VPN not working in UAE: QUICK fixes (troubleshooting tips)

With a reliable VPN, you can unlock websites and apps in the UAE that aren’t usually available in that region. On this page, we explain what to do if your VPN is not working in the UAE.

Our dedicated team has done the work for you, putting VPNs to the test to see which ones work well in the UAE. Plus, we’ve rounded up some tips to get your existing VPN working once again.

Which VPNs work in the UAE?

Why you can trust GadgetMouse: Our content is written by a team of humans and we refuse to use AI. Plus, we own (and use) every VPN that we write about. For more details, see our editorial policy.

Why is my current VPN not working in the UAE?

If a website discovers that you’re trying to watch shows from outside of a supported country, your connection could be blocked. However, a trusted VPN can still help you unlock content from anywhere in the world.

Your current VPN isn’t working in the UAE and that’s probably because it’s not hiding your location. The VPN servers you have available to you through your current VPN may be blacklisted.

In summary, common issues with using a VPN in the UAE:

• Your go-to VPN server has been blacklisted by a website or app.
• You have a bad internet connection that slows down your VPN.
• Your VPN is revealing your IP address to a service that has region-based locks in place.

How to fix a VPN in the UAE

1. Check your VPN is updated

If your VPN doesn’t unlock content while you’re based in the UAE, check you’re using the most recent version.

To update your VPN from a computer, load up the VPN and then choose Settings. Clicking Update will usually take you to the VPN provider’s website, where you can learn more about what’s new.

If you’re using Android, open the Play Store, tap your profile and then choose Manage apps and device. Select Update. From an iPhone, open the App Store and tap your profile in the top-right corner of the screen.

2. Try a different server

If your VPN isn’t working as it should from the UAE, the issue could lie with your VPN server, so swapping to an alternative could be the answer. Top VPNs provide numerous servers within each country. Experiment with your options to see what works best.

3. Message Support

The most popular VPNs have teams that solve technical issues. If you’re having trouble using your VPN VPN, reach out to them for assistance.

4. Reset your VPN

Restart your PC or phone and then launch your VPN again. If that doesn’t resolve the issue while in the UAE, completely uninstall and reinstall your VPN. Open both your VPN and a region-locked website to see what the results are.

5. Check your internet

To do this, disconnect from your wi-fi entirely and reconnect. Once your connection is back, try your VPN once more and consider restarting your internet router for a full reset – you’ll spot a button on the back.

More broken VPN fixes:

Check to see if you’ve been hit by a DNS leak. This implies your regular IP address and location can be seen by websites and apps, even when using a VPN. Test the effectiveness of your VPN using the IP Address Lookup tool – this way, you can check if your IP address changes when you activate your VPN. If not, your VPN isn’t functioning properly.

Re-enter your VPN username and password. Double-check your details and, If you can’t remember them, choose the ‘Forgot’ option on your VPN provider’s website.

Check the VPN servers are online. If you can’t connect to a server, your provider might be experiencing an outage. This will impact your experience using a VPN in the UAE.

Check that your firewall allows VPN use. If you’re experiencing issues on desktop, make sure your VPN is mentioned in the ‘Allow’ list. On Windows, head to open Windows Security > Allow an app through the firewall. On Mac, try System Settings > Network > Firewall.

➡️ Download our free VPN troubleshooting tips poster ⬅️

Best VPNs for the UAE

ExpressVPN

• 1-month subscription: £10.53 per month
• 6-month subscription: £8.12 per month
• 1-year subscription + 3 months free: £5.42 per month (49% off)

🌎 Number of servers	160
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	5
⏱️ Our speed test results	-8.7% download, -5.5% upload (London)

If you want to enjoy streaming video from any on-demand service while you’re in the UAE, create a membership with ExpressVPN. It’s easy to use, delightfully fast and works well if you’re looking to access content that’s usually reserved for a specific country. To watch TV anywhere, all you need to do is open up ExpressVPN, connect to a server in a supported region and go from there.

This VPN keeps your real IP address private at all times, so websites won’t know you’re accessing content from outside of a supported country. Every ExpressVPN member has access to servers in over 90 countries around the world. ExpressVPN works on a range of different devices including Mac, PC, Android or iOS smartphone.

