NordVPN has long been at the forefront of the best VPNs for Qatar, given its premium unblocking features and impressive security suite to keep you protected while browsing the web.
For example, 5400+ servers in 60 countries layered on NordVPN’s obfuscated server technology unblock content without Ooredoo knowing about your VPN usage.
Thanks to the speed-optimized servers, you don’t suffer noticeable connection drops either.
ExpressVPN and CyberGhost are also impressive additions.
The latter even brings Qatari servers to surf the local web securely.
Out of the 20+ VPNs I tested, PureVPN and Surfshark round up the top 5 VPNs for Qatar.
If you’re interested in what makes these VPNs the best when you’re in Qatar, keep reading.
Top 3 VPNs for Qatar
ExpressVPN is one of the fastest VPN providers with best-in-class encryption to protect your internet traffic and data. With P2P support and obfuscation on all 3000+ servers in 160 server locations, enjoy the full breadth of the free internet with ExpressVPN.
NordVPN’s obfuscation allows VPN traffic without detection and bypasses rigid geo-restrictions and internet censorship. With a collection of 5400+ fast servers, you can beat ISP throttling better than before.
CyberGhost boasts 14 servers in Qatar for users who need to secure their local web browsing. This is part of a global 8000+ server network from where you can unblock any content globally while bypassing Qatari ISP censorships.
Qatar might have one of the less restricted internet spaces in their region, but that doesn’t mean the country doesn’t censor content.
As far back as 2016, Ooredoo and Vodafone blocked user and publisher access to Doha News, an independent news and media website.
This is just one of many websites and platforms blocked in Qatar.
Fortunately, the VPNs on this list are adept at beating that censorship by employing obfuscated servers to browse the open internet without signaling that you’re using a Virtual Private Network (VPN).
Before choosing these VPNs, I started with a list of over 20, which I narrowed down to my top three. Though, PureVPN and Surfshark also hold a lot of promise for Qataris and dwellers, which I’ll get into below.
So, continue reading to find out why these are the VPNs to get for Qatar and learn how to make the best of them.
Need to Use Your WhatsApp, Facetime, Skype, and Messenger in Qatar? Try My Top VPNs!
Qatar’s government doesn’t officially recognize this ban.
Still, you might not be able to use VoIP apps such as WhatsApp, Messenger, Skype, and Facetime from Qatar.
But not when you have these VPNs:
- NordVPN – Unblock banned websites and platforms without leaking VPN traffic from over 5400 servers in 60 countries.
- ExpressVPN – Enjoy obfuscation and P2P support on all 3000+ servers to bypass censorship and share files securely in Qatar.
- CyberGhost – Access local content with 14 Qatari servers optimized for speed and improved online security.
- PureVPN – Experience the internet unfiltered from any of 6500+ fast servers in 78+ countries.
- Surfshark – Bypass censorship, defeat ISP throttling, and secure your internet activity from unlimited devices in Qatar.
Now that you have a general idea of what these VPN services offer, you can pick your personal best VPN for Qatar. However, I know you’ll make a better choice when looking at the detailed mini-reviews below.
How about we get right into it?
Detailed Mini-Reviews of My Top 5 VPNs for Qatar
I started with about 20+ VPNs that showed some promise before narrowing the list to the five below. So, here are the winners from my tests and why they made the final cut.
NordVPN – Overall Best Value for Qatar
NordVPN comes first because it performs well above average on all the criteria.
For example, this VPN software provider offers 5400+ VPN servers in over 60 countries. It maintains 1970+ USA servers, which are great for bypassing censorship to just about any website while unblocking VoIP services like WhatsApp, Messenger, Telegram, and Skype.
I chose the USA specifically because that’s where most web content (platforms, websites, and services) is available.
In comparison, only PureVPN and CyberGhost come close to NordVPN with 1800+ and 1300+ USA servers (respectively).
Furthermore, I understand that Qatar is far away from prime servers to unblock content. Luckily, NordVPN’s servers have low ping.
Of course, there’ll be an internet speed drop, but it’ll be so negligible that you won’t feel the impact on your web experience.
On top of that, NordVPN brings specialty obfuscated servers that prevent Ooredoo from trying to block your VPN traffic.
Likewise, any other website/platform that might have VPN filters in place will let your connection through once you use obfuscation from NordVPN.
However, NordVPN doesn’t have any servers in Qatar yet, which is one area where CyberGhost edges it out.
A Qatari server would be great for accessing banking applications and other local, region-specific services without leaking any internet traffic.
Now, the best you can do is set up split tunneling with NordVPN to use your VPN with some apps while your banking apps remain unprotected.
Still, don’t forget that CyberGhost doesn’t come close to NordVPN in speeds, obfuscation, and overall compatibility in Qatar.
Though, I’d also prefer to have obfuscation on all servers (like ExpressVPN) instead of a small handful of obfuscated servers.
Furthermore, P2P support is only on a few servers, whereas all ExpressVPN’s servers are P2P-enabled for faster download speeds/secure file sharing in Qatar.
However, comparing NordVPN’s price package to ExpressVPN makes it a more balanced choice.
Plus, NordVPN is no slouch with its AES 256-bit military-grade encryption to prevent IP, DNS, and Web RTC leaks.
Given that a “Reporters without Borders” report mentioned how Ooredoo might spy on messages you send via other ISPs, this encryption protocol is essential for improved online privacy in Qatar.
Fortunately, NordVPN ensures no gaps in your protection armor with double internet kill switches where other providers offer just one.
The first one, the internet kill switch, stops your entire internet from transmitting once the VPN connection drops.
The other is an app kill switch which you can configure for specific apps and programs. However, you only get these kill switch configurations on PC and Android, as they come inbuilt with the iOS app.
Qatar has also become an increasing hotspot for public Wi-Fi connections. You need a reliable VPN provider to prevent malware injection, man-in-the-middle attacks, and data snooping.
Thanks to NordVPN’s level of encryption, coupled with its proprietary CyberSec feature, you don’t have to worry about trackers and malware on public networks.
The other providers on this list, save PureVPN, also have alternatives to CyberSec.
For all the areas where ExpressVPN beats NordVPN, NordVPN has the better pricing model. You can also use NordVPN on six devices simultaneously, compared to five on ExpressVPN.
Plus, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee if you don’t like what you get with NordVPN, so you’re trying the service risk-free.
On top of that, you can grab HUGE discounts on NordVPN to start enjoying an internet experience with no borders.
Pros
- 5400+ servers in 60 countries
- Six simultaneous device connections
- Internet kill switch for IP and DNS leak protection
- Obfuscation to prevent VPN traffic detection
- CyberSec protection against trackers, ads, and malware
- Reliable P2P servers for streaming services and secure file sharing
Cons
- Doesn’t have P2P on all servers
- Doesn’t use obfuscation on all servers
- No Qatari server locations
ExpressVPN – Premium Unblocking VPN for Qatar
ExpressVPN has 3000+ servers across 160 locations in 94 countries, giving you a bigger boost than NordVPN to unblock content in Qatar.
However, NordVPN has more servers, so it should enjoy less congestion on individual servers. Likewise, ExpressVPN doesn’t carry anywhere close to NordVPN’s USA servers. Still, you can unblock content across multiple server locations with ExpressVPN too.
I also don’t think the congestion would matter since ExpressVPN is highly optimized for speed and is one of the fastest VPN providers. Furthermore, it built an in-house Lightway protocol that combines industry-standard encryption and obfuscation while still delivering stellar speeds to stream content from Qatar undetected.
I’m also impressed with ExpressVPN’s obfuscation and P2P-support offer on ALL servers. Given how Ooredoo might be able to spy on your messages, these P2P servers allow you to share and receive files anonymously.
Moreover, it’s a fact Qatari ISPs will throttle your internet speeds, especially during peak usage hours, when they see you’re torrenting or heavily streaming content.
This is another area where ExpressVPN’s P2P-supported servers kick in to help you browse the web faster, torrent files securely, and defeat ISP throttling.
Like NordVPN, ExpressVPN also brings a kill switch called Network Lock. Whenever your VPN connection drops, the Network Lock keeps your devices from transmitting to the internet, so your online activity remains anonymous to the government.
Finally, ExpressVPN is one of the most trusted no-logs policy vendors.
For one, it’s been independently audited by both Cure53 and PwC.
On the other hand, some of their Turkish servers were once seized by authorities who found nothing on those servers, lending further credence to their claims.
However, you’ll have to shell out extra funds to get everything ExpressVPN offers, especially compared to NordVPN, Surfshark, CyberGhost, and PureVPN.
