FIX: VPN not working in Dubai and UAE (9 foolproof methods)

If your VPN connection is not working with Dubai and UAE, it could be because Etisalat blocks all VPN traffic by protocol and port.

So you can try changing the VPN protocol before connecting to a server. For instance, you should drop PPTP and L2TP because they are old and obsolete.

Instead, you should opt for modern and secure protocols like OpenVPN and WireGuard. They keep you safe online without decreasing your connection speed.

Few VPN servers support these two protocols, including NordVPN (buy here). In addition to OpenVPN, NordVPN has its proprietary NordLynx protocol, which is built around WireGuard.

Obfuscation mode, also known as stealth mode, is a technique adopted by a limited number of VPN providers. It disguises your VPN traffic to make it look like HTTPS.

NordVPN (buy here) is arguably the best in the business when it comes to obfuscated VPN servers. You just have to enable obfuscation mode from the settings panel and then connect to one of the available VPN servers.

1. Right-click the Windows 10 Start button and select Network Connections
2. Click Change adapter options
3. Right-click your Internet connection and select Properties
4. Double-click Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6)
5. Select Use the following DNS server addresses
6. Set Preferred DNS server to 8.8.8.8
7. Set Alternate DNS server to 8.8.4.4
8. Click OK

Your ISP assigns your DNS servers by default. However, if they’re not fast or safe enough, this could cause VPN connection issues in Dubai and UAE.

Not to worry since you can easily change your DNS servers to anything you want. We use Cloudflare in our example above because it offers free, public, and safe DNS servers.

However, if you use a premium VPN service that runs its exclusive DNS servers, you can skip this step altogether. NordVPN (buy here) is a prime example here.

A VPN kill switch maintains your online anonymity by cutting off all Internet access if your VPN connection drops without warning.

Let’s assume that you managed to unblock a website over VPN in Dubai, but failed to access the same site a few minutes later.

It could be because your VPN got disconnected and, in the time it took to re-establish the connection, your web browser revealed your true IP address and location.

But a VPN kill switch prevents this from happening. NordVPN (buy here) calls it an Internet Kill Switch. You can easily activate it from the options panel.

Modern web browsers like Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox support WebRTC. The technology has nothing to do with VPN. But it can leak your true IP and location.

So, if you used a VPN desktop app to connect to a VPN server, the connection might get detected and blocked in the UAE due to WebRTC leaks.

The solution is easy: disable WebRTC in your web browser. You can do this manually or by installing a free browser extension (just look up disable WebRTC in Chrome Web Store or Firefox Add-ons).

Certain VPN services like NordVPN (buy here) have built-in functionality in their browser extensions for deactivating WebRTC, so you don’t have to install anything extra.