securely. NordVPN comes with its own Smart DNS service (which helps unblock US-only services on devices that don’t support full VPN apps), permits up to 10 simultaneous connections, and offers 24/7 assistance over live chat.

This service promises 99.9 percent server uptime, which is a fantastic start. However, we also wanted to know how fast it was. Comparitech’s experts ran three speed tests on NordVPN’s servers in the UAE using a 250 Mbps connection. With an average speed of 190.97 Mbps, NordVPN outpaced every other service we tried. You shouldn’t notice any performance issues, even when sharing your connection.

NordVPN’s apps are very easy to use with well-described settings that are mostly controlled via toggle switches. It’s strong on security too, offering unbreakable encryption, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a kill switch that can close specific apps when your connection drops. It even blocks ads and trackers automatically, plus there’s an audited no-logs policy in place. If you’re interested in its more advanced features, NordVPN has split tunneling functionality, multi-hop servers, and a protocol named NordWhisper that was specifically designed to beat censorship.

You can download NordVPN apps for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, and Android TV. Browser extensions are available for Chrome and Firefox, though you’ll have to follow manual setup guides to get it running on routers.

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 Dec 2025

Surfshark is the best budget VPN for Etisalat customers. It offers access to 4,500 servers in over 100 countries and has no problems bypassing strict digital censorship — just make sure the NoBorders mode is on. As well as helping you browse safely in the UAE, this VPN works with major streaming platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, and Hulu. There’s no connection or bandwidth limit, and customer support is available 24 hours per day over live chat.

Our next challenge was to make sure Surfshark is actually fast enough to meet your needs. We conducted speed tests in the morning, at noon, and in the afternoon, resulting in an average download speed of 187.09 Mbps. For context, that’s quick enough to download a 1 GB file in around 40 seconds, and well above the minimum speeds needed for streaming 4K content. Here’s a look at our full test results:

Despite its low price point, Surfshark offers an impressive set of privacy features. There’s uncrackable encryption for a start (256-bit AES or ChaCha20), various industry-approved connection protocols, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a kill switch. Surfshark doesn’t keep any logs of your activities and has been audited several times. You can even use its multi-hop servers, block ads and trackers, or tell it to change your IP address every few minutes if you want even greater security.

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. Total VPN

works with EtisalatTested Dec 2025

Total VPN is a well-known provider with a lot to offer. For instance, its network covers an impressive 80+ countries including the United Arab Emirates. That’s not all: it works flawlessly with most major streaming services including Disney+ and Netflix, so you’ll never be short of something to watch. There is a five-connection limit which is a little lower than expected but should still be enough for most people. If you need help, support staff are available 24/7 via live chat.

Part of our goal here at Comparitech is ensuring you get a VPN that’s fast enough to handle anything. With this in mind, our team tested Total VPN’s Emirati servers at various points throughout the day. This way, we can see how fast they were but also measure how much slowdown there was during busier periods. See for yourself:

Total VPN was one of the quickest providers we tested, boasting an average speed of 175.76 Mbps on a 250 Mbps connection. This is well above what’s needed to stream 4K video, play online games, make video calls, or torrent. Its speeds only varied by 9 Mbps too, which is well within normal ranges. If you need a fast, consistent connection, you could do far worse than Total VPN.

When it comes to security, Total VPN has everything you’ll need to browse the web safely in the UAE. To begin with, its 256-bit AES encryption is considered uncrackable by industry experts and it refuses to keep any logs of your activities. There’s also DNS and IPv6 leak protection as well as a kill switch in most versions of the app. Finally, this service supports the Hydra protocol which can hide the signs which indicate you’re using a VPN in the first place.

Total VPN provides its own apps for MacOS, iOS, Windows, and Android.

FAST UAE SERVERS:Total VPN has performance most of its rivals can only dream of. What’s more, it can access all kinds of region-locked sites and takes care of security for you. Annual subscriptions come with a 30-day money-back guarantee while shorter plans include a 14-day guarantee instead.

Find out more in our in-depth Total VPN review.

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4. ProtonVPN

works with EtisalatTested Dec 2025

ProtonVPN is a privacy-first service with a fantastic reputation. It was created by the team behind Proton Mail, works flawlessly in the UAE, and has more than 15,000 servers spread across 120 countries. In other words, this is a highly-versatile VPN with a lot to offer. In fact, it can even help you access platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, and Zoom in the UAE. Staff are on-hand 24 hours per day and users are permitted up to 10 simultaneous connections per account.