Luckily, the reliability, robust security features, and privacy protection make it all worth the price.
Additionally, you can try ExpressVPN risk-free, given its 30-day money-back guarantee for first-timers.
Plus, you can still save on ExpressVPN as you start bypassing Qatari internet censorships.
Pros
- Offers P2P support on all servers.
- Provides obfuscation on all servers
- 3000+ servers in 94 countries.
- Speed optimized servers for faster content unblocking
- Five simultaneous device connections
- Network Lock to prevent IP and DNS leaks.
Cons
- No Qatari VPN server locations
- Relatively expensive VPN service
Cyberghost – Best Price VPN With Qatar Server
CyberGhost’s most significant selling point is that it’s the only VPN on this list with Qatar servers. In fact, it has 14 servers in Qatar, so you can choose/connect to any without worrying about overloading.
However, I’m concerned that all Qatar servers don’t offer P2P support yet, and they’re located in a single city.
Thus, bringing down the internet in that city could shut down the servers.
Looking beyond that, I’m impressed that CyberGhost has 7900+ other servers in 91 countries. This is closer to the country count on ExpressVPN and way more than what NordVPN offers.
Thus, you can access more areas to unblock online services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and Omegle.
You’ll also appreciate CyberGhost’s smart purpose servers that automatically connect you to the best location to unblock content (and on specific platforms), download faster, or use the web securely.
Only PureVPN has a similar setup, giving both VPNs an edge.
When comparing NordVPN or any other provider on this list, CyberGhost doesn’t offer obfuscated servers at all.
This is a little strange, given how vital this tunneling protocol is for bypassing some of the toughest censorships in Qatar.
Fortunately, it remedies that a little by offering an automatic kill switch across mobile devices, PC units, gaming consoles, streaming devices, and smart units.
It also offers up to 7 simultaneous connections, which is more than both providers on this list.
Although CyberGhost is yet to be audited, it also promises a no-data logging policy. I’m convinced since the company is based in Romania, well out of the Fourteen Eyes jurisdiction and not in any known data-sharing arrangement with Qatar.
Being the only VPN with Qatar remote server locations and having the most extensive server library so far, I’m impressed that CyberGhost keeps its plans affordable.
In fact, you get to test the VPN for up to 45 days risk-free, which is the highest among all the providers I tried.
Still, check these discount deals to save more.
Pros
- 14 Qatari server locations
- 7900+ servers in 91 countries
- Seven simultaneous device connections
- Zero data logs
- Automatic kill switch
Cons
- No P2P support on Qatar servers
- Doesn’t offer obfuscation on mobile devices
PureVPN – Extensive Library for Qatar
PureVPN has a vast reach of 6500+ servers in 78+ countries.
The majority of these are in the Americas and Europe, where you get access to most of the free internet. I don’t see a better way to bypass censorship.
Playing second only to CyberGhost in terms of server count on this list, I was surprised that there aren’t any Qatar servers on PureVPN yet. However, it offers servers in Dubai (of the UAE) which is as close as you may get if you’re looking for local servers.
However, unlike CyberGhost, PureVPN offers obfuscation under “Quantum Resistant” servers. Just beside that are its P2P servers which ensure faster speeds on secure networks, allowing you to bypass Qatar ISP throttling while sharing files securely.
Suppose you need to download large files, share any file securely, or torrent successfully from Qatar. In that case, these P2P servers will come in handy.
If that’s not enough, PureVPN’s kill switch ensures you never have to worry about IP, DNS, or Web RTC leaks.
Once enabled, you can surf the web successfully without Ooredoo, Vodafone, or other local internet service providers finding out what you’re doing online, even if your VPN connection drops.
Overall, speed and server ping transparency are things I love about PureVPN.
If you don’t want the service to automatically assign a server to you, you can check the ping values on all the servers.
I find this helpful in choosing the best server manually from a location (such as the US, Germany, UK, etc.) with multiple servers.
Besides knowing how fast a server is before connecting, PureVPN’s no-logs claims have been audited and validated by KPMG.
Additionally, PureVPN is the only VPN provider with an “Always-On Audit,” which means KPMG can perform a surprise audit anytime.
This shows that the VPN provider will always be at the top of its game to ensure it never fails an audit. So, you can rest assured it won’t have any user data on you to hand over to Qatar police if they ever go calling at PureVPN’s offices.
There’s more.
