Picture this: you’re in Saudi Arabia and you want to access a website or use an app that’s been blocked. Frustrating, right?
Although this country banned Whatsapp, and Viber, along with other social media platforms and sites with content that’s deemed offensive like porn, VPNs are legal in Saudi Arabia.
And with them, you can bypass censorship or unblock features on these restricted services.
But here’s the catch – some users have reported that they get an error message when they try to use a VPN on restricted websites in Saudi Arabia. 
Don’t worry, though.
This problem is like a puzzle waiting to be solved, and we’ve got just the right pieces to help you out.
Does Saudi Arabia block VPNs?
No, Saudi Arabia does not block VPNs.
That being said, it’s not acceptable to use VPNs to mask illegal activities.
In Saudi Arabia, it’s illegal to criticize the government online, gamble on unauthorized sites, and even use WhatsApp for VoIP.
Not only that, the country does not support pornographic sites and blocked over 600,000 in the past.
So, even though VPNs aren’t blocked in Saudi Arabia, using them to bypass these blocks can result in fines and even jail time, depending on the offense.
Now, since the country doesn’t officially block VPNs, why do some services not work? Most likely, because of improper configurations.
Luckily for you, we looked into it and found the best ways to get around this issue.
How to fix your VPN when it’s not working it’s not working in Saudi Arabia
We found and tested methods to fix this problem. Below are those that actually work. If the first one doesn’t work, we advise trying out a few.
1. Try a different server
The server you’re using might be locked out or experiencing some technical issue or many people may be using it
The best thing to do in this situation is to switch to a different server. Follow the steps below to switch to a different server.
- Launch your VPN app.
- Click the ellipsis to open the server list.
- Chose a server in any region or country that supports the service you wish to use.
- Check if the VPN is working. At this point, a blocked app like WhatsApp should work.
2. Clear your browser cookies
Cookies save your browser activities and login information. Because of them, websites not supported in Saudi Arabia may discover your actual location and block you from accessing their services.
So, try clearing your cache and cookies and then reconnecting to your VPN. This can help resolve any regional conflicts that may be affecting your VPN connection.
To clear cookies on Chrome:
- Open your Chrome browser and click on the three dots icon.
- Hover your mouse on the More tool and select Clear browsing data.
- Select the checkboxes for Cached images and files Cookies and other site data.
- Choose All time for the time range, then click on Clear data.
- Go on to enjoy unlimited access to the web, even on services that are normally blocked, like Tinder.
Although the guide above is for Google Chrome, the steps work the same for all browsers.
3. Update your VPN client
An older version of a VPN may have bugs that are likely to reduce the performance of the application. Therefore, updating to a recent model of a VPN provider would improve its overall workings.
To update your VPN:
- Launch your VPN app and check for an update prompt or button.
- Click on it and wait for a new version to download.
- Restart the VPN.
- Check back to the website and app to see if you can now get access.
Note that for some VPN providers, you may have to visit their official website to get an updated version of the VPN app.
4. Change your VPN provider
If your VPN isn’t still not working after trying all the methods above, then you should consider changing your VPN provider.
Our choice is NordVPN. It uses 256-bit military-grade encryption and has over 5000 servers worldwide.
- Subscribe to NordVPN.
- Download and install the Nord VPN app.
- Click on the short downward arrow beside the flash icon to access the server list.
- Go online and check your IP or try to access a blocked site. If your IP address is the one provided by your VPN, it’s working.
There are a few VPNs that have been tested and found to work well in Saudi Arabia. Read on to get a list of them.
NordVPN
Browse the web freely with this unblockable VPN for Saudi Arabia!Best VPNs to use in Saudi Arabia
Although VPNs are legal in Saudi Arabia, not all VPN services work well in the region due to the heavy restriction by the government. However, we’ve found these VPNs to be the best for Saudia Arabia.
- NordVPN: 5,600+ servers, works well in unblocking streaming sites, and has strong security features.
- PIA: Servers across 84 countries including Saudi Arabia and can help you access Hulu, Whatsapp, and Tinder.
- ExpressVPN: Extremely fast connections and untraceable AES-256-bit encryption.
- Surfshark: 3200 servers in 100 countries, good at bypassing geo-blocked websites
- CyberGhost: Provides more than 9700 servers across 91 countries and is high in security and privacy.
Summary
With the Saudi Arabian government’s strict regulation of the use of the internet, VPN remains a very important tool for internet users in the country.
However, it’s crucial to understand the local laws and regulations and to use VPNs in Saudi Arabia responsibly and legally.
Take note that your VPN not working in Saudi Arabia could simply be a result of the VPN provider you are using, and not necessarily because of the cyber laws.
