The UAE is among the most astonishing countries in the Middle East, which can also be said about Dubai. No doubt, Dubai is an epicenter of technology, tall skyscrapers, and 5-star hotels that tourists and those with deep pockets enjoy. However, people still seek free VPNs that work in Dubai for many reasons. As many of you know, the state of the internet in this country is poor. Aside from heavy censorship, we’re talking about geo-restrictions and ISP surveillance. Du and Etisalat control the entire internet space in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Moreover, the country blocks hundreds of sites and even VoIP services like WhatsApp and Skype. This makes it increasingly difficult to stay in touch with your friends and family abroad, for example. The good news is that the best free VPN for Dubai can easily fix these issues. To an extent.
Our team would rather recommend premium Dubai VPNs. However, in today’s guide, we’ll go through some really free VPNs for Dubai as well. We’ll explain everything as we go, so all you have to do is keep reading. It’s not that hard if you’ve finished the first grade at school!
In a Rush? Here Are the Best Free VPNs for Dubai
If you’re in dire need of a free Dubai VPN, we have you covered. Our top 3 favorite providers that won’t cost a penny for 30 days are:
- NordVPN (the best overall free VPN for Dubai for 30 days)
- ExpressVPN – (a fast and secure Dubai VPN for 30 days)
Wanna pay nothing and use the VPN free forever? Here are the best options:
- Proton VPN (unlimited bandwidth and strong privacy)
- Hide.me (rock-solid security on all devices)
- PrivadoVPN (lots of servers and streaming capabilities)
However, these VPNs are limited in performance, streaming, torrenting, and simultaneous connections. NordVPN is the best free VPN for Dubai for 30 days. It has a huge 70%+ on its already affordable 2-year plans plus a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Try its risk-free trial below and enjoy unlimited traffic, thousands of servers, and much more!
Why are Free VPNs for Dubai Not Recommended?
When talking about censored countries like the UAE, China, Russia, or Turkey, it’s hard to ever recommend a free provider. While China is a lot more stringent and definitely on the verge of being crazy with its laws, Dubai and the UAE aren’t.
This means some free VPNs will work but not all of them. That’s because there are certain VPN blocks in Dubai, which makes some of the VPNs non-functional. Another glaring issue is that free services lack obfuscation, which can make them easily detectable by Du and Etisalat.
If we exclude that, they’re simply subpar in terms of performance and security. You’ll see that free services offer limited traffic, 1 Gbps servers, and a minuscule server network. All of this, combined with the lack of premium security features, makes free services inferior.
We compared free and paid VPNs directly, so we recommend reading that article. In short, the best free VPN for Dubai is far from the best premium alternative – a light year or two! Still, we didn’t want to rid you of the possibility of saving some money by going for a free VPN.
That’s why we found safe and secure free VPN services that still work in Dubai in 2024. At least that’s what we can promise – safety, security, and privacy. As for other factors… well, you’ll have to deal with some compromises.
Premium VPN Alternatives That You Can Use for FREE in Dubai
We presented the best 100% free VPNs for Dubai later in this guide. Before we discuss them, we’ll first go to the premium side. As you’ll soon see, free services are very limited and they intentionally cut down the features you’ll like the most. Do you like fast speeds and unlimited bandwidth? Well, you won’t get them.
We can apply this to many other crucial features that are intentionally thrown out so that you purchase a premium VPN. In reality, premium VPNs are much better, and that especially rings true for Dubai. But you don’t have to spend a ton of money on these providers.
There’s a way to use premium VPNs for free for 30 days, depending on the provider. This is a far better, safer, and more dependable solution that we recommend for Dubai residents. Let’s take a look at the VPNs that are infinitely better and above all, usable for free for up to 30 days.
NordVPN: The Best Free VPN for Dubai For 30 Days
If our top 3 really free VPNs don’t fit the bill, you can always use NordVPN as the best free VPN in Dubai, this time, for 30 days. NordVPN functions by offering a 30-day money-back guarantee for all plans. Through our site, however, you can also receive a special discount for any of the 2-year plans.
Either way, the principle is extremely simple. You’ll need to get NordVPN through our site, select the plan you want, enter your email, and complete the payment. No matter which plan you choose, you’ll be granted a 30-day money-back guarantee. Even monthly plans are subject to the same refund policy!
Start a 30-Day Free Trial With NordVPN
Needless to say, we recommend getting a longer plan to minimize the price per month. But if you opt for a refund, it doesn’t matter. From there, you’re free to enjoy its unlimited bandwidth and fast speeds before you get a full refund in the first 30 days.
Why Use NordVPN?
NordVPN is one of the best budget-friendly VPNs that isn’t skimping on any relevant features. Despite its inexpensive nature, the VPN delivers 6,400+ servers in 111 countries – even in the UAE (Dubai). If you’re abroad and you need a VPN to access local content in the UAE, it’s pretty much perfect.
This is further improved with its dedicated torrenting servers and “normal” servers useful for streaming and unblocking content. All servers can unblock Netflix, along with various foreign TV channels. Let’s not forget features like Double VPN and Threat Protection.
