
If you were using Tunnelbear in the UAE and it suddenly stopped working, Tunnelbear is no longer staying one step ahead of Etisalat and Du’s VPN blocking techniques.
The reason this is happening is because Etisalat and Du have been able to identify and block the IP addresses provided by Tunnelbear.
To fix this you need to upgrade to a VPN with a protocol that is good enough to get around these Internet Service Provider VPN blocks.
This article will explain how to get a VPN that will work in the UAE.
See also:
- ExpressVPN not working in Dubai? Here’s an EASY fix! (2023)
- The best way to put a VPN on your router! It’s EASY! (2023)
Tunnelbear not working in the UAE: Quick Fix
To fix Tunnelbear not working in the UAE, you need to upgrade to a VPN that is able to provide IP addresses that Etisalat and Du can’t block.
To do that, follow these simple steps:
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Create a new account with ExpressVPN ($6.67/month)
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Download and install the new VPN app
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Open your new app and connect to a server
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Continue using a VPN in the UAE
Why isn’t Tunnelbear working in the UAE?
Tunnelbear isn’t working in the UAE because the two state-owned internet service providers (ISPs) Etisalat and Du, constantly monitor and block VPNs.
The UAE has strict government policies that don’t allow certain actions online. These include using VoIP calling, using dating websites, visiting pornographic websites, viewing LGBT content, viewing content critical of the UAE government or Islam and more.
Because Tunnelbear is a well-known way of getting around these blocks, Etisalat and Du have been tasked with trying to block it in the UAE.
How does Etisalat and Du block Tunnelbear?
The way Etisalat and Du block Tunnelbear is all to do with the IP addresses Tunnelbear provides.
Because Tunnelbear is popular in the UAE, there are a lot of customers using its service. IP addresses are expensive and Tunnelbear struggles to keep up with the demand in the UAE. Instead, Tunnelbear forces its customers to share IP addresses.
In the UAE usually, only a household of devices connects to the internet using the same IP address. When hundreds of Tunnelbear customers use the same IP to access the internet, Etisalat and Du can recognise that that’s an IP provided by Tunnelbear and block it.

Do VPNs still work in the UAE?
Yes, VPNs still work in the UAE 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.
ExpressVPN ($6.67/month) uses its own protocol, that it developed to be super fast and also super secure. It’s called Lightway.
Lightway is designed to be super fast and incredibly secure, and this protocol makes it a very good VPN for using in the UAE.
Not only is Lightway a light weight protocol (with 2,000 less lines of code than other protocols) it’s also incredibly secure.
Lightway is open-source software meaning it’s available for anyone to view and critique. This means there’s no hiding, experts are able to test how effective Lightway really is.
And from these tests, experts have found it’s incredibly secure, and the fastest protocol currently available on a VPN, perfect for use in the UAE.

What if ExpressVPN gets blocked?
ExpressVPN ($6.67/month) uses a simple technique that allows it to provide you with IP addresses that will consistently work in the UAE.
When an IP address provided by ExpressVPN ($6.67/month) is blocked by Etisalat or Du, ExpressVPN ($6.67/month) will close that IP address and open a new one. This new IP will not have been blocked by the UAE ISPs.
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.