A while ago, I learned that Hotstar is not available in the United Arab Emirates. Needless to say, I was a bit disappointed with this information.
Instead of giving up on the idea, I asked myself, what are my options now?
After trying out a few solutions, I realized that what I need is a reliable VPN provider.
Now, I get access to the full Hotstar library wherever I go, and I want to help you do the same.
For more detailed steps on how to watch Hotstar in UAE, keep reading.
How to Watch Hotstar in UAE [Short Answer]
Watch Hotstar in the United Arab Emirates by following these simple steps:
- Choose a reliable VPN, and create an account.
- Install the VPN to your devices.
- Log in with your VPN username and password.
- Connect to an Indian server.
- Open Hotstar and start streaming from anywhere in the world.
Things You Need to Have Before You Start
To make this whole process a bit easier, make sure that you have all of the following things before we start:
- Hotstar account
- VPN account and VPN software on your devices
- The VPN should have Indian servers
- Reliable internet connection
If you don’t have a VPN yet and don’t know which one to choose, check below for some of the best VPN choices for the United Arab Emirates.
Watching Hotstar in UAE in Four Easy Steps
Apart from India, you can also watch a portion of Hotstar’s content in the US, the UK, or Canada.
Except for these few countries, Hotstar is unavailable around the world.
VPNs mask your real IP address, they secure your internet connection, and they can unblock Hotstar and other geo-restricted content.
So, to watch Hotstar in the United Arab Emirates, you only have to use the right VPN server.
Follow these quick steps, and you’ll gain access to premium content in less than 5 minutes:
- Open the VPN app or VPN client.
- Sign in with your credentials.
- Choose an Indian VPN server.
- Open Hotstar and start streaming.
If you still can’t use Hotstar, try a different India-based server, if available.
You can also try with a US server, a UK one, or a Canada VPN server. Just keep in mind that with these, you won’t get access to the entire Hotstar content library.
Best VPNs for Watching Hotstar in UAE
Pick your VPN carefully.
Some VPN services are way better than others, and you need a good one for streaming Hotstar in the UAE.
Here are my top VPN choices for Hotstar.
NordVPN
With NordVPN, you get top-notch quality for an affordable price.
The VPN provider is great for streaming Hotstar for many reasons. The main one is that it’s incredibly secure, and it works great when it comes to unblocking streaming service providers.
NordVPN comes with a full set of features, including a kill switch, and more than 5.500 servers in around 60 countries, including India.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is one of the leaders on the VPN market, and it’s a well-deserved title. The provider is very secure, privacy-friendly, and fast.
It currently covers 94 countries, with VPN servers in over 160 different locations.
Despite being a bit more expensive than other VPNs on this list, with ExpressVPN, you’ll get the full Hotstar streaming experience in the UAE.
Surfshark
When you are new on the market, and you are competing against well-renewed VPN providers, you need to step up your game.
That’s what I really like about Surfshark.
For a short time, this provider became one of my favorites because of its many advanced features and reasonable price.
It’s also a big plus that Surfshark has servers in India.
So, no matter where you are traveling to or residing in, you can still stream Hotstar.
CyberGhost
With over 6.000 servers in 90 countries around the world, CyberGhost is another VPN I’d gladly recommend.
Thanks to its advanced security and no-logs policy, CyberGhost is an excellent choice for the UAE.
It’s one of my favorites when it comes to streaming, mainly because of the server coverage and the reliable speeds.
Plus, it works with Hotstar.
If you want to give it a try, you’d be happy to hear that CyberGhost comes with a 24-hour free trial.
VyprVPN
Last but not least is VyprVPN.
In my personal opinion, VyprVPN is slightly underrated, especially when it comes to streaming.
Despite the fact that it has less servers than NordVPN, the service provider owns and manages its own servers, which gives it an advantage in terms of speed.
It also has a proprietary protocol, called Chameleon that really comes in handy for countries with strict internet policies.
VyprVPN works with Hotstar, and it’s one of the best VPNs for the United Arab Emirates.
An Alternative Solution: Using SmartDNS
There is another way to watch Hotstar outside of India.
You can use a SmartDNS instead of a VPN.
A lot of people mix these two because they can both be helpful with geo-restrictions.
Still, a SmartDNS is a different type of service that mainly serves to change your location, but it does not offer any online security whatsoever.
It is, however, a faster option and easier to set up.
Personally, I prefer VPNs because they offer security and privacy, and that is a big plus for me, even if it means slower speed.
Still, if you favor speed over security, next time you are traveling to Dubai, set up a SmartDNS service on your device, change your Hotstar DNS Settings, and enjoy your premium content.
Why Can’t I Watch Hotstar in UAE?
Hotstar is unavailable in other countries due to licensing issues.
Since Hotstar is an Indian service provider, you can’t watch it outside of India, just like many other streaming services, for example, Hulu in the US or BBC iPlayer in the UK.
So, to watch it in the UAE, you will need a VPN.
And don’t worry, as long as you don’t do anything illegal, using a VPN to stream content in the UAE is completely safe.
Why Use the Indian Version of Hotstar?
At the beginning of this guide, I mentioned that Hotstar is available in three other countries, apart from India.
So when you want to access Hotstar in the UAE, you can choose between servers in the US, the UK, Canada, or India.
My advice is to choose the Indian version of Hotstar because of two very important reasons – it’s cheaper, and it comes with a full content library.
If the language barrier is what you are worried about, you’d be happy to know that most of Hotstar’s content comes with English subtitles.
Conclusion
If you are a frequent traveler, an avid streamer, or you enjoy good Bollywood drama, getting a VPN to watch Hotstar outside of India is a must.
I mentioned a few VPN services that you can try risk-free, although my personal favorite when it comes to geo-restrictions is NordVPN. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you should give it a try for yourself.
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