Best Free VPN in UAE (for WhatsApp Calling and Unblocking)

Best Free VPN in UAE (for WhatsApp Calling and Unblocking)

WhatsApp is one of the several platforms blocked in the United Arab Emirates. By extension, you cannot make or receive WhatsApp calls in the country. The government is distrustful of encryption and provides messaging platform alternatives for individuals within the country. However, these alternatives cannot be trusted as you cannot guarantee your privacy and security when you use them. 

However, there is a way to get around the blocks on WhatsApp in the UAE and keep in touch with your loved ones. Additionally, this tool helps you unblock the various other websites that are restricted in the country. The tool we refer to is known as a Virtual Private Network (VPN). Through a combination of features, VPN providers make sure you fly below the radar of the authorities and access sites and platforms ordinarily blocked in the country. 

VPNs are divided into paid and free services. The free service providers allow you to use their VPNs for varying lengths without having to pay subscription fees. This review looks at some of the best free VPN services you can employ for unblocking WhatsApp and other platforms in the UAE. Enjoy!

Top Recommended Risk-free VPNs for WhatsApp Calling and Unblocking Sites in the UAE

Risk-free VPNs offer you a semblance of free service when you use them. You will be required to select a subscription plan and pay for it. However, the provider gives you a stipulated window to change your mind and request a refund. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve used the service; you will be entitled to a refund as long as the window is open.

Risk-free VPNs are great because they allow you to use all of their premium features within the money-back window period. Thus, you will get unimpeached security, top speed, great unblocking ability, and much more. Here are two strong recommendations in that category. 

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN devices

Features

  • Number of servers: More than 3,000
  • Speeds: Unlimited
  • Server locations: 160 in 94 countries
  • Maximum devices supported: 5
  • 24 live chat: Yes
  • 30-day money-back guarantee: Yes

Pros/Cons

  • Fastest VPN out there
  • Strict no logs policy
  • 256-bit AES encryption
  • Few discounts
Visit ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN tops our list of the best risk-free VPN providers for WhatsApp calling and for unblocking other sites in the UAE. This provider comes highly recommended as many users have attested to its wonderful features. Tested and proven, you will have no qualms employing it for protection while in the UAE.

This provider has more than 3000 servers in 94 countries and 120 locations. Some of these servers are stationed in the United Arab Emirates. However, a lot of them are available in other countries where WhatsApp is not banned. Hence, to make WhatsApp calls while in the UAE, you simply need to connect to servers in any of the countries where WhatsApp is accessible freely.

You also get improved security when you use ExpressVPN while in the UAE. It uses industry-standard AES 256-bit encryption to secure its servers. To understand how reliable this encryption system is, even the United States military uses it. Furthermore, this provider supports great protocols, has a Network Kill Switch, and prevents DNS leaks.

This provider gives you a 30-day window to use the service and request a refund. The refund process is seamless and with no questions asked. However, ExpressVPN’s stellar features will most definitely have you staying for a little longer.

  • Pros: Fastest VPN out there; Strict no logs policy; 256-bit AES encryption;
  • Lowest price: $6.67

NordVPN

NordVPN devices

Features

  • Cryptocurrency accepted? Yes
  • Simultaneous connections: 6
  • Dedicated IP-addresses? Yes
  • Servers: 5342 in 58 countries

Pros/Cons

  • Lots of pricing options
  • Netflix support kept up to date
  • 256-bit AES encryption
  • Slow app
Visit NordVPN

NordVPN is a formidable alternative to ExpressVPN. It also offers a money-back guarantee to users. At the moment, its server count stands at about 5000 in 59 countries. So switching your IP address to appear to be outside the UAE will not be a challenge.

NordVPN is well-regarded for its unblocking abilities. Hence, it is a trusted route for unblocking WhatsApp even with the government restriction in the UAE. You can make calls with remarkable speed. Furthermore, NordVPN unblocks other geo-restricted platforms like Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, and the likes. From the UAE, you can watch shows available only in the United States, the UK, or elsewhere.

Furthermore, your security will not be at stake while you make WhatsApp calls in the country. NordVPN uses a great security encryption system – the AES 256-bit version. This prevents the government, your Internet Service Provider (ISP), or even hackers from becoming aware of your activities online. In addition, the provider has a malware blocker, supports Tor over VPN, and offers dedicated IP addresses and obfuscated server options. All of these ensure you have unmatched security while you make your WhatsApp calls.

NordVPN allows you to connect 6 devices to one VPN account. You also get a 30-day window to use the service and request a refund. This is remarkable if you are only visiting the UAE for a short while.

  • Pros: Lots of pricing options; Netflix support kept up to date; 256-bit AES encryption;
  • Lowest price: $3.71

Factors To Consider When Choosing a Free VPN for WhatsApp Calling in the UAE

If you need a free VPN for unblocking WhatsApp calls in the UAE, here are the factors to prioritize:

Server Count

You will need to connect to a server outside the UAE to be able to make WhatsApp calls in the country. Hence, you must ensure that your provider of choice has VPN servers in various other countries where WhatsApp is not banned. Generally, the larger the server count a provider has, the more attractive it should be. 

Unblocking Ability

The VPN provider you choose should have superb unblocking abilities. Their features should be capable of getting around restrictions imposed by the authorities. Not only should they be able to get around the blocks on WhatsApp calls, but the provider should also be capable of unblocking other streaming platforms such as Netflix and Hulu. 

Security Features

A VPN’s primary job is to keep you safe. This becomes even more imperative given the nature of the UAE. You need protection from government surveillance as well as from bad actors lurking on the internet. Thus, you should satisfy yourself that any provider you choose has amazing security features. The common ones to look out for include the AES 256-bit encryption model that is regarded as the standard. Others include a kill switch, split tunneling features, dedicated servers, and IP addresses, etc. 

