Living online in the Gulf region largely resembles online life throughout most of the world — until it doesn’t. Just one “innocent” posting, one “harmless” VPN, or one “careless” re-post can land you in trouble with some of the world’s most draconian laws for residents and even visitors of the UAE and Saudi Arabia. This is exactly the type of trouble that Dacmaf has encountered while studying the internet use in these two countries. In this guide, you will find out what is legal and illegal, and the potential costs of illegal internet use in the UAE and Saudi Arabia — all without the use of scare tactics or legal jargon, just the plain facts for the year 2026.
Digital Laws and Their Importance in the Gulf
The UAE and Saudi Arabia both consider the online world an extension of the real world. Therefore, the online world is not an unregulated and lawless space, and the same standards are applied to speech, privacy, and conduct in the online and offline worlds. In fact, the penalties for online violations are typically more severe, as violations of the offline world are more difficult to rectify. Much like the internet in the Gulf, Dacmaf has identified that most violations were not intentional, and therefore it is important to have some understanding of the legal limitations of various apps, posts, and downloads, as this article aims to provide.
Dacmaf knows that knowing the law is necessary for every situation. That’s what makes their service so valuable. With Dacmaf you can be sure you know the law before you need to know the law.
Whether you are an expat starting a new life in Dubai, a business owner with a team in Riyadh, or a traveler who wants to follow the soccer scores, you need to know the law.
UAE Cybercrime Law: Information for VPNs and Average Users
As of January 2022, the UAE’s cybercrime regulations are centered around their Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 on Combating Rumours and Cybercrimes, which replaces the 2012 version. The law contains regulations on everything from hacking and online fraud to defamation, fake news, and the misuse of VPNs.
Most people are surprised to learn that the UAE does not make accessing and using a VPN illegal. There are many legit uses for VPNs. Among those is protection from public Wi-Fi, removable access to company networks, protection from trackers, and more. VPNs do have their limits, however. VPNs can not be used for fraud, crimes, or to hide an IP address for the purpose of accessing gambling and pirating sites.
Dacmaf has organized the centralized figures for penalties in the UAE so that you understand the possible ramifications of your actions.
.UAE Quick-Fact Box.
- Minimum six months and a fine ranging from AED 300,000 to 500,000 for unauthorized access to systems and codes or to passwords
- Manipulation of an IP address for the commission of a crime or to conceal the commission of a crime carries a fine ranging from AED 500,000 to 2,000,000
- AED 50,000 to 200,000 for the creation of a false website to carryout fraudulent activities (up to AED 2,000,000 if a government entity is targeted)
- Up to AED 1,000,000 for interception of private data or communications, and more severe punishments apply if government systems are involved
- AED 150,000 to 2,000,000 for online insults, defamation, or privacy violations, with the additional possible sanction of deportation for expatriates.
The amendment of 2026 made the situation worse. Courts are now compelled to order deportation for foreigners convicted for serious cybercrimes of a fraudulent nature, including serious impairment of privacy, and any device used to commit the crime will be confiscated. The penalties are also doubled if a minor is the victim. The takeaway for Dacmaf is that the UAE is not attempting to prevent the free use of the internet; it is attempting to prevent and punish harmful activities.
Saudi Arabia’s Anti-Cyber Crime Law: The VPN Grey Zone
The Anti-Cyber Crime Law dictates how Saudi Arabia navigates this issue. Similar to the UAE, there is no outright ban on VPNs. Within the Kingdom, VPNs are used to conduct business, and researchers and students are known to use VPNs to access resources. Things get complicated when users attempt to circumvent content restrictions and access forbidden websites using VPNs, or when users try to avoid services that the Kingdom has deemed to be a concern for national security.
Dacmaf has noted that Article 3 of this law has generated a lot of uncertainty. To clarify, the law dictates that accessing a network without permission, or using a VPN to access blocked content, or surreptitiously intercepting information will all fall under Article 3, and the penalties are severe.
Saudi Arabia Quick-Fact Box
- Bypassing restrictions by accessing blocked websites or using a VPN will incur fines that can go up to Sar 500,000, or even Sar 1,000,000 in some cases, along with a possible one year prison sentence
- Accessing data or systems without authorization will incur a fine of Sar 500,000 and/or a prison sentence of one year
- The illegal deletion and/or changing and/or exposing of personal data and/or the disruption of an information system will incur a fine of Sar 3,000,000 and/or a prison sentence of four years
- The production and/or the storage of materials that are in violation of the public order, shown disrespect for the religious values, or violate the privacy of individuals, will incur a fine of Sar 3,000,000 and/or a prison sentence of five years
- For expats, serious crimes would almost guarantee deportation and a life ban from entry to Saudi Arabia
What Dacmaf always tells its readers is that all Saudi Arabian ISPs use Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) technology. They use this to identify VPN traffic. Saudi Arabian ISPs also refresh blocked server addresses on a daily basis. This means that a VPN that worked one day may not work the next. Forcing a connection in this case would not be a mere technical inconvenience, and would be a legal risk. When it comes to corporate activities, Dacmaf’s legal guidance recommends that strictly work related activities is the safest approach.
Most people discuss the law on cybercrime, but data protection laws are extremely crucial, especially to businesses. The Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) brought by the UAE’s Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021, has introduced terms and conditions for the collection, storage, and transfer of personal data by businesses. The law has given people the right to access, edit, delete, and refuse their data being used for direct marketing and automated profiling. Businesses on the mainland of the UAE have to notify the relevant authorities of a data breach (which is currently interpreted to mean within 72 hours) and have to conduct a formal risk assessment for data processing on a large scale (such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools) or for data protection and surveillance technologies. This is within the jurisdiction of their Federal Authority for Artificial Intelligence and Data protection, which has recently been formed.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has a similar PDPL to the one in the UAE, which governs the processing of personal data done in the KSA, or the personal data of the KSA residents, regardless of where the processing organization is located. This law coexists with the controls of the National Cybersecurity Authority and the sector-specific regulations issued by the Saudi Central Bank for financial data, and the Communications, Security, and Technology (CST) for telecommunications and cloud services.
