Does Surfshark work in UAE?

As of Aug 11, 2026, Surfshark is partially working in UAE.

Status: degraded
Confidence: medium
Last verified: Aug 11, 2026
Method: surfshark.com is blocked on both major UAE ISPs (OONI: Etisalat/e& consumer network AS5384 anomalous as recently as 2026-08-05; du AS15802 anomalous on every measurement through 2026-07-21). Sign up and download before arrival. Vendor restricted-network guidance applies: NoBorders mode, protocol changes, or manual OpenVPN setup.

Working alternatives in UAE

No VPN is currently verified as working in UAE. We would rather say that than guess. Check back after the next weekly verification pass.

Set on Surfshark? It is partially working in UAE right now. Check the method notes above before you buy. Get Surfshark

What we're seeing

OONI shows surfshark.com blocked on the Etisalat consumer network (1 OK against 228 anomalies from January 1 to August 5, 2026, with the freshest anomaly on August 5) and on du through July 21. Sign up and download before arrival. The vendor's restricted-network guidance (NoBorders mode, protocol changes, manual OpenVPN) remains the documented path; no fresh in-country tunnel report surfaced in either direction this pass.

Sources for the above:

vendor (Aug 11, 2026): Vendor restricted-network guidance (page last updated 2025-05-22): manual OpenVPN, protocol changes, manual in-app connection. Does not name the UAE and makes no availability claim for it. Weak, background-grade. 5.
news (Aug 11, 2026): Affiliate review claiming Surfshark "currently works with Etisalat" using obfuscation. No dated methodology. Recorded only as the conflicting side per policy, not as supporting evidence.
user_report (Aug 11, 2026): OONI control-plane check returned an empty set for AE (queried with domain=, not input=). Could not separate website block from service block via OONI for this cell; the working-tunnel side rests on vendor guidance and absence of failure reports only. 4.
user_report (Aug 5, 2026): OONI community measurements. Etisalat consumer AS5384: 1 OK / 228 anomalies Jan 1 to Aug 5 2026, with anomalies on 2026-07-23, 07-25 and 08-05 (freshest data point). Website block ongoing. A blocked vendor website does not prove the tunnel fails. 2.
user_report (Jul 22, 2026): OONI May 1 to Jul 21 2026: Etisalat/e& AS5384 79 anomalies vs 1 ok; du AS15802 10 vs 0; zero anomalies on datacenter ASNs, isolating the block to the two residential ISPs; website not tunnel

Common questions

Is using a VPN legal in the UAE?

Yes, for lawful use. Using a VPN to commit a crime or fake your IP for fraud carries fines of AED 500,000 to 2,000,000 under Federal Decree-Law 34 of 2021. Using one for privacy or work calls is not the offense; what you do with it can be.

Do I need special settings to connect in the UAE?

Usually yes. Etisalat and du block most VPN vendor websites and interfere with standard protocols. As of July 2026, the VPNs we track that partially work all lean on their stealth or obfuscated modes.

Should I install a VPN before arriving in the UAE?

Yes. Vendor websites are blocked on Etisalat and du, so signup and download from inside the UAE often fail. Install, subscribe, and log in before you land.