The 4 Best VPN for the UAE and Dubai (2023 Update)

CyberGhost: Temporarily save up to 83%  🔥

Surfshark: Get an 81% discount on this hidden page  🔥

IPVanish: Temporarily get 61% OFF  🔥

How we test the best VPN for the UAE and Dubai

Our team gathered 30 paid and free VPN services and conducted a series of tests using devices running different operating systems, including Windows, iOS, macOS, and Android. The tests were as follows:

> Test 1: Logging policy

What is a logging policy?

A logging policy is a statement from a VPN service provider about the types of user data captured or kept by its servers. The policy also specifies how long such information is retained.

When choosing a VPN service, the logging policy is an important consideration because the service can potentially see all of the traffic passing through its servers. Any logs kept could contain sensitive information, including your online purchases, browsing history, and credit card data.

Fortunately, there are several different logging policies that VPN providers can choose from. The most common is no logging, which means that the provider does not keep any records of the traffic passing through its servers. This provides the highest level of privacy but also means that the provider may not help if you experience problems with your connection.

The other option is partial logging, which means the provider only keeps records of some of the traffic passing through its servers. This provides a lower level of privacy than no logging, but it can be useful if you need help troubleshooting a problem.

Finally, full logging means the provider keeps complete records of all traffic passing through its servers, including the originating IP address. This can be useful for debugging purposes, but it also means your privacy is at risk.

For example, your data can be harvested and sold to advertisers and data brokers. In the worst-case scenario, your information may end up in the hands of persons with malicious intent if the provider’s servers are hacked.

Unfortunately, most VPN providers do not live up to their promises. In fact, our research has revealed that around 30% of VPN providers store your original IP address, and around 5% harvest your browsing data.

Even though the logging policy is supposed to protect consumers, most providers craft it vaguely or opt for complicated language that leaves room for dispute if the provider finds itself in a tight spot.

What do we test for?

We comb through the logging policy of each provider to find out the type of information stored on its servers. We have no problem if the provider tracks information for the sole purpose of improving the service. That includes aggregated bandwidth usage and server load data. However, any tracking of the browsing history of users or their original IP address is unacceptable. We consider this to be a breach of consumer privacy.

> Test 2: Ownership

What do we mean by ownership?

Most VPN services are owned and operated by a company that’s owned by another company. In some cases, a single parent company can own several VPN providers. For example,

• Aura, based in the U.S., owns Hotspot Shield, JustVPN, and TouchVPN. In addition, it’s a major partner of popular antivirus program developers including Bitdefender, Kaspersky, and Panda.
• Kape Technologies, based in the U.K., owns CyberGhost VPN, ExpressVPN, Private Internet Access, and ZenMate.
• Gaditek, a Pakistan-based company, owns PureVPN, Ivacy VPN, and Unblock VPN.

While owning multiple businesses is legal in most jurisdictions, it can create problems:

• Conflict of interest: For purposes of planning, marketing, or expansion, the parent company may demand access to crucial user data in contravention of the provider’s logging policy.
• Unique Data Retention Laws: Different countries have different data retention laws, and a provider may find itself under two or more sets of possibly conflicting requirements. In the end, the user may lose their privacy.

What do we test for?

We investigate the ownership structure of every VPN provider and the jurisdiction in which the owner is registered. We also check whether the provider has been embroiled in any scandal in the past.

For example, IPVanish, which claims to abide by a strict no-logging policy, provided Homeland Security with user logs in 2016 during a criminal investigation involving one of its users. Even though the company was eventually sold to a new owner, it has yet to regain the trust of a majority of consumers.

> Test 3: Independent audit

What is an independent audit?

An independent audit involves examining a VPN provider’s systems and policies to check whether the provider is operating securely and responsibly and whether all its systems comply with industry best practices. The entire process is carried out by an external, independent body.