Suppose you’ve been having issues with your VoIP services like WhatsApp, Telegram, Messenger, Snapchat, Skype, and the likes in Qatar. In that case, PureVPN has specific VoIP-optimised servers to unblock access.
This is something I didn’t see with the rest of the VPN providers.
Plus, whether you’re on the Quantum Resistant servers, VoIP-optimised servers, standard remote servers, or P2P servers, you get the same AES 256-bit encryption protection.
This advanced tunneling tactic is a failsafe against anyone seeing your internet traffic, even if you’re on public Wi-Fi connections.
For all these goodies, PureVPN is one of the best-priced VPN providers.
It even allows you to have up to 10 simultaneous connections on a single subscription.
But you can still save more with exclusive PureVPN deals if you get started today.
Pros
- 6500+ servers across 96+ locations in 78+ countries
- Obfuscated Quantum Resistant servers to bypass censorship
- VoIP-enabled servers to unblock WhatsApp, Skype, Telegram, Messenger, etc.
- Audited zero-logging policy
- Up to 10 simultaneous connections
Cons
- No local Qatar servers
Surfshark – Qatar VPN for Unlimited Connections
Surfshark’s modest library of 3200+ servers in 65+ countries, combined with support for obfuscation and P2P-friendly servers, earns it the final slot on this list.
Again, unlike CyberGhost, you won’t have much luck if you’re looking for a Qatar-based server. Luckily, Surfshark has servers in the United Arab Emirates. They’re close to Qatar, which might get you the same local content.
That said, obfuscation is serious business with Surfshark.
It even designated a Camouflage Mode that’s automatically enabled whenever you use OpenVPN protocols.
Anytime you surf the web in Camouflage Mode, your ISP or government won’t know you’re masking your traffic behind a VPN.
Additionally, Surfshark includes an automatic NoBorders mode which triggers to assign you the best server once it encounters geo-restricted content.
In a region like Qatar, NoBorders Mode means you can surf every part of the internet without manually disconnecting and reconnecting to the best server.
That’s not everything Surfshark does automatically, though.
Enabling the internet kill switch on Surfshark safeguards your identity and internet activity whenever the VPN connection drops.
Once the VPN gets connected again, your internet connection is also restored, meaning no IP or DNS data was leaked to Ooredoo/Vodafone.
On top of that, Surfshark provides P2P-supported servers for faster file sharing, improved speeds, and enhanced security.
Unlike ExpressVPN, though, not all Surfshark servers are P2P-supported. Surfshark also doesn’t support seeding.
Moving on, Surfshark maintains at least 1Gbps speed on every server and optimizes them for up to 10Gbps speed.
These ultra-fast speeds mean that even the slowest servers are still plenty fast. That’s important for moving away from the light protocols and going into Camouflage Mode, which will impact your internet speeds.
However, perhaps the biggest concern with Surfshark is that it’s based in the Netherlands.
On the one hand, the Netherlands is one of the Fourteen Eyes countries sharing intelligence. Even though Qatar isn’t on that list, the Netherlands still has a healthy relationship with Qatar beyond the oil and gas industry.
Fortunately, Surfshark has been audited for its no-logs policy by Cure53. Likewise, the Netherlands doesn’t have robust data retention laws, so it’s less likely they’ll go after the VPN provider anytime soon.
Now, the best part of Surfshark, besides all these premium features, is that it allows unlimited simultaneous connections.
There is no catch either, as the VPN service gives you unlimited bandwidth on all connected units.
It gets better. With these fantastic Surfshark discounts, you can save even more on your initial subscriptions.
Pros
- 3200+ servers in 65+ countries
- Camouflage Mode to escape tough censorships
- NoBorders mode to bypass content geoblocks
- Fast servers with at least 1Gbps of speed
- Unlimited simultaneous connections
Cons
- Based in the Netherlands
- No servers in Qatar
How I Tested My Top 5 VPNs for Qatar
VPNs offer many features and benefits, but they’re not all needed in Qatar.
That’s why I concentrated on the specific benefits that’ll help you:
- Bypass censorship
- Prevent ISP throttling
- Access blocked sites
- Unblock restricted VoIP apps and
- Avoid detection, among other things
Looking at that feature list, I selected the criteria below.
Let’s discuss further.
Speed
ISP throttling in Qatar makes speed a valuable addition to any VPN.
