How to Unblock Facetime in Dubai using a VPN

Facetime is the perfect app for keeping in touch with family, collaborating remotely, and contacting friends from all around the world. Millions of users video or audio call each other every single day through this app and utilise fantastic features including spatial audio, video effects, 32-person group calls, screen sharing, and SharePlay. 

Unfortunately, due to internet censorship, Facetime is blocked in highly restrictive areas and cannot be accessed by users. Dubai and the UAE are examples of areas where VoIP services such as Facetime require a licence from the TRA (Telecommunications Regulatory Authority) to operate. Since the service does not have a licence, users in Dubai and the UAE cannot download or use Facetime. Luckily, we have a solution! With a VPN, you can spoof your location and unblock Facetime in restrictive areas such as Dubai, meaning that you can freely use the app despite it being banned. Keep reading to discover how to unblock Facetime in Dubai using a VPN in 2022!

How to unblock Facetime in Dubai quick guide

Top tip – If you still can’t unblock Facetime, then reconnect to a different server and try again! You may also need to change your app store region to download Facetime.

Unblock Facetime with NordVPN* now!

Why do I need a VPN to use Facetime in Dubai?

As we’ve already established, Facetime is sadly blocked for all users in Dubai and elsewhere in the United Arab Emirates. But why? Well, the UAE has a strictly regulated and controlled telecom market. This country even has laws that require VoIP (voice over Internet Protocol) services to acquire a licence from the TRA (Telecommunications Regulatory Authority). 

This requirement has likely been put in place to protect the revenues of the UAE’s two monopoly state-run ISPs, du and Etisalat. So, if you live in or are travelling to Dubai, then you won’t be able to download or access Facetime. Don’t worry, though, as we have an easy salutation that can help you bypass these restrictions. All you need is a VPN!

A VPN (virtual private network) can hide your location, allowing you to bypass blocks that are implemented by restrictive countries such as the UAE. When you connect to a VPN server, your IP address is replaced by the server’s, so you’ll appear to be accessing an app, website, or service from wherever the server is based. 

For example, if you’re in Dubai and you use a VPN to connect to a server that’s located in the UK, then you’ll temporarily have a UK IP address. This means that you can unblock Facetime and freely access the VoIP service from within the UAE. Of course, it doesn’t have to be a VPN server that’s located in the UK. You can connect to a server that’s based in any country where Facetime is not banned. But do keep in mind that typically the closer the server is to your location, the better connection speeds you’ll have.

Although there has been no official announcement, users have reported that Facetime is now functional in Dubai. Even if this is true, it may only be temporary as there have been other cases where services or apps have worked for a limited period of time before being blocked again due to changes in internet filtering. Therefore, it’s still a good idea to use a VPN to permanently unblock Facetime in Dubai!

What are the best VPNs for unblocking Facetime in Dubai?

The best VPN for unblocking Facetime in Dubai will have a large server network and fast connection speeds so you can bypass any restrictions and perform video calls in high quality. Your chosen VPN should have military-grade encryption along with various security features such as a kill switch, split tunnelling support, and DNS leak protection. 

Ideally, the provider will also have a no-logs policy and be based outside of US and EU jurisdiction. This will ensure your privacy and allow you to remain anonymous when using Facetime in restricted areas such as Dubai. With this in mind, here are our top recommend VPNs that you can use to unblock Facetime in Dubai – 

1. NordVPN

NordVPN is our all-around best VPN for unblocking Facetime in Dubai. This VPN has outstanding connection speeds, top-notch security, and a wide range of servers around the world, making it perfect for bypassing restrictions to access the VoIP service from within the UAE. 

This VPN has over 5400 servers in 60 countries, so you have plenty of choices when connecting to a server to unblock Facetime. These servers are super-fast, allowing you to video call your contacts in crisp quality and without any buffering or other interruptions. NordVPN is renowned for its top-notch performance, so if you’re after the best call quality, then this VPN is perfect for you. With this VPN, you have no bandwidth caps and up to 6 simultaneous connections, so you can audio and video call on Facetime as often as you want. 

