How to Get Around the WhatsApp Ban in Dubai in 2024: Encrypt Your Voice Calls
Known for luxury shopping, thrilling nightlife and breathtaking architecture, Dubai is a popular destination for expats and holidaymakers. But does WhatsApp work in Dubai? Which VPNs are the best workarounds? Find out all you need to know about the WhatsApp ban in Dubai.
Written by Wisdom Sablah (Writer)
Reviewed by Aleksandar Kochovski (Editor)
Facts checked by Eugenie Tiu (Editorial Assistant)
Last Updated: 2024-01-10T19:23:46+00:00
All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.
Key Takeaways:
- WhatsApp voice and video calls are not allowed in Dubai, although you can send texts.
- A VPN can help you bypass a WhatsApp ban because it can spoof your location.
- ExpressVPN is the best VPN to unblock WhatsApp in Dubai because of its vast server network and reliability.
- NordVPN and Windscribe are cheaper alternatives for unblocking WhatsApp.
Does WhatsApp work in Dubai? Well, not entirely. You can send and receive WhatsApp messages, but you can’t make video and voice calls. Considering that WhatsApp is the world’s most popular messaging app, the WhatsApp ban in Dubai can be frustrating. Even worse, there’s no clear indication from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government whether the ban will be lifted.
Fortunately, virtual private networks (VPNs) are excellent workarounds, as they allow you to use the internet anonymously. In this guide, we’ll show you the best VPNs to unblock WhatsApp calling in Dubai. If you want a quick answer; we recommend ExpressVPN.
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10/24/2023
Updated the article to reflect ExpressVPN’s expansion of server presence from 94 to 105 countries.
The WhatsApp Ban in Dubai: The Facts
For years, the UAE’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has banned WhatsApp calls. While authorities have not officially explained the reasons behind the restriction, it’s obvious that WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption is a stumbling block to the government’s desire to monitor internet calls.
Internet users have been calling for the UAE government to unban WhatsApp. Sadly, the bright spots have been few and far between. For instance, authorities temporarily lifted the ban during Expo 2020, Dubai’s world’s fair, only to shut down the app afterwards.
In 2019, during an interview with CNBC, the director of UAE’s National Electronic Security Authority hinted that the ban might soon be lifted, pointing to increased collaboration with WhatsApp. However, three years on, WhatsApp is still banned.
Why Are Voice Calls, Video Calls and VOIP Services Banned?
As mentioned earlier, the UAE government has banned WhatsApp calling and other Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls because of privacy and national security reasons. However, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
At the heart of these bans is a desire to control the telecommunications sector in the country and rake in more profits. That’s why UAE authorities drive people to use the homegrown BOTIM app.
Does WhatsApp Work in Dubai With a VPN?
A VPN can unblock WhatsApp calling because it can spoof your location by routing your traffic through a server in another country. That way, you can bypass geoblocks and make calls anonymously.
How to Unblock WhatsApp in Dubai
Unblocking WhatsApp in Dubai is not difficult. All you need to do is to choose a good VPN, install it and connect to a nearby server. Here’s an example.
- Download and Install a VPN
Open your app store (Google Play Store or Apple Store) and download a VPN. For this example, we’ll use ExpressVPN on Android. Click the “install” tab and it should download and install on your phone in a few minutes.
- Connect to a Server
Open the VPN app and connect to a VPN server. Look for a server in a country where WhatsApp is not banned and connect to one nearest to you, because a nearby server will give you faster connection speeds.
- Access WhatsApp
Now, you can open your WhatsApp and start making calls.
The Best VPNs to Unblock WhatsApp Voice and Video Calls in Dubai
When choosing a VPN to unblock WhatsApp, look for ones that offer fast speeds, server locations near the UAE and solid security features. Here are our top picks.
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for unblocking WhatsApp in Dubai, mainly because it’s lightning-fast. For VPNs, the closer the server, the faster your browsing speed. Of its over 3,000 servers in 105 countries, ExpressVPN has a few in countries close to Dubai, including Pakistan, Israel, Egypt and India.
Further, ExpressVPN comes with military-grade AES-256 encryption, DNS leak protection and obfuscated servers, which ensure that the UAE government can’t detect and monitor your traffic. ExpressVPN’s main drawback is that it’s pricey, but there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee to test it out. If you’re looking for a cheaper option, consider NordVPN or Windscribe.
- Unlimited GB
- 8
- Yes
2. NordVPN
With 5,200 servers in 60 countries, NordVPN is also a good choice for using WhatsApp in Dubai. It has servers in nearby countries such as Turkey, Israel and India. In addition, NordVPN’s obfuscated servers make it an excellent choice if you want fast, anonymous browsing. Because such servers conceal the fact that you’re using a VPN, they’re perfect for heavily censored areas like Dubai.
What’s more, NordVPN offers features — including double VPN and onion over VPN — that provide extra layers of security. However, we wouldn’t really recommend it to new VPN users, since all those advanced features can be confusing to use. Thankfully, NordVPN is a bit more affordable than ExpressVPN if you subscribe to one of its long-term plans.
- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 6
- Yes
- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 6
- Yes
- *The prices are charged in the first billing cycle only. Renewal prices vary.
- Unlimited GB
- 6
- Yes
3. Windscribe
Windscribe also has servers in countries close to the UAE, including Israel and Turkey. However, Windscribe makes this list because of its encapsulated protocols, named “Stealth” and “WStunnel.” While using them can slow down your internet connection, they’re helpful because they hide the fact that you’re using a VPN from prying government servers.
It’s worth noting that Windscribe’s claim to fame is that it has one of the most generous free plans. It’s one of the few free VPNs that we wholeheartedly recommend, so if you’re on a tight budget, it’s worth a try.
- Up to 15 GB free with email confirmation and Tweet
- 15GB
- Unlimited
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Yes
Final Thoughts
If you want to use WhatsApp in Dubai, you’ll need a VPN, because WhatsApp calls are banned there. For our money, ExpressVPN is the best, thanks to its extensive server network and reliability. However, you can also use cheaper alternatives like NordVPN and Windscribe.
Have you ever tried getting past the WhatsApp ban in Dubai? Which VPN worked best? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below, and as always, thanks for reading!
FAQ
You can send WhatsApp text messages in Dubai, but you can’t make video or voice calls.
Because WhatsApp is blocked, your voice and video calls won’t go through; however, you can send and receive texts.
WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption features prevent the UAE government from monitoring calls. In addition, the government wants to promote its own telecommunications industry.
VoIP apps BOTIM, C’Me and ToTok work in Dubai.