Likewise, since VPNs are known for dropping internet connection speeds, you need one optimized for speed lest the already-throttled internet get even slower.
Fortunately, some VPN providers can help you bypass ISP throttling for faster speeds.
You can save yourself time and choose from my top Qatar VPN, which are already optimised for speed. To test this claim, I compared the VPN speeds from two server locations (the USA and Canada) common to all the VPNs to know which is the fastest.
Before running the tests,
- I took my network connection speed to know the connection drops across these VPN providers (screenshot below)
- I chose the fastest protocols for each VPN provider
- I clicked each country and allowed the VPN to automatically assign its best/fastest server.
The results of my tests can be seen in the table below.
| VPN Provider | Location | Protocol | Ping (ms) | Download speed (Mbps) | Upload speed (Mbps) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | USA | NordLynx | 225 | 12.1 | 4.68 |
| ExpressVPN | USA | Lightway – UDP | 233 | 15.9 | 6.0 |
| CyberGhost | USA | WireGuard | 223 | 14.2 | 8.51 |
| Surfshark | USA | WireGuard | 287 | 14.8 | 6.88 |
| PureVPN | USA | WireGuard | 317 | 7.44 | 4.87 |
| NordVPN | Canada | NordLynx | 231 | 11.0 | 6.51 |
| ExpressVPN | Canada | Lightway – UDP | 247 | 24.6 | 7.12 |
| CyberGhost | Canada | WireGuard | 234 | 10.1 | 6.87 |
| Surfshark | Canada | WireGuard | 248 | 6.68 | 5.31 |
| PureVPN | Canada | WireGuard | 233 | 9.44 | 5.33 |
Unsurprisingly, ExpressVPN was the fastest in both the USA and Canada.
Note that obfuscation is already enabled by default on all servers from this provider. It’s, thus, the most preferred VPN provider if you want to stream content while obfuscating your VPN traffic.
P2P Server Support
P2P servers allow you to torrent securely without your ISP knowing and share other files without interception.
There are laws against torrenting in Qatar, and ISPs can retain data about your internet activity for up to 90 days. So, you’ll need a VPN with P2P servers to torrent and download files securely here.
Likewise, P2P servers are faster for downloading large files.
Since your ISP can’t see you’re torrenting files, they won’t throttle your speeds, contributing to faster download times.
Here, ExpressVPN is the most impressive provider as it offers P2P support on all its servers.
Security
It’s important to choose VPNs that do a good job on security for Qatar.
This way, you’re protected against internet data spoofing, IP/DNS leaks, or your online activity data falling into the government’s hands.
Here are some security features to look out for:
- Internet Kill Switch: These protect your anonymity whenever you lose connection to the VPN remote server so your ISP nor government can deanonymize you.
- Anti-trackers: Malware, ads and cookies can be used to fingerprint your browser, map your internet habits and unravel your identity. Thus, always choose VPNs with anti-tracking software.
- Encryption: Your choice VPN for Qatar should have 256-bit encryption on all servers.
Zero Data Logging
Earlier, I mentioned that Qatari ISPs log your data and can tell what you’ve been doing on the internet for the past 90 days or more. You don’t need such “Big Brother” eyes watching you, so choose a VPN that neither logs your data nor allows your ISP to keep doing so.
Looking at the VPNs I chose, you can find their data logging policies in the table below.
| VPN Provider | No Logs? | Audited By? |
|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | Yes | PwC |
| ExpressVPN | Yes | Cure53 and PwC |
| Surfshark | Yes | Cure53 |
| PureVPN | Yes | Altius IT and KPMG |
| CyberGhost | Yes | None |
Multiple Protocols
You’ll need multiple VPN protocols to use the internet in Qatar.
For example, you’ll need WireGuard (or similar protocols) to browse the web securely/fast or stream content. When bypassing tough censorship, you want obfuscation protocols that don’t trigger VPN traffic alerts.
For reference, the VPNs on my list offer the following protocols:
| VPN Protocols | Supported Protocols |
|---|---|
| NordVPN | NordLynx, OpenVPN (TCP & UDP), IKEv2 |
| ExpressVPN | Lightway (UDP & TCP), IKEv2, OpenVPN (UDP & TCP), L2TP/IPSec |
| Surfshark | WireGuard, OpenVPN (UDP & TCP), IKEv2 |
| CyberGhost | OpenVPN (UDP & TCP), WireGuard, IKEv2 |
| PureVPN | IPSec, WireGuard, OpenVPN (UDP & TCP), IKEv2 |
Multiple Server Locations
If you’re traveling to watch the World Cup 2022 in Qatar, there’s a high chance you’ll still be able to unblock content like home with these VPN providers.
