VPN not working in Qatar

If you’re using a VPN in Qatar, and it suddenly stopped working, your VPN is no longer able to get around the VPN blocks imposed by the Qatari government.

While using a VPN in Qatar is legal, the Qatari government imposes strict censorship measures on the internet. And if you’re using a VPN to access a website or app that the Qatari government blocks, the Qatari Internet Service Providers will often block your VPN.

To fix this, you need to upgrade to a VPN with a protocol that is good enough to get around these governmental blocks.

This article will explain how to fix VPN not working in Qatar.

See also:

VPN not working in Qatar: Quick Fix

To fix VPN not working in Qatar, you need to upgrade to a VPN that is able to provide IP addresses that the Qatari authorities can’t identify and block.

You need a VPN that uses a fast and extremely secure protocol.

To get a VPN that can do that, follow these simple steps:

  1. Create a new account with ExpressVPN ($6.67/month)

  2. Download and install the new VPN app

  3. Open your new app and connect to a server

  4. Continue using a VPN in Qatar

Why isn’t VPN working in Qatar?

The government in Qatar censors a lot of the internet. The types of websites it tries to block includes “pornography, political criticism of Gulf countries, gay and lesbian content, sexual health resources, dating and escort services, and privacy and circumvention tools.” These privacy and circumvention tools are basically VPNs.

Because VPNs can potentially allow people in Qatar to unblock and surf the types of internet services highlighted above, the Qatari government tries to block them.

While VPNs haven’t been explicitly defined as being illegal in Qatar, State authorities are constantly monitoring and blocking VPNs.

The most common VPNs that are blocked are the ones that use OpenVPN, PPTP and L2TP protocols.

VPNs using these protocols aren’t secure enough to get around Qatari government blocks. Because of this, the authorities are able to constantly monitor for IP addresses provided by these VPNs and block them.

Untitled 1 0001 affiliate assets screenshots misc expressvpn on devices with website

How does Qatari State Authorities block VPNs?

The way the State blocks VPN is all to do with the protocol your VPN uses.

The government uses Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) technology that allows them to identify when online data comes through the OpenVPN, PPTP or L2TP protocols. 

When they see that it shows them that someone is accessing their online content via a VPN. When this happens they block the IP address your VPN has given you.

This can be frustrating especially if you’ve paid for a VPN that doesn’t work in the country. 

Do VPNs still work in Qatar?

Yes, VPNs still work in Qatar; however, you need a VPN that can stay ahead of the State’s Deep Packet Inspection, VPN blocking techniques.

While these blocks are relatively effective at blocking most VPNs, 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, Lightway, designed to be super fast and incredibly secure, and this protocol makes it a very good VPN for getting around Qatar’s VPN blocks.

Lightway is a light weight protocol, with 2,000 less lines of code than other protocols. It’s open-source software meaning it’s available for anyone to view and critique it’s security measures. And most testers have found it’s incredibly secure, and the fastest protocol currently available on a VPN. 

This speed and security make it incredibly difficult for the Qatari State authorities to identify that you’re using a VPN. And you’ll be able to use ExpressVPN ($6.67/month) in Qatar reliably.

Untitled 1 0000 Screenshot 2022 06 29 101721

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 Qatar.

When an IP address provided by ExpressVPN ($6.67/month) is blocked by the State, ExpressVPN ($6.67/month) will close that IP address and open a new one. This new IP will not have been blocked.

This cat and mouse game allows you to stay one step ahead of the Qatari VPN blocks, and it means you’ll be able to go online with a VPN reliably.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR