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What is the law for a VPN in Dubai?

What is the law for a VPN in Dubai?

What is the law for a VPN in Dubai?

After the ban on using Skype in the UAE, many have wondered about the possibility of using a VPN (or Virtual Private Network). However, be aware that individuals can use it under certain conditions.

As a reminder, by using a VPN, you are using a connection going through servers in the United States or England, for example, rather than those hosted in the UAE. So, while most sites or apps use an IP address to identify you, if you go through a proxy or a VPN, you hide your identity and geolocation by replacing your IP address with a new one, which is precisely this. A process that is prohibited by Emirati laws.

On the other hand, the operators Du and Etisalat offer packages including a VPN service that allows you to connect to their internet telephony services sold for AED 50 per month. The Emirati law thus provides that you can use the VPN provided that it is for authorized and legal services (such as those offered by the two national operators). Otherwise, you are liable to fines ranging from 50,000 to 3 million AED, depending on the seriousness of the facts.

Today’s question is: What is the law for a VPN in Dubai?

Answer: Friends, the first thing is that the VPN is not illegal.

VPN (Virtual private network) is just a technology, and it is legal in UAE. However, using a VPN in UAE for any illegal actions is illegal. Besides, many VPN service providers are blocked in the United Arab Emirates. It is difficult to say if it is a crime if you are a tourist in UAE and use a VPN for Skype to call your family abroad.

Many companies are using VPNs for their security and privacy needs. So, it all depends on what you will do with a VPN in Dubai. You only need to remember not to do anything illegal using the VPN.

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What I mean by illegal is to commit a crime or something against the country or that can affect society. I use ExpressVPN to stream calls using Skype and WhatsApp. I’ve been using it for over a year and have no issues with IP phone systems.

The law states, “Using a false IP address or a third-party address by any other means to commit a crime or prevent its discovery” is illegal. You would be fined between 500,000 to 2 million and even up to a life sentence!

What does the law say about VPNs in Dubai?

Private individuals should only use legal VPN services or stand at risk of facing millions of dirhams in fines. The UAE Cybercrime Law No 5 of 2012, issued by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2012, includes stern punishments that could go up to a life sentence and a fine varying between Dh50,000 and Dh3 million depending on the severity and seriousness of the cybercrime.

While the UAE’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has always maintained that the illegal use of VPNs is against its policies, the police have also cautioned that legal action can be taken under Law Number 9 against users of VPNs for any illegal activities.

What is the law for a VPN in Dubai?

Censorship represents fear by those in power. Govts & those who control it must realize that it is impossible to contain, limit or ban information. Attempts at censorship/control of information are the reason behind ridiculous laws criminalizing VPNs, which is an extension of the ridiculous attempt at banning the Internet.

It may create some charges & punishments, but overall, it is futile. Censorship laws are effectively repealed when no one can enforce them & everyone ignores them.

  1. They tried to ban books – USSR: Bible. Romania: Quran. Saudi: Lots. UK: Spycatcher. Result: Failed.
  2. They tried to ban TV sets & then programming. Failed.
  3. They tried to ban movies, dramas, and the Internet. Failed.
  4. They tried to ban Wikileaks, Liveleak, Bestgore, leaked Intel reports, emails, photos & videos of violence, war, accidents, etc. Failed.
  5. They try to ban VPNs. Result: Guess?

UAE regime has restricted some websites (VPN) that they think are selling something against the law and promoting xxx in their country, which is not the truth.

Thousands of people use VPNs in the UAE for VOIP and to access their desired websites from anywhere worldwide, including the UAE. So, it is not considered illegal, but you must ensure it may not be used for something unethical in the UAE.

Which VPN works on iPhones in the UAE?

I am currently using PureVPN. It has a good interface, and it is very easy to use. It doesn’t keep logs of your activities. Unlike other providers, they have servers in a few countries, and most use shared servers from third-party providers.

PureVPN, with more than 2000 Servers that have a physical presence in more than 140 Countries (including UAE), is the only VPN provider that reaches a level of global presence. The VPN protocols were developed in China (which has the most advanced internet censorship technology to date). Such as ShadowsocksR, known for its blazingly fast download speeds, should have no issues in the UAE.

It’s the protocol used extensively on iPhones, Android phones, PCs and VPN routers in China. I would suggest ones that have servers in UAE, thus providing fast & secure connection – ExpressVPN & NordVPN. Express VPN pricing starts from $8/month, while NordVPN costs $3,49 monthly.

If you want to use a VPN for streaming purposes, I’d go with ExpressVPN in Dubai. One important thing to mention is that both VPNs can be used on multiple devices with a single account.

What is the best free VPN for Android in the UAE?

As a remote employee, I often coordinate with my colleagues worldwide. As part of our company policy, we use VPN services to share files and coordinate with each other, from one part of the world to the Middle East or vice versa – to ensure privacy and security.