Thus, you can watch CraveTV like you’re in Canada, get Voot like you’re in India or unblock BBC iPlayer outside the UK with ease.
No matter your reason for traveling to Qatar, you’ll retain access to your local banking networks, unblock your Netflix library with ease, and enjoy the unfiltered internet.
Multi-Platform and Multi-User Support
With multi-platform support, you can use your VPN to protect and bypass censorship on your PC units, mobile devices, gaming consoles, and streaming devices.
You can even get a dedicated router app that allows you to broadcast a secure connection to all devices on the router network.
Speaking of connected devices, a single VPN subscription can be used on multiple devices.
For the VPNs I chose, find how many devices you can connect under a single subscription below.
| VPN Provider | Simultaneous Connections |
|---|---|
| ExpressVPN | 5 |
| NordVPN | 6 |
| Surfshark | Unlimited |
| PureVPN | 10 |
| Private Internet Access | 10 |
How to Download and Install a VPN in Qatar?
Qatar doesn’t necessarily block access to VPN websites and platforms.
However, some ISPs may enforce these bans on VPN websites to follow the country’s licensing law.
In that case, try any of the methods below:
- Change your ISP: You can temporarily connect to a Wi-Fi hotspot to download the VPN app. This only works if you switch to an ISP that isn’t blocking access to VPN websites also.
- Use mirror sites: Some VPN providers maintain mirror sites that ISPs don’t block access. Send an email/reach out to the VPN providers on social media to find out what official mirror sites you can download their software from.
- Get the raw file from a friend: You can get those files to install if a trusted friend has the raw apk file (for Android) or program file (for PC). Note that this method isn’t suitable for iOS users who’ll find better luck with other approaches on this list.
Can I Use a Free VPN in Qatar?
Free VPNs offer limited encryption, which doesn’t hide your internet traffic or protect you from ISP throttling. These free VPN providers are also notorious for limited, blacklisted servers, which aren’t suitable for beating geo-blocks and bypassing censorship.
Likewise, most free VPNs limit your bandwidth, leading to throttling issues when that’s what you’re trying to avoid. Add that to the fact your free VPN provider might be harvesting your data for sale to the highest bidder, and you’ll see why they’re a no-go area.
How to Use a VPN in Qatar?
I’ll show you how to use a VPN in Qatar to get around censorship, defeat ISP throttling, and secure your browsing experience.
Use a VPN With Obfuscation in Qatar (PC Guide)
Obfuscation allows you to bypass harsh censorship and hide your VPN traffic.
Here’s how.
- Launch your preferred VPN provider. I used PureVPN for this example.
- Switch to the “Quantum Resistant” servers.
- Select your preferred server location.
- Wait for the connection confirmation message.
- You can now use the web securely.
The steps for using obfuscated servers on other VPN providers are different from those mentioned above.
Find other specific guides below to get started:
For ExpressVPN, obfuscation is supported on all servers and under any protocol while you don’t get any obfuscation with CyberGhost yet.
Use a VPN With Obfuscation on Mobile in Qatar
Using NordVPN, here’s how to enable obfuscation in Qatar
- Launch the NordVPN mobile app.
- Tap on the gear/settings icon on the lower right of the page.
- Select “VPN Connection.”
- Choose “Protocol.”
- Select “OpenVPN (TCP)” or “OpenVPN (UDP).” Note that UDP is faster than TCP.
- Return to the app home page and tap on “Specialty Servers.” Choose “Obfuscated Servers” to automatically connect to the best server. OR
- Choose the three horizontal dots to select your preferred obfuscated server.
Which Websites and Services Are Blocked in Qatar?
Qatar ISPs block services like Gmail, Netflix, and Hotmail.
News websites aren’t spared either, leaving services like BBC, CNN, and Fox News almost inaccessible from Qatar
Likewise, Qatar ISPs are also directed to block access to gambling, pornographic, sexual health, dating, and related websites.
However, they hide under that umbrella to censor online platforms criticizing the government, ban access to entertainment apps, and VoIP services like WhatsApp.
