ExpressVPN not working in Dubai? Here’s an EASY fix! (September 2023)

If you were using ExpressVPN in Dubai and it suddenly stopped working, ExpressVPN is no longer staying one step ahead of Etisalat and Du’s VPN blocking techniques.

This is happening because Etisalat and Du have been able to identify and block the IP addresses provided by ExpressVPN.

To fix this, you need to upgrade to a VPN with a good protocol to get around these Internet Service Provider VPN blocks.

This article will explain how to get a VPN that will work in Dubai.

See also:

• US Netflix running slow with VPN? Try these EASY fixes

ExpressVPN not working in Dubai: Quick Fix

To fix ExpressVPN not working in Dubai, you need to upgrade to a VPN that can provide IP addresses that Etisalat and Du can’t identify and block.

To do that, follow these simple steps:

Why isn’t ExpressVPN working in Dubai?

ExpressVPN isn’t working in Dubai because the two state-owned internet service providers (ISPs), Etisalat and Du, constantly monitor and block VPNs.

They do this because Dubai has strict government policies that don’t allow its citizens to view or perform certain actions online.

These include using VoIP calling, dating websites, visiting pornographic websites, viewing LGBT content, viewing content critical of the UAE government or Islam, and even the game Roblox is blocked.

Because ExpressVPN is a well-known way of getting around these blocks, Etisalat and Du have been tasked with blocking VPNs in Dubai.

How does Etisalat and Du block ExpressVPN?

The way Etisalat and Du block ExpressVPN is all to do with the IP addresses ExpressVPN provides.

Because ExpressVPN is popular in Dubai, there are a lot of customers using its service. ExpressVPN struggles to keep up with this demand, and it forces its customers to share IP addresses.

Usually, only a household of devices connects to the internet using the same IP address. When hundreds of ExpressVPN customers use the same IP to go online, Etisalat and Du can recognise that that’s an IP provided by ExpressVPN and block it.

Do VPNs still work in Dubai?

Yes, VPNs still work in Dubai; however you need a VPN that can stay ahead of Etisalat and Du.

Etisalat and Du’s VPN blocking techniques can work on any VPN. However, some VPNs have better protocols than others. These protocols determine how fast and secure a VPN is.

Private Internet Access ($2.03/month) uses its own protocol, NordLynx, designed to be super fast and incredibly secure, and this protocol makes it a very good VPN for getting around Etisalat and Du’s VPN blocks.

NordLynx introduces a new double NAT (Network Address Translation) system that authenticates users through a secure external database. Where most VPNs share the users actual IP address with their VPN server. Nord’s double NAT system means your actual IP is never required.

This system also gives each user a new random IP address for every session on top of the static IP address provided. This will allow customers to connect to Private Internet Access ($2.03/month) without sharing any personally identifiable information on any of Nord’s servers.

This double NAT system makes it incredibly difficult for Etisalat and Du to identify that you’re using a VPN. And you’ll be able to use Private Internet Access ($2.03/month) in Dubai reliably.

What if PIA gets blocked?

Private Internet Access ($2.03/month) uses a simple technique that allows it to provide you with IP addresses that will consistently work in Dubai.

When Etisalat or Du blocks an IP address provided by Private Internet Access ($2.03/month), Private Internet Access ($2.03/month) will close that IP address and open a new one. The Dubai ISPs will not have blocked this new IP.

This cat and mouse game allows Nord to stay one step ahead of Etisalat and Du, and for you, it means you’ll be able to go online with a VPN reliably.

The best VPNs to use in Dubai

1. Private Internet Access 🥇

The BEST low-cost VPN for streaming!

Number of servers: 25,000+ | Speed: >75% | Bandwidth: Unlimited | IP locations: 70 in 74 countries | Devices supported: 10 | Live chat: Yes | 30-day money-back guarantee: Yes

Private Internet Access is one of the leading no-log VPN services with over 1-million paying customers.

This VPN is one of the best in the industry at beating streaming sites’ VPN bans. It provides reliable connections with US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+ Amazon Prime Video, etc. It also allows 10 simultaneous devices to be connected to its servers at the same time, so you can share the account with your close friends.

If – for whatever reason – you’re not happy with Private Internet Access, there’s a 24/7 live chat support available to assist you with your problem. PIA also offers the industry-standard 30-day money-back guarantee.

From my tests (from New Zealand) I was able to get download speeds of 70 Mbps while connected to a UK server using the Private Internet Access VPN (my non-VPN speed is 100 Mbps).

2. NordVPN 🥈

A very quick and trustworthy VPN

Number of servers: 5,000+ | Speeds: >80% | Bandwidth: Unlimited | IP locations: 62 countries | Devices supported: 6 | Live chat: Yes | 30-day money-back guarantee: Yes

NordVPN is the most widely-used VPN in the world. And it’s easy to see why. It’s a polished app that delivers fast connections (more on this later) to a massive network of VPN servers.

It’s the most reliable at unblocking popular streaming services too – US Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, etc. This is because NordVPN hired a full-time technical team (that’s responsible for monitoring its servers’ connections with popular TV streaming services) and has been aggressively investing in its network of IP addresses in key locations.

Another interesting thing to note is that NordVPN is an industry leader in its development of Nordlynx technology. Nordlynx is built using the WireGuard, a new VPN tunneling protocol designed to outperform current standards (OpenVPN and IPSec). The benefits, according to NordVPN, are dramatically faster transfer speeds while connected to a VPN. My tests – New Zealand to London – confirm that Nordlynx is currently the fastest VPN on the market. However, the difference isn’t dramatic, a few Mbps is all.

3. Ivacy 🥉

A very quick and trustworthy VPN

Number of servers: 1,000+ | Speed: >65% | Bandwidth: Unlimited | IP locations: 275 in 100 countries | Devices supported: 5 | Live chat: Yes | 30-day money-back guarantee: Yes

If you’re looking for an excellent VPN, with an even better price tag, Ivacy ($1.16/month) is a great option.

This VPN has all the features you need to stream BBC iPlayer, in HD, from any country in the world. I’ve been testing the app recently on Mac, PC, Android, iOS and FireStick and the results have been impressive – unlocking BBC iPlayer, US Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, etc. with ease.

The Ivacy app is a little different in regards to its UX (user experience). Instead of just selecting a UK server, you need to select the specific BBC iPlayer server. Don’t worry, this isn’t a bad thing – by connecting to a dedicated BBC iPlayer server, it simply means that you’re connecting to an IP address that Ivacy knows works with BBC iPlayer.

For an extra $1.99/month (£1.74) you can add-on a dedicated IP. This will buy you sole access to an IP address in a country of your choice, meaning you won’t have to share your IP (and speeds) with any other use. I don’t recommend this though, using the regular Ivacy servers is enough 95 per cent of the time.

4. CyberGhost

A very quick and trustworthy VPN

Number of servers: 1,000+ | Speed: >65% | Bandwidth: Unlimited | IP locations: 275 in 100 countries | Devices supported: 5 | Live chat: Yes | 30-day money-back guarantee: Yes

CyberGhost is one of the more established VPNs on the market. It has a well-established, and well-tested global network of servers that perform well.

From my tests over the past several months, CyberGhost has no trouble at unblocking major streaming services – US Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max etc. This VPN performed well at maintaining download speeds, well above 65 per cent of my regular (non VPN) ISP speed.

That said, there’s nothing really unique about the service. Which forces you to look at its price-point. And there’s nothing special here. Its short-term $12.99/month price tag puts is well above the industry average of $10.10/month. Similarly, its long-term $2.75/month for 3 years deal isn’t much of a “deal” either.

Oddly, CyberGhost’s most unique feature is its a 1-day, no obligations, free trial. This is an appealing offer to customers who are new to VPNs. However, it’s important to remember that most reputable VPNs will offer customers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so try not to be too seduced by the offer.