To project confidence and demonstrate their commitment to transparency and protection of user data, VPN providers regularly invite external bodies for audit:

• In 2023, Deloitte was commissioned to investigate the server environment of Private Internet Access (PIA).
• In 2019, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) was hired to analyze ExpressVPN’s TrustedServer technology and investigate whether the company’s servers indeed deleted all user data after every reboot.
• In 2020, PwC audited NordVPN’s systems with a focus on the server infrastructure, configuration, and technical logs.

What do we test for?

We check whether the VPN providers we’re considering have undergone an independent audit. This is important because it allows us to see what potential flaws exist and whether the provider is taking steps to address them.

We also look at what the audit investigated, as this can give us some insight into the provider’s overall security posture.

> Test 4: Available VPN protocols

What is a VPN protocol?

A VPN protocol is a set of communication rules that determine how a VPN server and a VPN app identify each other, how the app logs into the server, how data is sent, and how encryption works. Different protocols can have different impacts on VPN connection speeds and security.

For example, switching from one protocol to another can dramatically improve download speeds. However, it’s important to choose a protocol that strikes the right balance between speed and security for your needs.

The most popular VPN protocols are Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP), Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP), Internet Key Exchange version 2 (IKEv2), and Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol (SSTP). Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, so you’ll need to decide which is best for you.

For example, PPTP is the oldest and most basic protocol but is relatively insecure. L2TP is more secure than PPTP but can be slower.

What do we test for?

We check the VPN protocols offered to users by the VPN service and whether the user has an option to choose the protocol that best fits their needs. We also test the protocols to see whether they work on all devices, not just a few.

> Test 5: Supported encryption standard

What is an encryption standard?

Encryption is a process of transforming readable data into an unreadable format through the use of algorithms. Symmetric and asymmetric encryption are the two most common types of encryption.

Symmetric encryption uses the same key in encrypting and decrypting data. Asymmetric encryption uses two different keys: a public key and a private key. While the private key needs to be kept a secret, the public key can be shared with anyone.

VPN services use different encryption standards to protect the data transmitted over their networks. AES-128 and AES-256 are the two most common VPN standards in use today. AES-128 is the older of the two, and while still considered highly secure, AES-256 is generally considered more secure.

Both AES-128 and AES-256 use symmetric key encryption. AES-128 uses a 128-bit key, while AES-256 uses a 256-bit key. The larger the key, the more difficult it is to crack the encryption.

What do we test for?

We check the default encryption standard the VPN provider offers and whether we can bypass the default selection and work with a different standard.

> Test 6: Basic security features

What are basic security features?

Most VPN services offer several basic security features, including a kill switch, AES-256 encryption, and split tunneling.

• AES-256 is a symmetric-key algorithm that uses a 256-bit key. It is specified in the FIPS Publication 197 and is intended for use by the U.S. government. It provides very strong security and has been adopted by many organizations around the world.

• Split tunneling allows you to choose which apps will use the VPN and which will not. This can be helpful if you want to use a VPN for security but don’t want it to slow down your internet connection.
• A kill switch will disconnect you from the internet if the VPN connection is lost. This helps to prevent your traffic from being exposed in the event that the VPN connection is interrupted.

What do we test for?

We check whether the provider offers these features. In the case of split tunneling or kill switches, we test whether these features work as intended.

> Test 7: Advanced security features

What are advanced security features?

Beyond the basic features, VPN providers offer users several advanced security features:

• Obfuscated servers: These are servers configured to disguise the fact that they are running a VPN. This can be useful for users in countries where VPNs are blocked or monitored, as it allows them to connect to a server without drawing attention.
• RAM-only servers: These are servers that store all data in RAM instead of on disk. This makes them faster and more reliable, as there is no risk of data being lost if the server crashes.
• GPS location override: Some VPNs allow you to override your device’s GPS location with one provided by the VPN server. This can be useful for accessing geo-restricted content or for avoiding censorship.
• Double VPN: This is a type of VPN connection that passes through two separate VPN servers before reaching its destination. This provides an extra layer of security and can help to mask your identity online.

