Country-specific VPN guides for expats living and working abroad.
Is Skype blocked in UAE? Yes — Skype calling is blocked in the UAE alongside WhatsApp, FaceTime, and all other VoIP services. The UAE’s telecoms duopoly (Etisalat/e& and Du) blocks all internet-based voice and video calling to protect their paid international calling revenue. This guide explains exactly what is blocked, what still works, and how…
WhatsApp still not working in Qatar after trying a VPN? If you’ve already read the basics, see our main WhatsApp blocked in Qatar guide first. If you haven’t and calls are still failing, the problem is almost always that your VPN isn’t using obfuscation. Qatar’s deep packet inspection (DPI) doesn’t just block VoIP traffic directly;…
Best VPN for expats in Nigeria — Nigeria is West Africa’s largest economy and its biggest expat hub, with a substantial international community of British, American, European, and other expats across Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and the oil-producing Niger Delta. Nigeria has banned Twitter/X for seven months, restricted social media, monitors online activity, and has…
Best VPN for expats in Ethiopia — Ethiopia has one of the world’s worst records for deliberate internet shutdowns. The government routinely orders complete internet blackouts during elections, protests, conflicts, and exams — sometimes for weeks or months at a time. Social media platforms are blocked, VoIP is restricted, and surveillance is widespread. For the…
Best VPN for expats in Azerbaijan — Azerbaijan is a growing expat destination, particularly for energy sector professionals, diplomats, and business expats in Baku. The country restricts VoIP calling services, blocks social media platforms, conducts surveillance of online activity, and has intensified content filtering in recent years. For the international community in Baku and across…
Best VPN for expats in Uzbekistan — Uzbekistan has the most open internet environment in Central Asia, but still restricts VoIP calling, blocks some social media platforms, monitors online activity, and operates an extensive surveillance infrastructure. For diplomats, business expats, NGO workers, and the growing international community in Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara, the best VPN…
Best VPN for expats in Tajikistan — Tajikistan operates one of Central Asia’s most restrictive internet environments. The government blocks social media platforms, restricts VoIP calling, conducts widespread surveillance, and periodically orders internet shutdowns during sensitive political periods. For diplomats, NGO workers, development professionals, and the small but growing expat community in Dushanbe, the best…
Best VPN for digital nomads in Bangkok — Bangkok is Southeast Asia’s largest city and one of the region’s most popular bases for digital nomads, long-stay expats, and remote workers. Sukhumvit, Silom, and the riverside areas offer excellent coworking infrastructure, fast internet, world-class food, and affordable living by global standards. But Thailand blocks thousands of…
Best VPN for digital nomads in Bali — Bali is the world’s most famous digital nomad destination, and Canggu, Seminyak, and Ubud attract tens of thousands of remote workers every year. With excellent coworking infrastructure, affordable living, and warm weather year-round, Bali is the benchmark nomad base in Southeast Asia. But Indonesia actively blocks thousands…
Best VPN for digital nomads in Da Nang — Da Nang has rapidly established itself as Vietnam’s top digital nomad city, combining fast and affordable internet, a beautiful beachfront, a lower cost of living than Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi, and a growing coworking scene in the An Thuong and My Khe beach districts….
