Unfortunately, internet censorship is rife in many Middle Eastern countries, and the government isn’t the only entity that can monitor your online activities. There’s a chance that your employer, your Internet Service Provider (ISP), or hackers are also keeping tabs on you. Luckily there’s an easy way to ensure your privacy and safety while online, and that’s to use a VPN. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), encrypt your traffic and route it through a server in a different location, ensuring it can’t be read by any outside observer and keeping your activities private.

Aside from privacy, this process has one other major benefit: it assigns you a temporary IP address which allows you to appear as though you’re in another country. This can allow you to access geographically restricted sites and services – such as your online banking or home streaming libraries – while traveling in the Middle East.

Some countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Saudi Arabia, block traffic from all but a few government-approved VPNs. This means that the majority of VPNs won’t work in these locations. However, some still do, and below, we’ve listed the best VPNs that work anywhere in the Middle East. We’ll go more in-depth with each of our top picks later, but if you just want to see our recommendations, here’s a quick summary:

The best VPNs for the Middle Easy:

  • NordVPN: Top recommended VPN for the Middle East. This superfast and highly secure service works easily in countries with strict online censorship. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee.
  • Surfshark: Low-cost, security-conscious service with high speeds, servers in multiple Middle Eastern countries, and no connection limit.
  • ExpressVPN: A fast, reliable VPN with servers in Egypt, Israel, and over 90 other countries. Strong unblocking ability.
  • PrivateVPN: A fast, reliable way to safely browse the internet in the Middle East.
  • VyprVPN: Offers fast speeds, numerous Middle Eastern servers, advanced security, and a three-day free trial.

How to browse safely with a VPN in the Middle East

The good news is that with a VPN, it’s fairly simple to protect yourself when using the internet in the Middle East. Just follow these simple steps.

There are no hidden terms—just contact support within 30 days if you decide NordVPN isn’t right for you, and you’ll get a full refund. Start your NordVPN trial here.

Here’s how to use a VPN in the Middle East:

  • First, you’ll need to sign up for a reliable VPN service (we recommend NordVPN).
  • Download and install the appropriate version for your device.
  • Connect to a server in the country of the site or service you’d like to unblock, this will give you the country-specific IP address you need to access the site. For example, connect to a server in the UAE if you want a UAE IP address.
  • Try loading the desired website. If it doesn’t load immediately, you might have to clear your browser’s cookies and cache. Once you reload the page, it should work correctly.

Best VPNs for the Middle East  – at a glance

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

Best VPNs for the Middle East

There are plenty of VPNs on the market, but they do not all provide the same level of service, and very few of them will work in the Middle East. To identify the best VPNs for the Middle East, we only considered services meeting all of the criteria laid out below:

  • Has a wide network, with servers in several Middle Eastern countries
  • Offers reliable, high-speed connections
  • Uses powerful encryption and includes various other security features
  • Includes apps for the most popular operating systems
  • Logs no personally identifiable information and ideally keeps no logs whatsoever

This is just an overview, but you can read more about how we test the VPNs we recommend in our methodology section below. For now, let’s take a closer look at the ones that made the list.

Here’s our list of the best VPNs for the Middle East:

1. NordVPN

                    Jan 2023

Apps Available:

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Background
  • FireTV

Website: www.NordVPN.com

Money-back guarantee: 30 DAYS

NordVPN is our first choice VPN for the Middle East. It’s one of the fastest VPNs we’ve seen and has a huge network of more than 5,400 servers spread throughout around 60 countries, including Turkey, Israel, and the UAE. This VPN is able to reliably unblock even the most stubborn geo-blocked services with ease and even offers specialized obfuscated servers designed for bypassing governmental blocking. With up to six simultaneous connections allowed, you’re able to protect most, if not all, of your devices at the same time.

This provider shows a strong commitment to your privacy. There’s 256-bit encryption, a customizable kill switch, an ad-blocker, and a malware scanner, as well as DNS, IPv6, port forwarding, and WebRTC leak protection. Users can access Tor over VPN or use two VPNs at the same time. NordVPN has a no-logs policy and allows you to sign up anonymously. Live chat is available 24/7 in case of any problems.

NordVPN apps are available for macOS, iOS, Windows, Android, and Linux. It can be manually installed on wireless routers.

BEST VPN FOR THE MIDDLE EAST:NordVPN is our top pick. It offers comprehensive protection, excellent unblocking, and decent speeds at a very affordable price. There’s even a 30-day money-back guarantee making it a risk-free deal.