Dacmaf has simple advice for individuals: try reading what you are signing, if only briefly. Most people do not know that both countries have given them real and enforceable rights to their personal data.
Overview of Fines and Penalties
Dacmaf placed the main numbers next to each other in order to facilitate comparison:
| Offense Type | UAE | Saudi Arabia |
| Illegal VPN usage | AED 500,000 to 2,000,000 | SAR 500,000 to 1,000,000 |
| Accessing systems without permission | AED 100,000 to 500,000 | Up to SAR 500,000 |
| Leaking information or Interrupting system operation | Up to AED 1,000,000 | Up to SAR 3,000,000 |
| Cyber Slander / Violation of Privacy | AED 150,000 to 2,000,000 | Up to SAR 500,000 |
| Serious Crimes for Expats | Likely Deportation | Deportation and Entry Ban |
Since these numbers change with updates, use them as a general reference, not as a guarantee for courtroom usage, and for anything more than casual internet use, Dacmaf suggests consulting with a local attorney who is authorized to practice.
How to Legally Access the Internet in the UAE and Saudi Arabia
You won’t be forced to walk on eggshells around your devices and the laws of UAE and Saudi Arabia. Dacmaf’s list of tips and tricks:
- VPNs are great for privacy, security, and working remotely. Just don’t use it to bypass laws, rules, and regulations.
- Avoid posting accident photos or videos, or anything that was filmed in a private setting without consent.
- Avoid making remarks that can be taken as criticism of the government, comments of a religious nature, or anything that can be interpreted as defamation, even in private chats.
- Ensure compliance to the laws of the UAE and Saudi Arabia governing the handling of personal data, especially the PDPL.
- Never use accounts, devices, or anything that requires login and passwords, without consent of the owner, even as a prank to your friends.
- If you are unsure about an application or a website, rather check if it is still legal to use as compared to assuming the rules for the previous year.
Dacmaf designed this guide to effectively address the gap between what is assumed to be acceptable and what is enforced. Once you know the laws and regulations governing the countries, there is nothing that can prevent you anormal day of browsing, streaming, or working remotely.
Most Frequently Asked Questions by Dacmaf Clients
Is it against the law to have an app for VPN installed on a phone in Dubai or Riyadh?
No, you can own or buy a VPN app in either country. The research done by Dacmaf indicates that they enforce the law based on the VPN activities not the app’s presence on the device.
Can a VPN be used by a tourist or is user VPN at risk during a short visit?
Theoretically, a tourist can be penalized for VPN use as the law applies to all persons in the country. In practice, casual tourist use for streaming a subscription or checking a banking app rarely draws attention. The risk rises significantly if the VPN is used to access explicitly blocked categories of content.
Does use of a corporate VPN for remote work expose employees to risk?
Not if the VPN is used for work purposes. Both the UAE and Saudi Arabia recognize use of business VPN for remote work as valid. However, Dacmaf advises employees to limit personal use of business VPN to avoid any work-related risk.
If a company data leak occurs in the UAE or Saudi Arabia, what are the consequences?
As per PDPL of both countries, the company is obligated to notify the data breach and it will be subjected to penalties. As a concerned citizen you can file a complaint with the respective authority and Dacmaf highly encourages you to do so.
Do Penalties Differ for Citizens and Expats?
The primary infractions and penalties apply generally. However, expats may face a penalty not generally experienced by citizens, namely deportation and a ban on reentry for serious offenses. For this reason, Dacmaf strongly urges expats to remain on the right side of the law.
A Note on the Importance of Staying Current
Laws and regulations concerning digital technology can change rapidly. For example, in 2026 the UAE revised its cybercrime laws and Saudi Arabia updated its enforcement of its cybercrime laws. What may have been a gray area in the law a year ago may now be either fully legal or subject to severe penalties. For Dacmaf, this article, like all of its articles, should be considered a starting point for research, not a final or complete statement. Laws are revised, penalties are updated, and enforcement customs are updated based on the priorities of the regulating authorities each year.
Most importantly for businesses, this creates the need for regular and ongoing compliance, versus one-time check. Internally assigning the responsibility for following updates and changes from the Federal Authority for Artificial Intelligence and Data and Saudi Arabia’s CST and the National Cybersecurity Authority will help. Dacmaf has seen many businesses and organizations compliant with the law, fall prey to its changes simply by assuming there would be no material updates within the year.
Conclusion
Unlike other countries, the UAE and Saudi Arabia don’t seem interested in keeping their citizens offline. On the contrary, they want to encourage accountability and responsibility regarding how the citizens use the internet. To that concern, the laws they implement are reflective. Having a VPN isn’t a problem. Using a VPN to cover up illegal acts poses one. Having a private opinion isn’t defamation. Having a private opinion and making it public, especially when directed to a specific individual, can be. Most of the time, it doesn’t relate to the tool or thing itself. It relates to how it was used, and what the implications are.
Dacmaf will continue to follow how the UAE and Saudi Arabia develop their data protection laws and cybercrime policies and other laws regarding the internet and data. Currently, the best and safest way to use the internet is to use it for its intended purpose of communication and gaining access to useful information.
This article is intended to provide you with information and is not intended to provide you with legal opinions. If you think something you do may expose you to legal problems, you should contact a lawyer that is licensed to practice in the UAE or Saudi Arabia.