To find out how fast this VPN is, we tested its Emirati servers in the morning, at midday, and in the afternoon using a 250 Mbps connection. ProtonVPN achieved an average download speed of 123.73 Mbps which is an incredible result. In practice, this means you’ll be able to stream live broadcasts, make video calls, and download large files with no noticeable performance issues. Here are our full results:

ProtonVPN comes equipped with everything you’ll need to use UAE streaming services like OSN, Starz Play, and Wavo safely. This includes 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, a Stealth protocol, multi-hop connections, and Tor over VPN servers. There’s also split tunneling and port forwarding functionality, as well as an accelerator tool that can allegedly quadruple your speeds. Most importantly, ProtonVPN follows an independently-audited zero-logs policy. The inclusion of self-owned Secure Core servers provides an additional layer of security.

This provider offers apps for iOS, Android, Windows, MacOS, and Linux. Its website also has manual setup guides for most types of router. 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 120+ 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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5. ExpressVPN

Works with EtisalatTested Dec 2025

ExpressVPN is one of the very few VPNs that works with Etisalat. It operates thousands of servers throughout 105 countries and automatically obfuscates your connection, allowing you to browse safely in the UAE, China, or anywhere else. You’ll even be able to unblock services like OSN, BBC iPlayer, and Disney+ abroad. Users can connect between 10 and 14 devices (depending on their subscription) and speak directly with support stafff via its 24/7 live chat service.

This provider has historically done pretty well in our industry-wide speed tests. On this occasion, after three tests on its servers in the UAE, ExpressVPN achieved an average speed of 111.25 Mbps. That’s a solid result, and more than you’ll need for any day to day task, though we’d like to see a little more consistency since ExpressVPN’s speeds varied by around 10 percent throughout the day. Let’s take a closer look at those results:

ExpressVPN delivers a powerful set of security features but since most of them are enabled by default, users barely have to manually configure anything. You’re automatically protected from DNS, IPv6, and WebRTC leaks, and thanks to the built-in kill switch and unbreakable encryption, your activities are completely hidden. This VPN doesn’t keep logs, blocks ads and trackers, and includes its own Smart DNS service called MediaStreamer.

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.

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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6. IPVanish

Works with EtisalatTested Dec 2025

IPVanish is a veteran provider boasting more than 3,200 self-owned servers in 100+ countries, with almost two dozen in the UAE alone. Not only is it able to evade the region’s strict censorship, IPVanish can reliably access tricky platforms like Netflix, BBC Player, and Amazon Prime Video from abroad. You’re allowed to connect as many devices as you like and there’s 24/7 live chat-based support just in case anything ever goes wrong.

To give you the best idea of IPVanish’s performance, we tried its servers in the UAE multiple times. Tests were run on a 250 Mbps connection since that’s the average household broadband speed in the US. This VPN achieved an average result of 175.86 Mbps, which is incredible. However, we’d like to see some improvement where consistency is concerned since IPVanish’s speeds varied by 24 Mbps.

IPVanish offers a wide range of powerful security features, starting with its unbreakable 256-bit AEs encryption. It also has a kill switch, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, and a Scrambling feature that can obfuscate your traffic, allowing you to browse freely in places like the UAE. IPVanish follows a zero-logs policy and has proven it with several audits. Its more advanced features include automatic wifi protection, ad and tracker blocking, multi-hop servers, and split tunneling ability.

IPVanish has two plans: Essential, which is just the VPN, and Advanced (which includes the VPN, 1 TB of cloud storage, and access to a privacy-focused, remotely accessible browser). A two-year Essential plan works out at just $2.19 per month, though you can upgrade to Advanced for around a dollar more each month.

Apps are available for MacOS, Windows, Android, and iOS. Linux systems and routers have to be set up manually.

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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7. PureVPN

works with EtisalatTested Dec 2025

PureVPN has a lot to offer any resident of the UAE. To begin with, it’s extremely affordable and has over 6,000 servers in 65 countries. It’s a great choice for bypassing regional restrictions too, easily sidestepping censorship in places like the UAE and China and granting access to platforms like Netlix and Amazon Prime Video, no matter where you are in the world. There’s 24/7 live chat-based support and a generous 10 simultaneous connection limit.

