Best VPN by country: guides for the Gulf, Egypt, Iraq and North Africa
The right VPN depends on where you are: calls are blocked in some Gulf states and work in others, the law differs, and so do the servers each provider lists.
Pick your country for local servers, what the law and the regulator say, and our picks.
On this page
Choose your country
Calls blocked on local networks. The fines and the TDRA.
Read the guideBest VPN for Saudi ArabiaCalls work. Saudi servers compared.
Read the guideBest VPN for QatarCalls fail on local SIMs. Servers in Qatar.
Read the guideBest VPN for OmanThe TRA's July 2026 warning, explained.
Read the guideBest VPN for KuwaitWhat Kuwait's cybercrime law covers.
Read the guideBest VPN for BahrainWhat Bahrain's Cyber Security Center says.
Read the guideBest VPN for EgyptBlocked websites and Law 175 of 2018.
Read the guideBest VPN for IraqThe Telegram block of 2026.
Read the guideBest VPN for AlgeriaAlgerian servers and exam-time blocks.
Read the guideBest VPN for MoroccoMoroccan servers and fast routes to Europe.
Read the guideTen countries at a glance
| Country | Using a VPN | Internet calls | Reviewed VPNs with a local server |
|---|---|---|---|
| The UAE | Legal | Blocked | 6 of 7 |
| Saudi Arabia | Legal | Working | 4 of 7 |
| Qatar | Legal | Blocked | 4 of 7 |
| Oman | Regulated | Varies | 1 of 7 |
| Kuwait | Legal | Working | 1 of 7 |
| Bahrain | Legal | Working | 1 of 7 |
| Egypt | Grey area | Throttled | 5 of 7 |
| Iraq | Officially restricted | Frequent blocks | 2 of 7 |
| Algeria | Legal | Intermittent | 6 of 7 |
| Morocco | Legal | Working | 5 of 7 |
Our summary, checked 2 November 2026. Servers read on each provider's own pages (Proton VPN on 3 November 2026). Each guide links its sources.
How to pick a VPN for your country
- 1Start with the problem
Blocked calls, blocked sites, streaming or privacy: the guide for your country says which one applies.
- 2Check the law and the regulator
Each guide cites the law text or the regulator's own words. The overview is in VPN laws across the Middle East.
- 3Look for a server nearby
A server in your country or next door keeps calls and video smooth.
- 4Choose an audited provider
An independently audited no-logs policy matters most where networks are watched.
VPN by country: frequently asked questions
Short answers to what readers ask most. Question not here? Write to us.
Of the seven VPNs we review, Proton VPN lists servers in all ten countries in our guides, including Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman, where the others list none.
In the UAE, calls through unlicensed apps are blocked on local networks. In Qatar they usually fail on local SIMs. In Oman results vary by network. Elsewhere in our guides they work.
In the countries we cover, using a VPN for legitimate purposes is legal or tolerated. The laws punish what is done through it. Oman regulates VPN use, and the UAE restricts unlicensed calling apps.
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