Usage of virtual private networks (VPNs) in the UAE and many other Arab countries has remained one of the highest in the world during the first half of the year, as work-from-home trends continued, new research from VPN Atlas shows. 

More than 3.9 million installs were made in the UAE from January to June this year, representing a penetration rate of 39.9 percent, the second highest in the world after Qatar, where 44.5 percent of the population made VPN downloads, totalling 1.2 million. 

Oman, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait also emerged as among the top ten VPN users for the year, with downloads hitting 1.2 million, 8 million and 798,000, respectively during the first six months of 2021. 

VPNs are popular in many markets where access to networks, including voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services is restricted. They not only secure network activity, but they also enable users to connect restricted content from around the world. 

“The reason behind the high adoption rates remains the same – governments in Arab countries tend to employ some of the most stringent internet restrictions globally,” said Edward Garb, cybersecurity researcher at Atlas VPN. 

“People turn to VPNs when their countries’ governments block useful applications. One of the most common examples are VoIP services… or in simple terms, phone services over the internet, such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Skype.” 

Restrictions 

The UAE loosened VoIP restrictions at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, enabling residents to use several messaging apps like Zoom, Google Hangouts and Microsoft Teams, among others. However, the ban on calls made through WhatsApp and FaceTime has remained in place. 

Atlas VPN’s research analysed the VPN usage in 85 countries worldwide.  

In terms of adoption rate, the top three VPN users for January to June 2021 were Qatar, UAE and Singapore. Oman came fifth on the list, followed by Saudi Arabia (6th) and Kuwait (7th). Lebanon, occupying the 8th position, Pakistan (9th) and Algeria (10th) rounded up the top ten. 

The countries with lowest VPN adoption rate include South Africa, where only 1.43 percent of the population downloaded VPN during the first half of the year, as well as Japan (0.85 percent penetration rate) and Madagascar (0.42 percent). 

Number of VPN downloads and adoption rate per country during H1 2021: 

  • Qatar: 1.28 million (44.4%) 
  • UAE: 3.94 million (39.9%) 
  • Singapore: 1.7 million (29.59%) 
  • India: 348.7 million (25.27%) 
  • Oman: 1.266 million (24.79%) 
  • Saudi Arabia: 8 million (23.14%) 
  • Kuwait: 799,534 (18.7%) 
  • Lebanon: 1.2 million (17.62%) 
  • Pakistan: 36.7 million (16.63%) 
  • Algeria: 7.1 million (16.19%) 

(Reporting by Cleofe Maceda; editing by Seban Scaria) 

Cleofe.maceda@refinitiv.com 

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© ZAWYA 2021