The UAE has recorded the highest rate of virtual private network (VPN) adoption in the world over the past five and a half years, according to new data from Cybernews.
Between 2020 and the first half of 2025, the country registered a VPN adoption rate of 65.78 per cent, surpassing Qatar (55.43 per cent) and Singapore (38.23 per cent). Other top users included Nauru (35.49 per cent), Oman (31 per cent), Saudi Arabia (28.93 per cent), and the Netherlands (21.77 per cent).
In the first six months of 2025 alone, UAE residents downloaded 6.11 million VPN apps, continuing the steady upward trend seen in previous years — 9.2 million downloads in 2024, 7.81 million in 2023, and 6.54 million in 2022. Analysts predict that if the pace continues, 2025 could exceed last year’s figures. The increase also coincides with the UAE’s growing population, now estimated at 11.44 million, according to Worldometer.
While VPN use remains common in the Emirates, authorities continue to remind the public about the legal limits. The UAE allows VPN use, but using it to commit or conceal crimes, or to access blocked sites or applications, is a punishable offence under Federal Decree Law No. 34 of 2021 on Combatting Rumours and Cybercrimes. Violators face imprisonment and fines ranging from Dh500,000 to Dh2 million.
Across the Gulf, VPN use is also widespread. Data from Apple’s App Store and Google Play shows Qatar (39.6 per cent), Oman (36.7 per cent), and Saudi Arabia (19.7 per cent) among the world’s top users. Experts attribute the high adoption rates in the region to restrictions on voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) services such as WhatsApp, Skype, and FaceTime.
Cybernews noted that VPN use continues to rise globally due to concerns over privacy and censorship, with the Middle East showing the strongest growth. Africa, by contrast, recorded the lowest rates, with no country from the continent appearing in the top 50.