What do we test for?

We check the advanced security features every VPN provider provides and connect our devices to see whether they are working properly.

> Test 8: IP leak

What is an IP leak?

When you use a VPN, your internet traffic is routed through an encrypted tunnel to the VPN server. This protects your data from hackers and snoopers, but it may not prevent your ISP from seeing that you’re using a VPN. This is what’s called an IP leak.

If your ISP can see that you’re using a VPN, they may throttle your connection or even block access to certain websites. In addition, some ISPs may keep track of which websites you visit while using a VPN, and this information could be used to sell targeted advertisements.

An IP leak can also occur when your VPN connection drops and your computer reconnects to the internet using your regular (unprotected) IP address. This can be dangerous because anyone who wants to track your online activity can see what you’re doing.

Additionally, if someone manages to track down your real IP address, they could attempt to hack into your devices or steal your personal information.

To prevent these issues, you can use a VPN that’s committed to a “zero-logging” policy. This means your ISP will not be able to see which websites you visit or what type of traffic you’re sending through the VPN. However, zero-logging policies are not foolproof, and there is always a small risk that your data could be exposed.

What do we test for?

We connect our devices to a provider’s network and then conduct an IP address lookup. If we can only see the server-generated IP address, the service is up to scratch. When the address is our own rather than that of the server, there’s a big problem.

> Test 9: DNS leak

What is a DNS leak?

DNS stands for Domain Name System. It’s a protocol that translates human-readable website addresses (like “www.google.com”) into machine-readable IP addresses (like “173.194.33.11”). This is necessary because computers can’t understand regular language, only numbers.

The DNS system is managed by a global network of servers that keep track of all the domain names and IP addresses on the internet. When you type a website address into your browser, your computer queries one of these servers to get the IP address for that website and then loads the website from that IP address.

When using a VPN, your computer will send all DNS requests through the VPN tunnel instead of directly to your ISP. This is done to protect your privacy, as your ISP can see all the websites you visit. Using a DNS server located outside your country, you can hide your browsing activity from your ISP and make it appear as if you are visiting websites from another country.

A DNS leak happens when your computer accidentally uses your regular, unencrypted internet connection to look up the address of a website instead of using the VPN. This can happen if your VPN software isn’t working properly or due to problems with your internet connection.

What do we test for?

To find out whether a VPN service is leaking our DNS information, we connect to the VPN service and then run a DNS server lookup. If the VPN service does not own the DNS servers, there’s a DNS leak.

> Test 10: WebRTC leak

What is a WebRTC leak?

WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) is a free, open-source project that enables real-time communication of audio, video, and data in web browsers and mobile apps.

Originally developed by Google, WebRTC is now supported by a coalition of companies, including Microsoft, Apple, Mozilla, and Opera. With WebRTC, businesses can create innovative new applications such as audio and video conferencing, file sharing, and chatbots.

In addition, WebRTC supports high-quality audio and video streaming, peer-to-peer file sharing, and encrypted communications. As a result, it has emerged as a leading technology for developing real-time applications such as voice and video chat, online gaming, and live event broadcasting.

A WebRTC leak occurs when your browser leaks your real IP address to the websites you visit, even if you’re using a VPN. This can be a problem because it allows websites to track your movements and activities even when you think you’re protecting your privacy.

There are a few things you can do to protect yourself from WebRTC leaks, including using a browser that doesn’t support WebRTC (like Opera) or disabling WebRTC in your browser settings. However, the best option is to install a VPN service that offers built-in protection against WebRTC leaks.

What do we test for?

We connect to a VPN service and run a WebRTC lookup. Our original IP address should never be displayed when there are no WebRTC leaks.

> Test 11: Download speed via OpenVPN

What is OpenVPN?

