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Traveling to the UAE is something everyone should do. The great cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi provide amazing recreational opportunities and some of the best luxury in the world. The bottom line is when you arrive in the UAE, you are getting the best of everything. Unfortunately, there is one issue that could affect your business or leisure travel – internet restrictions within the UAE. This is a problem, but the good news is that it’s a very solvable problem, and what you can do is use the solution provided in this article for similar situations in other countries as well.
Blocking Sites in the UAE
The UAE has one ISP, and this ISP is very quick to block proxy servers. Because it is the only game in town, getting around the block is quite difficult. This is why many folks prefer using VPN in UAE. VPN provides one of the easiest solutions to getting around the blocked sites. Since there are a lot of blocked sites that many western travelers often browse in their home countries, it is easy to see why finding a great VPN is critical to enjoying content that’s available at home.
There are several sites ubiquitous around the world that are blocked in the UAE. Here are some of those sites:
- Skype
- Facetime
- Craigslist
- Change.org
- Fortnite
- Netflix
- OKCupid
- YouTube
If you’re someone who is from the west, the bottom line is these sites are a part of your life, so it’s imperative to find a way around the UAE’s block.
Using a Proxy Server in the UAE
While VPN is the best solution, there are many who use proxy servers within the UAE. Basically, you can Google where to find free proxy servers and then configure your browsing settings to use the proxy server to try and get around the UAE’s restrictions. This is a great strategy until you realize how efficient the UAE is at blocking these proxy servers. What works one day often won’t work the next day. This is why using a VPN is the best way to get around the blocks in the UAE.
How to Access Blocked Sites in the UAE
The answer to this is really simple – what you need to do is mask your IP address this way the IP address doesn’t show as originating from the UAE. When an IP address is linked to the UAE, then it is easy for the ISP in the country to block many sites. It registers your browsing as coming from a computer located in the UAE. Therefore, the first step is to find a way that ensures your IP address is viewed by servers as originating from another, less restrictive part of the world. The easiest way to do this is with a VPN.
Using a VPN is something that’s easy to configure on your desktop and your mobile device. The way to do so is connecting via a remote server. On your mobile device or a desktop, this is pretty easy to configure, and many VPNs set this up for you so that you don’t need to do the work yourself. A VPN is the stress-free way to get around the UAE blocks.
How Does a VPN Get Around UAE Site Blocks?
As established earlier, the key to avoiding UAE site blocks is to mask the IP address that identifies your device as found within the UAE. The geographic location allows the blocks to work. A VPN uses a process called tunneling, and what tunneling does is connect your device with a server showing it originating in another country. So, if you were looking to get on Facebook, the key is making sure that your VPN has servers showing their location as being in the US, for example. Naturally, the UAE ISP is going to try and find these VPNs, and there are some VPNs that are blocked in the UAE, so it is important that you find a VPN that hasn’t been found by the UAE’s aggressive blocking system.
Selecting the Right VPN
There are a couple critical components to selecting the right VPN to use in the UAE. The first is you need a VPN with access to a large number of servers. The reason for this is because the many servers allow selection of different countries from which to have your IP address mask derive from. For example, if the UAE blocker figures out the US address is a VPN and blocks it, then you can move on to an IP from the UK or Germany. The large number of servers is critical to ensuring that the VPN has the dexterity needed to get around an aggressive blocking system like those found in the UAE.
Another important characteristic is the speed of the connection. A big reason why folks want to get around the blocks in the UAE is because they are not able to stream Netflix or go on YouTube. These video services are a great way to pass time and also fun to use to live stream different experiences during travels. A proper VPN has high streaming speeds and makes it easy to get the shows you want to see or the viral videos that will make your companions laugh uproariously.
Conclusion
It is pointless to try and wait out the UAE’s restrictive blocks because the country has no impetus to remove the Internet restrictions. There’s nothing wrong with that, as that’s how they choose to run their country, but it doesn’t mean that you need to be a prisoner of restricted web browsing.
Getting a great VPN is very easy. There are lots of excellent VPNs available and when you get them installed, they do a lot of the work for you in terms of setting up the technical connections. All you need to go is log on and select the country that your IP address will be masked with. Once you do that, it’s easy to enjoy unrestricted internet in the UAE.
I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.
As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.
In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.