Dubai residents will enjoy Obfuscated servers for added privacy too. These servers operate by using OpenVPN TCP, ensuring the masking of your VPN connection for the utmost privacy. Speaking of which, NordVPN’s zero-logging policy is audited by Deloitte and PwC – some of the largest auditors.
Security-wise, you have plenty to be happy about. For instance, NordVPN has an ad blocker called CyberSec, which destroys annoying ads and accelerates page loading. Also, the provider uses NordLynx to boost connection speeds, with the kill switch and IP leak protection as an important layer of security.
With 10 simultaneous connections, protecting all your devices at the same time will be an easy feat, as this is more than what you get in ExpressVPN. In addition, NordVPN’s apps are available for every system, including Windows, iOS, macOS, Android, and Linux. Even Smart TV and Fire TV Stick dedicated apps are here.
If you need a free VPN for Dubai for 30 days and you don’t want to spend a fortune, take a look at NordVPN. Even if you decide to use it in the long run, know that it’s cheaper AND better than ExpressVPN, so it’s a win-win combo.
ExpressVPN: Use It for 30 Days for Free!
We all know that ExpressVPN isn’t free but hear us out. This provider offers a 49% discount and 3 free months for the 1-year plan for those willing to invest in their privacy in the long run. If not, they can still claim this exclusive discount and enjoy a 30-day money-back guarantee the same way as with NordVPN.
This exact feature is how you can use ExpressVPN for free. Thanks to it, you can simply get ExpressVPN, enjoy it for 30 days, and request a refund. Sure, you’ll pay in the beginning but after you receive a refund, ExpressVPN will give you the entire sum of money back.
In the end, it’s as if you’ve never paid for it, as you won’t lose any money. That’s why we present it as an excellent free VPN to use in Dubai next to NordVPN.
To get ExpressVPN, simply click the button above and you’ll be taken straight to its special deal. In fact, you can also purchase the monthly plan instead, which is also subject to the same refund policy.
Why Use ExpressVPN?
But why even bother with ExpressVPN? Well, what if we told you that it offers unlimited bandwidth AND respectable speeds? It’s quicker than any other VPN we tested except NordVPN, plus, it works in Dubai like a charm. Unlike free VPNs for Dubai, it packs 3,000+ servers in 160 worldwide locations – impressive!
Not to mention ExpressVPN’s remarkable streaming capabilities, which include the ability to unblock Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Hotstar anywhere. On top of that, ExpressVPN’s uncapped traffic lets you download torrents endlessly, without any particular worries in terms of security and privacy.
Its no-logs policy received audits from KPMG, PwC, and Cure53 as well. This speaks volumes about its quality, which has to do with its British Virgin Islands jurisdiction that screams privacy. Let’s not forget its in-app security features like Lightway, a kill switch, and incredibly useful split tunneling.
All of this, combined with TrustedServer technology and Private DNS, makes ExpressVPN a choice we’d recommend as the second-best pick. In terms of app support, ExpressVPN works on all platforms, offering 8 simultaneous connections, unlike the single connection you get with free VPNs.
Also, ExpressVPN is user-friendly, allowing even total beginners to enjoy it. One click and you’re connected to a server, after which, you can soar the internet anonymously. iOS and Android users can also enjoy Threat Manager, which blocks malicious trackers and ads.
ExpressVPN even works on Firestick TV, plus, there’s full support for all popular routers. You get no compromises here, except for the lack of Double VPN servers. Now compare NordVPN or ExpressVPN to the best 100% free VPN for Dubai (Proton VPN), for example, and you’ll immediately see what is the right choice.
Best Free VPN for Dubai in 2024
Just to make it clear, we’re talking about 100% free Dubai VPN providers here. They’re premium by default but their free plans require no payment, no credit card, and no personal data. You’ll have to make a free account with your email and password only.
After that, you’ll need to download the VPN to your device, connect to a server, and enjoy. Let’s see what are our top 3 favorite free VPNs for Dubai in 2024.
1. Proton VPN
Pros
- Unlimited bandwidth
- WireGuard protocol in the free version
- No-logs policy
Cons
- Slow speeds due to overcrowded servers
- Torrenting won’t work
- You can’t select the server location
- Poor customer support
Proton VPN is another free Dubai VPN we find stellar. First of all, the provider is based in Switzerland, which promises extreme privacy. Swiss privacy laws ensure that Proton VPN is a no-log service, with security features like AES-256 encryption, the kill switch, and split tunneling.
Even better is that it offers no bandwidth limits, so it seems like quite an impressive choice. A free VPN that’s unlimited plus safe and secure – you must be dreaming! But don’t get your hopes up. Even though Proton VPN is really offering everything we said, there are some caveats to consider.
One of them is the lack of free Dubai VPN servers. Instead, you’re granted access to a single server location and that location can’t be chosen by you. Its paid version, however, has UAE VPN servers. On the flip side, its free servers allow you to unblock WhatsApp in the UAE, which is a big relief.