OpenVPN is a powerful and widely used VPN protocol. It offers several advantages over other protocols, including security, speed, and flexibility. However, OpenVPN can be configured to use either UDP (User Datagram Protocol) or TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) as its transport protocol.

UDP is generally faster than TCP but is less reliable. This is because UDP doesn’t guarantee the delivery of packets, so some data may be lost along the way. However, this loss can often go unnoticed, making UDP a good choice for applications like streaming media or Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), where speed is more important than reliability.

On the other hand, TCP is slower than UDP but offers much greater reliability. This is because TCP ensures that all packets are delivered successfully, even if it takes longer to do so. For this reason, TCP is often the best choice for applications like web browsing or email, where data integrity is more important than speed.

What do we test for?

We test the download speeds of the top VPN services while connecting to a 1 Gbps internet connection. We measure the speed of each service while using the OpenVPN protocol in the Windows app.

> Test 12: Supported speed via WireGuard

What is WireGuard?

WireGuard is a next-generation VPN protocol that promises to provide a faster, more secure, and more reliable experience than its predecessors. One of the key features of WireGuard is its simplicity: it uses a streamlined cryptographic design that makes it easier to implement and audit than other VPN protocols.

As a result, WireGuard is able to achieve excellent performance even on low-powered devices. WireGuard is often faster than other VPN protocols, making it an ideal choice for users who need speed without sacrificing security. In our tests across multiple VPN services, WireGuard was roughly 60% faster than OpenVPN.

In addition to its speed, WireGuard also offers improved security thanks to its use of cutting-edge cryptography. By using state-of-the-art techniques, WireGuard can offer a higher level of protection against potential attacks.

What do we test for?

We test the download speed for each VPN provider by connecting the Windows app to the WireGuard protocol. In those tests, we use a 1 Gbps (1.000 Mbps) internet connection to simulate the VPN’s performance when pushed to the limit.

> Test 13: (Virtual) VPN servers and locations

What are (virtual) VPN servers?

VPN servers are an important part of how a VPN works. Most VPN servers are physical servers located in the country indicated in the VPN app. After connecting to one of these servers, your web traffic is routed through the physical server in that country, which gives you a local IP address.

However, smaller or less developed countries usually lack a well-developed server infrastructure. For instance, Andorra, the small mountainous country between France and Spain, does not have a single physical VPN server. Instead, it relies on virtual VPN servers located in neighboring countries.

Thus, a virtual server in France may give you an IP address located in Andorra. This allows you to access websites and services as if you were physically located in Andorra.

At the moment, not a single VPN service has been able to install servers in every country around the world. Those with extensive server networks have servers in roughly 60 countries, with the rest being virtual servers.

What do we test for?

We test the number of servers the provider offers and the total number of locations that can be selected. We also examine whether one can choose servers at the city level and whether a user can opt for a virtual server if there are no physical servers in the country of interest.

> Test 14: Streaming compatibility

What is compatibility with a streaming service?

VPNs are also great for unlocking content that’s restricted in your region. For instance, all you have to do to see your favorite Netflix show while traveling abroad is sign up for a VPN service and connect to a server in the United States. This will make it look like you’re somewhere in the United States, and you’ll be able to stream all of Netflix.

However, most streaming services have deployed tools designed to catch users attempting to unlock content using VPNs. Only the best VPN services have managed to stay one step ahead.

What do we test for?

We connect to a VPN provider and then test whether the service can unblock popular streaming services, like Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC iPlayer in the U.S. For Netflix, we don’t just check the U.S; we test other countries like Australia, Germany, Japan, and the U.K.

> Test 15: Torrenting compatibility

What is compatibility with a torrent network?

Torrenting is a file-sharing technology that lets users download large files from multiple computers simultaneously. Rather than downloading a file from a single server, torrenting allows users to download small pieces of the file from a variety of different sources. This makes downloading large files much faster and easier than traditional methods.

