Subscribe Now

travelers today

Home » Top 5

Top 5 Reasons You Need a VPN Before Flying to the Middle East

Travelers Today       By    Ernest Hamilton

Updated: Aug 27, 2019 02:08 PM EDT

Text Size: A A A

Over the last few decades, the Middle East has become a popular travel destination for many tourists. Countries such as Egypt, Israel, and the Gulf states like Dubai and Saudi Arabia have undoubtedly attracted attention from many travelers. In the Middle East lies an exciting mix of ancient history and the luxurious big city life. However, there are some things to be aware of when traveling here. 

Aside from the obvious security implications, issues with Sharia law, and so on, the Middle East contains many destinations where privacy is threatened. The biggest issue here is likely anonymity in surfing online. Many of the governments further restrict websites, and one could argue the Internet here is more closed up than anywhere else. That is why one ought to consider downloading a VPN before flying to countries like Saudi Arabia or Dubai with heavily restricted internet!

1. Keep Your Privacy

As mentioned in the introduction, privacy is threatened in many countries in the Middle East. This is however not just surveillance from the government. Internet service providers, employers, and others may have access to your log on the Internet. A VPN can hide up your IP address, making it virtually impossible to track your online behavior. 

This is simply because the VPN routes your traffic through a different server, and only then communicates with the website you visit. Therefore, the visit you make to a website will catch your new IP address from the external server within the VPN. This keeps your privacy safe from any insight from the government at all. 

2. Stay Secure on Public Wi-Fi Networks

As data rates for phones can become rather pricy internationally, many choose to connect directly to free Wi-Fi networks that are publicly available. While the networks are free, this might be at the cost of someone hacking your device. When you freely roam on a public Wi-Fi, your information is in no way secured in the same way as your home Wi-Fi. 

With a VPN however, and a covered-up IP address, nobody can actually see that you are even connected to this Wi-Fi. Remember that for the rest of the world, it looks as if you are logged on to a network somewhere far away from the Middle East!

3. Gain Access to International Streaming Content

Much like Europeans, people in the Middle East use the VPN to gain access to content in the US. Streaming services in the US simply just offer more value in terms of content, where the library of TV shows and movies sometimes amount to over 5 times that of countries in the Middle East. Some streaming services might even be blocked completely here. 

Of course, one can connect to whatever country they please, meaning they can access content from countries such as the UK, Australia, Germany, France, and many others as well. With a VPN in handy, you can gain access to international streaming content within seconds, even when you are in the Middle East. 

4. Remove Restrictions on Social Media and News

Unfortunately, authoritarian governments in some Middle Eastern countries, will not accept certain social media sites and news sites. This means that you get a very restricted access to the content online. If you regularly use a specific social site, then you would probably want to use this for communication when you are abroad. A VPN allows you to do this, even in restricted zones such as some countries in the Middle East. 

Furthermore, having news sites blocked can be extremely annoying when wanting to keep updated on current situations. With the freedom of the press, the West is used to getting the truth from their media outlets. Unfortunately, in the Middle East, news normally are geared towards protecting the current government from criticism, and therefore many news sites in the US for instance will be blocked. 

5. Get the Cheapest Prices

There are big sums of money to save on using a VPN during online purchases. For instance, if you have not booked your flight home yet, then you can use a VPN to book this. Make sure to connect to a country where airlines offer steep geographical discounts, such as South East Asia, and you could save hundreds of dollars on flight tickets. 

Furthermore, you can save money on many other purchases online as well. Whether it is movies, music, or video games for instance, a VPN can allow you to connect to the country where the product is the absolute cheapest. In terms of video games, you can save up to 80% for some titles!

Open the Internet With a VPN

There are few words that describe the Internet in the Middle East better than the word "closed". Authoritarian governments try to restrict content in order to control the population. As a tourist in the region, this can be extremely annoying, as someone coming from the West is used to an almost completely open Internet. 

With a VPN however, one might unlock the capabilities of the Internet in the Middle East as well. Gain access to content, surf safely, and exploit the cheapest prices out there. A VPN is easy to install, and it is a must to bring with you on your trip to the Middle East. To get the most out of your vacation, open the Internet with a VPN today!

See Now: The U.S. had the highest number of Most Wanted properties, dominating the Hotels.com Loved By Guests Awards 2018

© 2023 Traverlers Today, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Join Our Conversation

Subscribe to our newsletter

Receive the latest travel news, reviews, and more..

Most Popular

6 Tips For Traveling With Young Children

6 Tips For Traveling With Young Children

Planning for a trip takes some time, even if it's just you g

How Traveling Can Make You Happy

How Traveling Can Make You Happy

If you have never traveled before but are thinking of doing so then

Scottish Islands: The Best Places to Reside!

Scottish Islands: The Best Places to Reside!

So there are a few islands that can be found off the Sco

How to Plan a Multi-Destination Honeymoon During COVID

How to Plan a Multi-Destination Honeymoon During COVID

You need to know how to plan appropriately and

7 Tips for Amazing Campus Visits

7 Tips for Amazing Campus Visits

A campus visit's significance could not be overstated. After all, fo

4 Tips For Curating The Perfect Gallery Wall

4 Tips For Curating The Perfect Gallery Wall

Having a gallery wall brings plenty of benefits to your

Water Travel Options That Don’t Involve a Cruise

Water Travel Options That Don’t Involve a Cruise

There is something equally relaxing and invigorati

Photo by Erik Odiin on Unsplash

Things That Will Help Cost-Conscious Vacationers Save Money

There are several ways you can significan

Photo by Mikhail Nilov from Pexels

How to Make Vet Visits Affordable in 2022

If the situation is minor, you might be lucky and get away

Photo by Tim Samuel from Pexels

Know Your Florida Driving Rules

There is so much to do in the region, but we want to focus on some of

Photo by Ging Ang from Pexels

Holidaying in your own Country: Try these Fun Trips!

Many countries are opening their borders, but if

Photo by Jessica Lewis Creative from Pexels

The Best Tech Tools for Expats

Here’s a quick look at most versatile tech tools for expats on the m

Photo by Tobi from Pexels

How to Turn a Road Trip Into A Luxury Adventure

But a road trip doesn’t have to mean living on the

Australian Citizenship Test: Everything You Need to Know

Australian Citizenship Test: Everything You Need to Know

Do you want to become a citizen of Australia

Hair transplant Istanbul: Why is it so popular?

Hair Transplant Istanbul: Why is it so Popular?

Getting a hair transplant in Istanbul is affordable i

What’s Going on with Rental Cars Right Now?

What’s Going on with Rental Cars Right Now?

They are incredibly expensive, and they’re also in sh

Role of Professional companies in International Trade

Role of Professional companies in International Trade

International trade holds great importance in a

The 5 Best Wines from Germany

The 5 Best Wines from Germany

Riesling is Germany’s best-known wine, but the country makes other fi

Here's Why You Should Go Camping On Weekends

Here's Why You Should Go Camping On Weekends

There is nothing like the great outdoors –– natureâ€

The Best Tote Bags To Travel With in 2022

The Best Tote Bags To Travel With in 2022

Who knew you could pack your entire life away into one litt

7 Captivating Attractions for Kids in San Diego

7 Captivating Attractions for Kids in San Diego

San Diego is a magnificent place, and it would not be

travelers today

© 2023 TRAVELERS TODAY All rights reserved.

Subscribe to our newsletter
Real Time Analytics