Albeit, due to slower speeds and 1 Gbps servers, enjoying smooth video/voice calls might be a hard feat. Proton VPN isn’t great for streaming as a result, plus, it can’t unblock Netflix or BBC iPlayer. Disappointingly, due to unlimited traffic, the provider skimped on torrenting.
In other words, all P2P traffic is forbidden and simply won’t work when you try to download torrents. Let’s not forget that Proton VPN’s magnum opus features like NetShield and Secure Core aren’t in the free version. You get this VPN Accelerator instead.
But it has an acceleration of a snail, so don’t expect miracles. Overall, Proton VPN is lacking severely, offering no 24/7 live chat support, no simultaneous connections, and no other advanced features. If you’re after a free VPN for Dubai with unlimited bandwidth, though, choose this one.
2. Hide.me
Pros
- 256-bit encryption
- Unlimited traffic
- Zero logging
Cons
- Not working with Netflix
- Average performance
- Only 8 server locations
- No WireGuard protocol
Hide.me built its reputation on rock-solid security and privacy, which translates over to the free version, much to our delight. Hide.me made sure it offers unlimited bandwidth, state-of-the-art encryption with a kill switch, OpenVPN, and superb IPv6/DNS leak protection.
As a free VPN service that works in Dubai, Hide.me VPN is a good but not the best performer. Furthermore, it comes equipped with RAM-only servers, making sure nothing is stored regarding your personal data. This is confirmed by a no-logging policy and a MASA audit, which makes Hide.me VPN trustworthy.
Our Hide.me VPN review highlighted its excellent-looking apps as well! On top of that, the provider is decent – not the best – for streaming. Watching Netflix US won’t work but we noticed that plenty of foreign TV channels work well. Don’t expect the service to offer any servers in Dubai, as you only get 8 locations outside of this gargantuan city.
This brings us to its downsides. Namely, Hide.me VPN lacks WireGuard support in the free version – eww! We find this quite a bummer because WireGuard is a LOT faster than OpenVPN, which explains why Hide.me’s performance won’t blow you away.
Let’s not forget that Hide.me lacks some premium features we really like. For example, you don’t get MultiHop servers, an ad blocker, and more simultaneous connections. Instead, you’re left with only one connection per account, which feels underwhelming.
Interestingly, Hide.me has 24/7 live chat support for free users as well but with the lack of P2P support, it feels half-baked. As a free VPN for Dubai that’s safe and secure, we can say it’s decent. However, it’s safe only as long as you don’t cross the red line and try to download torrents or watch Netflix.
3. PrivadoVPN
Pros
- 12 server locations
- RAM-based servers
- Uncapped speeds
Cons
- 10 GB bandwidth cap
- No ad blocker in the free version
- It lacks third-party audits
- No dedicated Linux app
Privado is, as said, a premium VPN service, but its free plan is useful in Dubai. It comes with 12 server locations, which is more than Proton VPN and Hide.me VPN combined. This makes it far more versatile, except if we take into account that no free Dubai VPN servers are offered.
Still, PrivadoVPN is surprisingly fast and comes with WireGuard, which ensures stable and reliable connections. Furthermore, this service offers a kill switch that works like a charm, plus RAM-only servers, which wipe every bit of information with each restart.
Another thing to mention is that this free Dubai VPN stores no logs. According to its privacy policy, your IP and browsing activities are completely anonymous. PrivadoVPN is also working with Netflix and offers P2P capabilities, so it can be used as a free VPN for torrenting.
PrivadoVPN isn’t perfect. It packs 10 GB of bandwidth each month, so the cap, while a bit higher, is still there. 10 GB of bandwidth isn’t enough for serious internet users, especially if they’re streaming. Also, PrivadoVPN also seems to lack many premium features.
One of them is Control Tower DNS, which includes even an ad blocker. Unlike the two best free VPNs in Dubai, it also has no security audits – very disappointing. Although it’s based in Switzerland, it’s hard to fully trust a VPN without a third-party audit to confirm its quality.
A critical issue is that it has no dedicated Linux client, so a manual setup is required. While 24/7 live chat support is here, it’s not enough to make this provider extraordinary by any means. However, its performance, streaming, and security/privacy would be solid if it weren’t for the bandwdith cap.
Summary: Which Free VPN to Use in Dubai?
In today’s article, we talked about the 3 best free VPNs for Dubai. Proton VPN, Hide.me and PrivadoVPN are your best options if you’re looking to pay nothing. However, their compromises and shortcomings are obvious and aren’t going to make you the happiest.
If that’s a problem – and it should be – a better solution is to go for premium alternatives. We included NordVPN and ExpressVPN as the best options, although CyberGhost is also a great VPN with a 45-day refund policy. To cut it short, in a country like this, you’re far better off with a premium provider.
Not only because of unlimited bandwidth and excellent performance. We’re talking about much stronger security, better streaming capabilities, anonymous torrenting, and a robust server fleet. In the end, it’s all up to you, now that you have 5 VPNs to choose from.
Is it going to be a really free VPN for Dubai or perhaps, a premium risk-free service like NordVPN for up to 30 days?