Pros:

  • Servers in 60+ countries, including several locations in the Middle East
  • Blazing fast speeds
  • Highly-customizable security
  • Reliable connections
  • Offers servers designed for browsing in countries with heavy censorship
  • Stellar customer support

Cons:

  • Has the occasional slow server

Our score:

To find out more, read our full NordVPN review.

2. Surfshark

  • PC
  • Mac
  • IOS
  • Android
  • Linux

Website: www.Surfshark.com

Surfshark is a great budget option that doesn’t compromise on service. It has around 3,200 servers covering 100+ countries, including Israel, Turkey, and the UAE. It has very good speeds and can reliably access stubborn platforms like Netflix abroad, but two things really set it apart from the competition. The first is that you can connect as many devices as you like. The second is the sheer number of security features on offer.

256-bit encryption is enabled by default, as is DNS, WebRTC, and IPv6 leak protection. You can also use Surfshark’s kill switch, choose to use dual VPNs, obfuscate your traffic, or let some apps through the VPN. There’s even automatic ad and malware blocking. Surfshark doesn’t log any personally identifiable information, and support is available 24/7 via live chat.

BEST BUDGET CHOICE:Surfshark is a fast, security conscious VPN that offers great value for money. Connect all your devices at once. Servers in 100+ countries. Plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Servers in 100+ countries, including locations in the Middle East

  • Solid multi-platform support

  • Lots of security extras

  • No logs policy

  • Allows unlimited connections

  • Sometimes slow to connect to a server on desktop

Read our full Surfshark review for more information.

3. ExpressVPN

Website: www.ExpressVPN.com

This VPN ensures your privacy with 256-bit AES encryption (which is effectively military-grade encryption), perfect forward secrecy, and protection against DNS and IPv6 leaks. Its desktop apps include a kill switch that automatically stops all traffic if you disconnect unexpectedly, which is especially useful in countries where the internet is monitored. ExpressVPN doesn’t log any personally identifiable information, plus you can pay with Bitcoin for added peace of mind. Customer support is available 24/7 over live chat.

ExpressVPN offers apps for Android, iOS, Mac, Windows, and Linux. There’s also custom firmware to make installing the service on a router easier.

PRIVACY-ORIENTED:ExpressVPN is fast and private, reliably works in the Middle East, and can access services such as Skype. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • Strong security features

  • Fast speeds

  • Large server network

  • Unblocks popular streaming services

  • 24/7 customer support

  • Priced higher than some rivals

  • Limited advanced features in apps for power-users

Check out our full ExpressVPN review.

4. PrivateVPN

Website: www.PrivateVPN.com

PrivateVPN offers higher speeds than many of its rivals but has a smaller network, with only around 200 servers. However, it’s still well worth your consideration since those servers are spread across 60+ countries, including Israel, Turkey, and Cyprus. It’s highly secure, works in countries with strict censorship, and as a bonus, it can even access tricky platforms like Netflix abroad. Ten connections are allowed at once, so you can stream from whichever device you prefer.

This VPN keeps your activities private with 256-bit encryption, a kill switch (Windows only), and WebRTC, DNS, and IPv6 leak protection. While PrivateVPN has a strict no-logging policy, it allows you to sign up anonymously using a throwaway email address and Bitcoin. Having difficulty getting set up? No problem – customer support can configure and install the software for you remotely with your permission.

PrivateVPN offers apps for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. Manual configuration is required for Linux-based systems or network routers.

FAST, SECURE BROWSING:PrivateVPN is a reliable, high-speed service It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, great unblocking capability, and the option to register anonymously.

  • Very high speeds

  • Great security features

  • Able to unblock popular streaming services

  • Servers in the Middle East

  • No live chat support

  • Fairly small network

Interested? check out our full PrivateVPN review.

5. VyprVPN

Website: www.VyprVPN.com

VyprVPN offers 700+ servers across 60+ countries, including Turkey, the UAE, Bahrain, Israel, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. It’s a fast service, capable of accessing platforms like Netflix without any issues. You can connect up to ten devices with a premium subscription which is far more than most VPNs allow.

This VPN includes several useful security features. There’s 256-bit encryption, DNS leak protection, and a kill switch for a start. However, it also allows you to use its Chameleon protocol which conceals the fact that you’re using a VPN in the first place. VyprVPN no longer logs any personal information, including IP addresses. Support is available over live chat, 24/7.

VyprVPN apps are available for Android, iOS, Windows, and macOS. It can be manually installed on Linux devices and select wireless routers.

GREAT SECURITY FEATURES:VyprVPN has several Middle Eastern servers, powerful security features, and great unblocking capability. 30-day money-back guarantee.

