VPN Usage Increases in the UAE and the Gulf Region

Demand for VPNs to access restricted content has surged in the UAE and the Gulf region.

According to the latest data from Nord Security, the number of VPN use cases in the UAE increased by 36 per cent year-on-year, while the region saw a 30 per cent increase:

The demand for VPNs in the Gulf region is increasing every year. The more content restrictions appear, the greater the demand for the VPN service. Many people use VPNs to access blocked content.

VPN usage in the Emirates is permitted if it complies with the recommendations of the UAE government and Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority. However, illegal activities through VPNs can lead to imprisonment and a fine of between AED 500,000 and 2 million under Article 10 of Decree No. (34) of 2021 on Combating Rumours and Cybercrime.

Gulf residents often use VPNs to access banned content, including dating, gambling, pornography, drugs and make audio and video calls on apps such as Telegram, WhatsApp, Skype, FaceTime and Discord.