To find out how fast this provider is, our team tested its UAE servers in the morning, at noon, and in the afternoon. Tests were run using a 250 Mbps connection to better replicate the average reader’s experience. PureVPN delivered an average speed of 117.59 Mbps, meaning it’s quick enough to provide a flawless experience whether you’re hoping to stream, play games, or make video calls in the UAE.

PureVPN obfuscates all OpenVPN traffic by default, making it a strong choice for anyone planning a trip to the UAE. It also offers unbreakable AES-256 encryption, a kill switch, and protection against DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leaks. This service blocks ads and trackers automatically, can connect on its own whenever you use an unsecured network, and is even able to monitor the dark web, keeping an eye out for your personal information. PureVPN doesn’t keep any logs and has been independently audited on several occasions.

PureVPN offers apps for Android, MacOS, iOS, and Windows. You can follow manual setup guides to get it running on Linux systems and routers too.

VALUE VPN FOR UAE:PureVPN is very affordable and provides fast speeds. This versatile, easy to use VPN works great in Dubai and allows you to make VoIP calls safely. Boasts a large network, a no-logs policy, and a 31-day money-back guarantee.

Find out more in our PureVPN review.

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8. Private Internet Access

works with EtisalatTested Dec 2025

Private Internet Access is a natural choice for any Etisalat customer thanks to its expansive network and its ability to beat Emirari censorship (as well as access most region-locked streaming platforms). You’ll have thousands of servers to choose from in 90+ countries and can speak with customer support staff at any time using this VPN’s 24/7 live chat service. Best fo all, this is one of the only providers that lets you connect every device you own at the same time.

Next up, we had to verify that Private Internet Access was actually quick enough to handle day to day tasks like streaming, browsing the web, and torrenting. Following a full day of testing, our team recorded an average speed of 59.51 Mbps. That’s a respectable level of performance and more than enough for 4K streaming. We hope to see PIA work on its consistency though, since it varied a little more than we’d like.

Private Internet Access has everything you’ll need to stay safe online. Its toolkit includes unbreakable 256-bit AES encryption (which can be adjusted to slightly increase speeds) and a kill switch, plus DNS and IPv6 leak protection. This service also offers automatic ad and tracker-blocking, multi-hop servers, split tunneling functionality, and the ability to connect on its own in certain situations. Finally, this VPN follows a true no-logs policy which means your activities are completely secure.

This service offers apps for Windows, MacOS, iOS, Android, and Linux (command line or GUI). Its website provides manual setup instructions for various routers.

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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9. PrivateVPN

Works with EtisalatTested Dec 2025

PrivateVPN is another exceptional option for Etisalat subscribers. It may only have around 200 servers in 63 countries but this VPN can reliably beat China’s Great Firewall, so the UAE’s online censorship won’t pose much of a problem. It’s also perfect for anyone who likes to stream, unblocking stubborn platforms like BBC iPlayer, Prime Video, and Disney+ abroad. Customer support is available via live chat during European business hours and there’s a 10-connection limit.

This service has historically struggled to match its rivals’ speeds. However, when we tested its server in Dubai at different times of day, we noted an average download speed of 47.77 Mbps. That’s about three times faster than is required to stream 4K content so you shouldn’t have any issues even when performing data-intensive tasks like video calling, torrenting, or playing online games. Here are our full test results:

PrivateVPN excels at keeping you safe because it was designed to prioritize privacy at every opportunity. This is the only major VPN that acts as its own ISP and it follows a strict no-logging policy. Additional security features include a customizable kill switch, adjustable encryption (128-bit or 256-bit AES), and protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks. This VPN even has split tunneling, port forwarding, and a Stealth mode, so it’s better-suited to torrenting than most of its competitors.

PrivateVPN offers apps for the following operating systems: Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. If you’d like to use it on Linux systems or routers, you’ll have to follow a manual setup guide.

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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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 and means that you’re unlikely to find one with a presence in the UAE. 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. There are usually low monthly bandwidth caps too, meaning you won’t be able to use the VPN as often as you might like.
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
• Information related to privacy tools, VPNs, and beating digital censorship
• Political speech that goes against the views of authorities or the royal families
• Content relating to LGBTQIA+ topics
• Fraud, impersonation, and phishing
• Drugs and mind-affecting substances
• Gambling and similar activities (bets, lottery, electronic gambling)
• Discrimination, racism, aethism, 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, 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