  • No logging

  • Traffic obfuscation

  • Highly secure

  • Can easily bypass most regional restrictions

  • Not the largest server network

  • Doesn’t accept cryptocurrency as payment

Want to know more? check out our full VyprVPN review.

Finding the best VPNs for the Middle East: our testing methodology

There are hundreds of VPN providers all vying for your business, but many of them are unsuitable for day-to-day browsing, let alone bypass strict online censorship. To keep your online activities private in the Middle East, you’ll need a first-rate VPN, which is why we examined each potential recommendation on the following criteria:

  • Server selection: There are 18 Middle Eastern countries, and ideally, we’d like there to be a network of servers in as many of these locations as possible. Of course, there must also be servers in countries without digital censorship too, and the more, the better.
  • Network speeds: Every VPN will slow your speeds somewhat, but we test candidates to ensure we only recommend VPNs fast enough for tasks like torrenting, streaming, and browsing.
  • Security: Considering governmental surveillance is a real problem in the Middle East, your security is of paramount importance. All of the VPNs above include effectively uncrackable encryption, IP leak protection, and a kill switch at a minimum. This means they can protect your online privacy and keep your internet traffic anonymous. Of course, more security tools are never a bad thing.
  • Privacy: We will not recommend a VPN that logs personally identifiable data. This means that our top VPNs can’t reveal what you do online, even if they’re threatened with legal action.
  • Unblocking capabilities: Travelers may not be able to keep in touch with friends and family as they travel, so regaining access to your usual home services is very important. We run dozens of tests to see how well these VPNs fare against geo-blocking. We prefer providers that offer a stealth mode for getting around these kinds of restrictions.
  • Ease of use: VPNs should be simple and straightforward for anyone to use. We like to see additional quality-of-life features, like unlimited connections and 24/7 support as well.
  • Value: Some less scrupulous providers try to get away with charging more than they’re worth. However, we examine what they offer compared to similarly-priced competitors to make sure you never pay more than you should. We also take any available discounts, free trials, and money-back guarantees into account.

This is actually only one small part of the testing that we do. Interested in learning more? Why not read about our full VPN testing process?

Internet censorship in the Middle East

Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates have some of the most pervasive internet censorship in the world. There are numerous documented cases of citizens being prosecuted for speaking ill of the government or expressing opinions contrary to the status quo. These countries restrict access to huge swathes of content, and these blocks often include popular social media platforms, messaging apps, and news websites, severely restricting the flow of unbiased information.

This table shows you the current status of internet censorship and VPN regulations throughout the Middle East.

Free VPNs aren’t charities; they’re designed to make money just like any other business. However, as they don’t bill the user directly, they have to find other ways to make a profit. This usually means they’ll include large ads on sites you visit, but some services even use tracking cookies to harvest valuable user data. Once enough has been collected, it can be sold to third parties without your knowledge or express consent.

Finally, but most importantly, there’s no guarantee you’ll even choose a safe service. A 2016 survey showed that of 283 tested apps, over 38% included malware. Assuming you find one that doesn’t, 18% let the user browse with no encryption at all, and 84% leaked personal information over IPv6. Even well-known free VPNs come with their own risks, as we discovered when Hola was caught selling idle user bandwidth to help run botnets.

The best way to protect yourself online is to use a reputable VPN provider with a user-first privacy policy and premium security services.

It’s important to note that some platforms prevent foreign users from accessing their services in other ways. For example, you might be asked to use a payment method that’s only available in a particular country or might have to verify that you actually have a Middle Eastern address or phone number. Some services, including Netflix, allow you to pay with gift cards. These are ideal since they’re fairly simple to acquire and don’t require you to enter any personal information.

Essentially, while an ISP can’t see what you do while connected to a VPN, there are traffic patterns that indicate you’re using one. The largest and most successful VPNs have the resources to repeatedly find workarounds, often by scrambling your traffic or using their own protocols, but smaller services usually don’t. This is why there are only a handful of VPNs that can reliably keep your traffic safe in the Middle East.

Note: while we’ve attempted to be as thorough as possible while researching for this article, we are not legal experts. Comparitech does not condone using a VPN for illegal purposes and recommends our readers research a country’s relevant legislation for themselves before traveling.

Anybody wanting to download those mobile VPN apps should do so using the regular Google Play or Apple app store. Following that, log in using your credentials from signing up on the VPN provider’s website. 

You can use the links in this article to take out a subscription with your favorite VPN for the Middle East. Our links will automatically apply a coupon code to get you the VPN at the best possible cost.