I have found some VPN services to be good. However, make sure you use a paid and not a free account. Well, I wouldn’t recommend using a completely free VPN application.

If the software price makes a difference, you should pay attention to VPN apps with a free plan.

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I use ExpressVPN. This security solution is the best app for Android in the UAE.

Why use VPN Lite:

  • Three types of subscriptions. KeepSolid VPN Lite offers Free, Turbo, and Turbo Stream plans – each for its individual VPN needs.
  • Variety of VPN servers. The full list of VPN servers in paid subscriptions includes more than 400 locations worldwide. This variety gives you only the best possible VPN connection speed.
  • One-slick software. The app has only one button to connect to the VPN server. This app is the most easy-to-use I’ve ever used.
  • Unblocks video streaming sites. The Turbo Stream subscription offers an extra 6 servers to unblock the most popular streaming websites like Netflix, Sony Crackle, ESPN+, HBO Now, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer.
  • No ads, no logs, no limits.
  • No registration is required.

Is using a VPN to unblock WhatsApp calls and other VoIP services in the UAE safe?

Let me tell you that In UAE, WhatsApp calls are now allowed, in case you need to know. However, using a VPN for other VoIP services in the UAE is a punishable crime with serious implications, huge fines and even prison.

WhatsApp and other popular apps are blocked in the UAE. Therefore, using other reliable VoIP Services is better to allow you to enjoy uninterrupted VoIP Service.

VPN stands for Virtual Private Network.

A virtual private network (VPN) extends a private network across a public network. It enables users to send and receive data across shared or public networks as if their computing devices were directly connected to the private network.

Therefore, applications running across the VPN may benefit from the functionality, security, and management of the private network. Hence, to experience uninterrupted VoIP calling and other services, you need some VoIP service that can bypass all the VoIP blockages.

Various VoIP Service Providers are available in the VoIP industry, and you can choose the one that suits you the best. As per reference, you can try INAANI. This is a Singapore-based global VoIP Service Provider with multiple branches worldwide.

Equipped with the latest technology and tunnelling software to help pass VoIP calls to any region. You can try dialers like TP Dialer, and iTel mobile dialer express for VoIP calling to any place. These dialers are compatible with multiple operating systems of phones and can be easily downloaded from the app store or the other equivalent available on one’s phone.

the July 29, 2016

UAE President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan passed a law that may make using a VPN or secure proxy service illegal in certain settings.

Section 1, which replaces Section 9 of Federal Law No. 9/2012, states, “anyone who uses a fraudulent computer network protocol address (IP address) by using a false address or the address of a third party by any other means to commit a crime or prevent its discovery.

It will be punished with temporary imprisonment and a fine, not below 500,000 dirhams and not exceeding 2,000,000 dirhams, or will be punished with one of these two penalties”. In terms of euros, this penalty is in the range of 125,000 euros and 500,000 euros.

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In April, telecommunications operators in the United Arab Emirates moved to block video and audio calling features on popular messaging apps like Snapchat 2.0, the update of which allowed users to activate video or audio chats. Yet, these new features violated the UAE’s VoIP communications regulations, prohibiting third-party providers from offering internet-based telephony services for video or audio calls.

Is using a VPN in Dubai or the UAE illegal? 2024

In a statement, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) then indicated that “voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is considered to be part of the activities regulated by the United Arab Emirates. 

The TRA has allowed licensed operators to provide such services on their networks. Companies wishing to offer such services are invited to contact the department responsible for issuing licenses in the United Arab Emirates”.

Yet, although the TRA has made it clear that accessing VoIP services other than those offered by licensed companies is illegal, some people have continued to use its services through VPNs. While using VPNs per se is not illegal, using them to gain access to blocked services or content is not permitted and, therefore, constitutes a crime.

The private rights advocacy association Private Internet Access points out that previously, the understanding of UAE internet law stipulated that using a VPN or proxy would result in prosecution under the United Arab Emirates. Telecommunications law only if used in the context of another crime.

Is using a VPN in Dubai or the UAE illegal? 2024

“The UAE police are now allowed to turn to VPN users regardless of the motive for the crime. Currently, such crimes include accessing blocked services or websites that can only be accessed with a VPN or proxy, which the UAE now considers fraudulent use of an IP address. “.

In addition, VPNs are used by several people in the territory to gain access to international versions of certain sites they visit, such as making the American version of Netflix believe that the user is resident there to be able to access the service. However, the country has already started cracking down on online piracy.

Last month, a man was jailed in Abu Dhabi for stealing and illegally uploading a suite of TV series and films from the OSN TV platform. He was sentenced to six months in prison and to pay 50,000 dirhams (12,500 euros) to OSN as damages. He will be deported to his country of origin once his sentence has been served.

Source: Emirates247 (enactment of the law), Emirates247 (blocking Snapchat’s VoIP service), Private Internet Access Is using a VPN in Dubai or the UAE illegal? 2024

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