Pros: Smartphone app lets you connect in seconds, 'favourite' most-used VPN servers for quick access, performed remarkably well in our chat support speed test

Cons: Rival VPNs are cheaper, can't use many devices at once

Try ExpressVPN today

Ivacy

• 1-month subscription: £8.62 per month
• 1-year subscription: £3 per month (65% off)
• 5-year subscription + FREE password manager: 80p per month (90% off)

🌎 Number of servers	5,700
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	10

Ivacy works well if you’re currently based in the UAE and it’s a reliable option if you don’t want to spend lots of money on a VPN to watch TV. This service supports 256-bit encryption, which helps keep cybercriminals away. On top of that, you also get public wi-fi security that protects your gadgets against malware if you’re connecting to a hotspot in a public area.

While you’re in the UAE , you can use Ivacy to access geo-restricted websites without anybody knowing about it. That’s thanks to Ivacy’s very strict no-logs policy, which prevents your valuable personal data from being sold to sinister third parties.

This is one of the most widely-used VPNs proven to work in the UAE. If you try it for yourself today, you’ll get instant access to over 3,000 VPN servers around the world. A single subscription for Ivacy has you covered on up to 10 different devices at once, which is ideal for a family of streamers.

Pros: Connection is steady when using multiple devices, notifications mention if Ivacy is disabled, server locations split by country and city

Cons: We think the ExpressVPN mobile app is faster, below-average results in our chat support speed test

Try Ivacy today

NordVPN

• 1-month subscription: £10.49 per month
• 1-year subscription: £3.99 per month (40% off)
• 2-year subscription: £2.79 per month (58% off)

🌎 Number of servers	5,200+
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	6
⏱️ Our speed test results	-14% download, -7% upload (London)

Here’s another VPN that lets you watch region-locked content while you’re sat somewhere in the UAE. NordVPN has servers all over the world and all of them are protected by military-grade encryption. With Nord’s enhanced encryption technology, you can even stay safe on public wi-fi networks without speeds being affected.

NordVPN’s servers are secure and you can connect without handing over personal data. This VPN doesn’t watch how you’re using the service, so privacy is guaranteed in the UAE. You can also try the CyberSec feature, which blocks suspicious-looking websites and lowers the risk of your device being infected with data-grabbing malware.

In just a couple of minutes, you can start streaming shows using NordVPN. To access the service, just connect to a VPN server based in a supported country. If you need help at any time, you can call on NordVPN’s 24/7 live chat service.

Pros: Built-in internet kill switch works well, profile page on app includes 'Security score' with privacy tips, takes less than a minute to reach a live chat agent (based on our tests)

Cons: Other VPNs tested are cheaper, some streaming services require multiple resets to work

Try NordVPN today

PureVPN

• 1-month subscription: $10.95 per month (12% off)
• 1-year subscription: $3.74 per month (70% off)
• 2-year subscription + 4 extra months: $1.96 per month (84% off)

🌎 Number of servers	6,500+
📈 Bandwidth	Unlimited
🗣️ 24/7 live chat service	Yes
📱 Number of devices	10

PureVPN is still one of our favourite services to recommend for VPN newbies that are based in the UAE. It’s a breeze to use and doesn’t limit bandwidth per user. PureVPN is a great VPN that allows you to bypass geo-locked websites so you can enjoy TV without a fuss, even if you’re not currently based in a supported country.

Pros: Surprisingly affordable considering features, lots of UK and US-based servers, generous with simultaneous devices

Cons: Takes a couple of minutes to reach live chat agents (based on our tests), performs better on iOS compared to Android (in our experience)

Try PureVPN today

How to use a VPN in the UAE

Before you start using a VPN while you’re in the UAE, you need to pick a geo-restricted website or service that you’re aiming to unlock.

As an example, let’s say you’re based in the UAE and you want to enjoy shows streaming on BBC iPlayer – that service is usually only available to viewers based in the UK. So, to unlock iPlayer while you’re in the UAE, you would need to run through these steps:

1. Pick one of our suggested VPNs – we’ll use ExpressVPN for this example.
2. Once you’ve created your ExpressVPN account, sign in.
3. From Windows or Mac, open ExpressVPN and select a server in a supported country. In this example, you could choose a server based in the UK.
4. Once you’re connected, head to the iPlayer website.
5. Log in to your BBC iPlayer account and enjoy.

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