Torrenting is often used to download movies, TV shows, music, and software. However, because it can be used to pirate copyrighted material, it is often associated with illegal activity. For this reason, not all VPNs support torrenting.

Some providers base their business model on providing a secure and private browsing experience and do not allow activities that could put their users at risk of legal action. Others simply do not have the necessary infrastructure in place to support torrenting.

What do we test for?

We check VPN services to find out whether they support the downloading of large files via peer-to-peer networks.

> Test 16: Annual price and price per device

What is the annual price and price per device?

Most VPN services tend to feature monthly subscriptions. However, most providers offer a discount to users who opt for a one-year contract, paid upfront in full. As a result, the price tends to fall with the duration of the contract.

Looking at the fee for a one-year contract and the price per device, you’ll quickly notice that most VPN services are priced similarly. However, ExpressVPN is the most expensive provider on the market.

Some VPN providers like Surfshark and IPVanish allow unlimited simultaneous connections. This significantly reduces the price per device, making them perfect for households or small business entities.

What do we test for?

For each VPN service, we calculate the price for a one-year subscription. We also calculate per-device savings if the provider allows unlimited simultaneous connections.

What VPNs for the UAE and Dubai have we tested?

We have tested 30 paid and free VPNs (Virtual Private Networks). Proton VPN is the best free VPN service. But if you have the money, we recommend getting a paid VPN service.

In the best case, the free version allows you to protect only one device and doesn’t offer you unlimited bandwidth / unlimited data. And in the worst case, the free VPN providers show you ads or secretly sell your browsing history to advertisers and your internet service provider.

And should you be strapped for cash, don’t opt for an expensive VPN like ExpressVPN. Instead, get a cheap VPN, like Surfshark, that allows you to install it on an unlimited number of devices and share the cost with a friend.

• Astrill VPN
• Atlas VPN
• Avast SecureLine VPN
• Betternet VPN
• Bitdefender VPN
• CactusVPN
• CyberGhost VPN
• ExpressVPN
• HideME VPN
• HMA VPN (HideMyAss VPN)
• Hola VPN
• Hotspot Shield VPN
• IPVanish VPN
• Ivacy VPN
• IVPN
• Kaspersky VPN Secure Connection
• McAfee Safe Connect VPN
• Mozilla VPN
• MullVad VPN
• NordVPN
• Norton Secure VPN
• Private Internet Access VPN
• PrivateVPN
• Proton VPN
• PureVPN
• StrongVPN
• Surfshark VPN
• Tunnelbear VPN
• VyprVPN
• Windscribe VPN

The best are: CyberGhost, NordVPN, and Surfshark.

Frequently asked questions

Languages, comparisons and Sources

Other comparisons on SoftwareLab.org:

• Best Antivirus of 2023
• Antivirus for Windows 11
• Antivirus for macOS
• Antivirus for Android
• Antivirus for iOS
• Antivirus with a VPN
• Best VPN of 2023

VPN privacy policies and independent audits:

• CyberGhost – Privacy Policy
• CyberGhost – Transparency Report
• ExpressVPN – Privacy Policy
• ExpressVPN – PWC Audit
• ExpressVPN – Lightway Audit
• ExpressVPN – Browser Extension Audit
• IPVanish – Privacy Policy
• NordVPN – Privacy Policy
• NordVPN – Privacy Policy Audit
• Surfshark – Privacy Policy
• Surfshark – Infrastructure Audit

VPN testing tools:

• BrowserLeaks – Data Leak Test
• Fast – Speed Test
• Speed Test – Speed Test
• Exodus – Privacy Audit Android

Custom VPN protocols:

• ExpressVPN – Lightway protocol
• NordVPN – NordLynx Protocol

VPN mergers and acquisitions:

• NordVPN and Surfshark merger
• Kape technologies buys CyberGhost
• Kape Technologies buys ExpressVPN
• Kape technologies buys Private Internet Access