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Over 9.6m VPN apps downloaded in UAE in 2025; up to Dh2m fine for its misuse
The UAE leads the Gulf in VPN adoption, but are you aware of the potential risks? Find out how to protect yourself from cybercrime and avoid hefty fines. Get the facts
- PUBLISHED: Fri 27 Mar 2026, 7:55 AM
Led by the UAE, Gulf countries recorded the highest adoption rate of virtual private networks (VPNs) globally in 2025, according to the latest edition of the Cybernews VPN Adoption Report.
The VPN adoption rate in the UAE reached 85.5 per cent last year, with more than 9.60 million apps downloaded by residents and visitors.
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The UAE was followed by Qatar, with 1.76 million apps downloaded last year and an adoption rate of 58.47 per cent.
Oman came third, with 3.98 million VPN applications downloaded last year and an adoption rate of 54 per cent.
The UAE has witnessed a consistent increase in app downloads, rising from 4.87 million in 2021 to 6.54 million in 2022, 7.81 million in 2023, 9.20 million in 2024, and 9.6 million last year.
The Cybernews VPN Adoption Report said the driving forces behind higher downloads in the UAE and other Gulf countries include large expatriate populations that rely on VPNs to communicate internationally. The UAE’s population has also been increasing steadily since 2021, surpassing 11 million last year, as a large number of foreign nationals relocated to the country for better opportunities and a high quality of life.
The report analysed download data for the 50 most popular VPN apps from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store across 126 countries, comparing it with each country's population to calculate adoption rates.
Is VPN legal in the UAE?
Legal experts say that residents in the UAE are allowed to use VPN apps, but misuse could result in severe penalties.
Under Federal Decree-Law No. (34) of 2021 on combating rumours and cybercrimes, it is a serious offence to use a VPN for illegal purposes — including committing a crime or concealing one’s IP address to access websites, calling apps, or gaming platforms blocked by the UAE government.
Residents who violate the law by misusing VPNs could face imprisonment and fines ranging from Dh500,000 to Dh2 million.
Global VPN downloads
In addition to the UAE, Qatar, and Oman, the report revealed that the other countries ranked in the top 10 include Singapore, Nauru, Saudi Arabia, the UK, the Netherlands, Jordan, and France.
Global VPN downloads hit an all-time high of 487 million in 2022 and have been declining since. Downloads dropped to 404 million in 2023, partially recovered to 464 million in 2024, and fell again to 412.5 million in 2025, according to the latest Cybernews VPN Adoption Report.
Europe is the only region still showing consistent growth in 2025, while adoption rates in most other regions have slowed significantly.