Given the controlling interest of the Qatari government in Ooredoo, one of the two major ISPs in Qatar, blocking these VoIP services allows the government to reap massively from high international call costs.
Even though the internet censorship in Qatar isn’t as severe as in most other Arab regions, this shows it’s concerning enough to need a VPN.
Why Is Your VPN Not Working in Qatar? (Troubleshooting Guide)
If your VPN isn’t working in Qatar, the issues discussed here might be the case.
Check out the Quick Fix box to handle the problem ASAP.
Weak/Free VPN
Free VPNs or paid VPNs with weak encryption won’t help you bypass content or beat geo-restrictions in Qatar.
These VPNs are also limited in server locations and act as proxies rather than a proper VPN.
On top of that, they rarely offer obfuscation and aren’t optimized for speed.
In short, they’re everything you should avoid in a Qatar VPN.
Outdated App
An outdated VPN may contain bugs that prevent it from working well.
Continually update your VPN app as soon as there’s a new version to keep enjoying the best security and bypass censorships.
Blacklisted Server
Some ISPs sign up for VPNs, collect server information and blacklist those servers.
This prevents you from bypassing censorship when connected to such servers.
Choose obfuscated servers to hide your VPN traffic, so it passes through freely.
Alternatively, connect to another available server in the preferred location.
Wrong VPN Protocol
You can surf the web securely with some VPN protocols, but they won’t allow you to bypass strict censorship.
Choose a VPN like NordVPN that supports all standard protocols.
Switch protocols (e.g., from NordLynx to OpenVPN) to bypass stricter restrictions or switch back to enjoy faster internet speeds.
Wrong Setup
Since these VPNs for Qatar also offers browser extensions, you might want to use that instead of the dedicated app. However, browser extensions don’t encrypt your traffic. You don’t get the full suite of features such as obfuscation, P2P servers, and kill switches.
Thus, you can’t get around some restrictions, and your IP/DNS data might leak to your ISP anyway.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are VPNs Allowed in Qatar?
VPNs are neither banned nor illegal in Qatar and can be used by anyone.
Some ISPs block access to VPN websites and platforms, but they’re generally accessible from most ISPs.
Thus, you should never have to worry about running into an incident with the Qatari police for using a VPN.
Which VPN Has Qatar Server?
CyberGhost VPN has 14 server locations in Qatar from where you can unblock access to local banking apps and other location-sensitive platforms.
You can also connect to the Qatari servers to browse the web securely and anonymously while in the country.
Can I Use VPN in Qatar to Unblock TikTok?
You can use VPNs like NordVPN to unblock access to TikTok.
Connecting to NordVPN’s obfuscated servers allows you to bypass local ISP censorship of TikTok. These servers also prevent the social media platform from detecting your VPN traffic, resulting in an account ban.
Likewise, you can use the same obfuscation technology on VPNs like ExpressVPN and Surfshark (Camouflage Mode) to access all TikTok content and features from anywhere in Qatar.
What’s the Best VPN for iPhone in Qatar?
ExpressVPN’s iOS app is bundled with an automatic kill switch, P2P support for fast streaming/file-sharing/downloading, and obfuscated servers to bypass censorship.
The ExpressVPN iOS app is also easy-to-use with a single-click connection mode to the quickest server using an automatically-recommended protocol unless the user sets one.
Is NordVPN Blocked in Qatar?
NordVPN is neither banned nor blocked in Qatar, but some ISPs may limit or restrict access to the VPN provider’s website. In that case, you can still access NordVPN via mirror websites, get the apk/ program file from a friend or connect to another ISP/Wi-Fi hotspot to access NordVPN’s website.
Which VPN Works for WhatsApp in Qatar?
VoIP services like WhatsApp, Telegram, Skype, and Messenger can be unblocked in Qatar using NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or Surfshark.
These VPNs offer obfuscation technology to bypass your ISP’s VPN traffic blocks, access WhatsApp, and make VoIP calls within Qatar.
Now That You Know the Best VPNs for Qatar
It’s time to start enjoying the open internet freely and securely, just as it was designed.
Remember, if you’re ever hard-pressed for a choice of what VPN to go for, NordVPN is the best overall service for Qatar.
Thanks to its fast 5400+ servers in 60+ countries with obfuscation technology and P2P support, you can bypass the most brutal censorship and browse faster.
Complete with simultaneous usage on six devices, you should get started with NordVPN by grabbing these amazing discounts while they last.