This VPN uses military-grade AES-256 encryption and provides users with additional security features such as a kill switch, MFA, dedicated IP, and private DNS with leak protection. There’s even a Threat Protection feature that blocks malicious ads as well as trackers and malware threats. You can also utilise NordVPN’s split tunnelling support to reroute only your Facetime traffic, so you can unblock the app whilst still browsing the web and using other online services locally. 

NordVPN has an independently audited no-logs policy which proves that the provider will never collect or share any private user data such as IP addresses, metadata, timestamps, and browsing history. Additionally, this provider is based in Panama, a country that has no data retention laws and is based away from EU and US jurisdictions. This means that NordVPN will never be required to hand over user data to government authorities. You can download NordVPN now on any Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux device!

Try out NordVPN* to unblock Facetime in Dubai for free for 30 days with their money-back guarantee! 

2. ProtonVPN

If privacy and security are your main concerns, then a reputable VPN like ProtonVPN is the way to go. This provider clearly cares about the safety of its users and provides exceptional security measures, so you can stay protected and free from censorship when unblocking Facetime and other restricted services in Dubai. 

ProtonVPN has over 1600 servers across 63 countries, so you can connect to a nearby service for fantastic connection speeds and clear Facetime video calls. There are no bandwidth caps and users can have up to 10 simultaneous connections, so you and others in your household can use Facetime on all your favourite devices at the same time. 

This VPN encrypts user traffic with military-grade AES-256 encryption and uses Secure Core servers to reroute user traffic through multiple servers to provide additional protection for users. ProtonVPN also uses highly secure VPN protocols – OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2. There are plenty of additional security features available including full disk encryption, a kill switch, and DNS leak prediction. This VPN also has a built-in ad blocker, Netshield, which protects users from malware, trackers, and intrusive ads. This ad blocker can reduce your mobile data usage and even speed up your browsing experience.   

ProtonVPN is open source and has a strict no-logs policy that has been independently audited. Additionally, this provider is based in Switzerland which means that it is protected by the world’s strongest privacy laws and is based away from EU and US jurisdictions. ProtonVPN also makes it easy for users to remain anonymous when creating an account, which is one of the reasons why it’s among some of the most trusted VPN providers and is used by journalists and activists from all around the world. 

The ProtonVPN app is available on any Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux device. Users can click the included quick connect option to instantly connect to the most optimal server or can manually connect to one of the many Secure Core servers to safely unblock and access Facetime from Dubai. 

Try out ProtonVPN* to unblock Facetime in Dubai for free for 30 days with their money-back guarantee! 

3. Surfshark

Surfshark is a terrific VPN that’s both reliable and affordable, so if you have a tight budget, then you can opt for this VPN to unblock Facetime in Dubai. Although Surfshark is cheaper than our other options, it still provides competitive connection speeds and robust security, so you can stay protected whilst audio and video calling friends, family, and other contacts. 

With over 3200 servers in 65 countries and an easy-to-use app, Surfshark makes it straightforward to connect to any server from around the world to bypass the UAE’s Facetime restrictions. These servers are also ultra-fast and 100% RAM-only, so you can enjoy high-quality Facetime calls whilst also having peace of mind knowing that your data is not being stored by your VPN provider. Surfshark’s server network supports the most trusted VPN protocols – Wireguard, IKEv2, and OpenVPN. 

Surfshark has a no-logs policy that has been independently audited to prove that the provider prioritises the privacy of its users. The VPN also offers a camouflage mode which conceals your VPN usage and makes it look like regular traffic, so not even your ISP can see that you’re using a VPN.

This VPN uses military-grade AES-256 encryption along with a selection of security features including a kill switch, private DNS with leak protection, and a built-in ad blocker, CleanWeb. Additionally, there is NoBorders mode which helps users in restrictive areas such as Dubai successfully use the VPN to bypass blocks and online censorship. 

You can download Surfshark now on any Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and Linux device. This provider offers both unlimited simultaneous connections and unlimited bandwidth, so you can use Facetime and any other services as often as you want on all your devices without any limitations.

Try out Surfshark* to unblock Facetime in Dubai for free for 30 days with their money-back guarantee!