Best Free VPNs for WhatsApp Calling and Unblocking Websites in the UAE

If you’d rather settle for a totally free VPN service, here is a list of the best ones we could find.

ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN devices

Features

  • P2P support? Yes
  • 30-day money-back guarantee? Yes
  • Country of origin? Switzerland
  • Servers: 600+ in over 40 countries
  • Simultaneous devices: 5

Pros/Cons

  • Professional support
  • Modern interface and apps
  • AES-256 encryption
  • Lesser known provider
Try ProtonVPN

ProtonVPN is a security-focused VPN service. It is the go-to provider for those looking for excellent security at an affordable rate. ProtonVPN has both a paid version and a free one. The latter has been adjudged one of the best in the industry. Hence, You can expect stellar service as you use the service for unblocking the WhatsApp call feature.

This provider offers you free servers in three locations – the United States, the Netherlands, and Japan. These regions do not have any sort of restriction on WhatsApp. Thus, you can connect to them from your location in the UAE and make calls to your heart’s content. Similarly, the United States has one of the largest video content libraries on various streaming platforms. Connecting to a US server ensures that you miss nothing even in the UAE.

This provider has a strong leaning towards security and so takes it very seriously. The servers you connect to on the service are encrypted, so you are guaranteed safety on that front. The provider also does not retain logs of your activities when you use its service. Furthermore, it does not bombard you with ads in a bid to force you to pay for a subscription.

  • Pros: Professional support; Modern interface and apps; AES-256 encryption;
  • Lowest price: €4

Hide.me

Hide.me devices

Features

  • Number of servers: 2000+
  • Server locations: 75 locations
  • Maximum devices supported: 10
  • 24 live chat: Yes
  • 30 day money back guarantee: Yes

Pros/Cons

  • Has free option
  • No log policy
  • Secure connection
  • Not very cheap
Try Hide.me

Hide.me is a paid VPN provider that offers you a free version with limited capabilities. This provider is committed to securing users’ privacy and hence is straightforward about its offers. When you use Hide.me, you know exactly what you are getting. Hence, we recommend the service for use in unblocking WhatsApp calls in the UAE.

This provider makes available 5 free locations that you can connect to on the free service. These locations are privacy-friendly and give you a compatible IP address to download and use WhatsApp. Peer-to-peer file sharing is further allowed on these servers. More so, this provider does not throttle your speed when you use its service. It does not allow ads or trackers that will make the experience unsatisfactory.

You get 10GB of data when you use Hide.me’s free offer. This offer is renewable every month. Hence, you could potentially use the service forever. Using the service is pretty straightforward and convenient. You will not need to sign up, register, or leave your details on the service. Additionally, Hide.me maintains a strict no-log policy. Hence, the government of the United Arab Emirates cannot compel it to share your data.

Even though this provider does have some shortcomings, it nonetheless makes up for it with how straightforward the service is.

  • Pros: Has free option; No log policy; Secure connection;
  • Lowest price: €4.99

TunnelBear

TunnelBear devices

Features

  • Cryptocurrency accepted? Yes, bitcoin
  • Dedicated IP-adresses? Yes
  • Simultaneous connections: 5
  • Locations: 28 countries

Pros/Cons

  • Unlimited browsing
  • Account manager
  • Military grade encryption
  • Free version allows only 500MB data
Visit TunnelBear

TunnelBear is the last provider on our list of free services for unblocking the WhatsApp call feature and unblocking other platforms in the UAE. You get 500MB of free data on the service. Tweeting about the provider earns you an extra 1 GB of data.

This provider has servers in 41 countries and counting. The server list contains many countries where WhatsApp and WhatsApp calls are allowed. You can unblock other platforms aside from WhatsApp, although that may not be a great idea given the limited data you have.

This provider uses the AES 256-bit encryption model to secure its servers. This encryption model is top-notch and is the global standard. For enhanced security, you can activate the Ghostbear mode. This feature is excellent for those that want to evade government detection. Those living in the United Arab Emirates fall into this category.

The provider has apps for the major device types. You can connect at least 5 devices to one TunnelBear account. As long as your data still subsists, you should have no problems on all connected devices. If at any point you want to transition to using a paid plan, the process is easy. TunnelBear has one of the cheapest VPN plans in the industry.

  • Pros: Unlimited browsing; Account manager; Military grade encryption;
  • Lowest price: $3.33

Frequently Asked Questions About Free VPNs for the UAE

How does a VPN evade the blocks on WhatsApp?

VPN providers typically have servers in various locations. If a service is blocked in one location, users simply need to connect to a server in a different location where the service is available. In this case, since WhatsApp calls are banned in the UAE, you will need to connect to a VPN server outside the UAE. That gives you a compatible IP address to download and use WhatsApp in the country. 

Are free VPN providers any good? 

The straight answer is no. Free VPN providers have many drawbacks that could ruin the experience for you. In addition, you could be putting yourself at risk using the free services.

Is it legal to use a VPN in the UAE?

The answer is not straightforward. The authorities have an unfriendly stance towards VPNs in the country. However, they have not been outrightly banned. Since this is a gray area, you may want to use a VPN service that masks the fact that you are even using a VPN. Unfortunately, mostly paid VPN services afford you that privilege.

Conclusion

WhatsApp, and hence WhatsApp calls, is banned in the United Arab Emirates. The government restricts the internet and even further bans many streaming platforms and websites. However,  a VPN gives you an escape route. This list gives you a rundown of the best risk-free VPN services and totally free VPN providers to contemplate.