Is VPN Legal in Saudi Arabia? The Fine Line Between Privacy and Penalties
Middle Easterners are no strangers to content censorship for obvious geopolitical reasons. But each day, these censorships and restrictions are getting more moderate, especially in some Arab countries, particularly in Saudi Arabia. Yet, access to some vital services, such as VoIP, which is basically voice or video calling, is restricted. Fortunately, users can legally get […]
Table of Contents
Protect your online privacy and security
Fast, private, and easy to use, get Hidzo on your device and browse freely with one tap.
Get HidzoVPN
Middle Easterners are no strangers to content censorship for obvious geopolitical reasons. But each day, these censorships and restrictions are getting more moderate, especially in some Arab countries, particularly in Saudi Arabia. Yet, access to some vital services, such as VoIP, which is basically voice or video calling, is restricted. Fortunately, users can legally get past these restrictions in Saudi Arabia, using a trustworthy VPN service provider.
What are the VPN laws in KSA?
The short answer is that using a VPN is not against the law, but it’s how or why you use it that can get you in trouble. The Anti-Cyber Crime Law in Saudi Arabia doesn’t ban using VPN outright, but sheds light on cyber crimes, penalties, and fines. To put your mind at ease, we have summarized the legal and illegal use cases of VPN in Saudi Arabia.
Legal Use Cases of VPN in Saudi Arabia
As long as you’re using a VPN for the following purposes, you’re not breaking any laws.
- Remote access: Multinational companies in Saudi Arabia use VPN services for international operations and remote work.
- Research and education: Some professionals, like researchers and students, use VPN to access sources that might be banned due to the laws of Sharia or other reasons.
- Online transactions: The built-in encryption in VPN connections makes banking transactions more secure and private.
- Public networks: Using a VPN on public networks minimizes the chance of attacks on your private data.
- Casual low-risk browsing: You can use a VPN to access geo-blocked content in KSA, as long as it doesn’t violate any policies or harm anyone.
Illegal Use Cases of VPN in Saudi Arabia
With or without a VPN, if your online activities lead to any of the following, you may face serious punishments, including a jail sentence.
- Financial crimes: Using a VPN for illicit access to banking or credit data to obtain funds or information.
- System sabotage: Using a VPN to infiltrate databases, websites, etc., and disturb their functionality.
- Causing threats: Using a VPN to violate other people’s privacy or jeopardize internal or external state security.
- Violating Sharia laws: Using a VPN to access content prohibited by the laws of Sharia.
Best VPNs for Internet Users in KSA
This is just a quick peek into the vast VPN market. The following VPN providers are shortlisted here based on two factors: 1) usefulness for everyday VPN needs, and 2) affordability.
The following table compares four VPN service providers that are competing shoulder to shoulder on these two grounds. Among these providers, HidzoVPN offers unrestricted internet access for just $2.99 in the HidzoVPN Premium plan. In other words, you don’t need to buy an annual or three-year subscription to get good prices.
| Feature | HidzoVPN | Surfshark | CyberGhost | Private Internet Access (PIA VPN) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price (Long-Term Plan) | $2.99 monthly plan | $1.99/month (2-year plan) | $2.03/month (2-year plan) | $2.03/month (3-year plan) |
| Simultaneous Connections | Up to 5 devices | Unlimited | Up to 7 | Unlimited |
| Protocols Supported | Vless XTLS TCP (smart) | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 (limited on Android) | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IPSec |
| Key Security Features | + Smart protocol + Obfuscated servers (Camouflage mode + Kill switch + Strict no-log policy | + AES-256 encryption + Kill switch + Obfuscated servers + Split tunneling + RAM-only servers | + AES-256 encryption + Kill switch + NoSpy servers (in-house) + Split tunneling + Audited no-logs policy + RAM-only servers | + AES-128/256 encryption + Kill switch + Obfuscated servers + Split tunneling + Audited no-logs policy + Open-source apps + RAM-only servers |
There are many more reputable VPN providers not listed here. If you’re looking for a feature not listed above, you can study VPN reviews to familiarize yourself with other VPN providers to see which one serves your needs.
Why You Need a VPN in Saudi Arabia?
Access to some useful online features or services is restricted in KSA. This restriction is either enforced by state laws or the service provider’s policies. For instance, you can’t use the calling feature on popular messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram.
Some of these restrictions are posed by the service owner. For instance, Max or Hulu are not officially available in KSA, and users need to connect to VPN servers in countries where these streaming platforms offer their services.
Other than the above reasons, which apply to the context of Saudi Arabia, you might need a VPN for the following reasons, too.
- Preventing bandwidth throttling imposed by the ISP on certain activities.
- Protecting your online privacy from ISP monitoring or hacker attacks.
- Securing remote access for professional purposes.
- Safety of data transfer over public networks.
Online Red Lines in KSA
Saudi Arabia is a developing country, and it’s developing fast, but religion still has a strong presence in governmental laws. This means that, in addition to the red lines any state might define for VPN users, there are other things to consider in KSA.
Aside from fraudulent activities, the online red lines are thick when it comes to any content related to LGBTQ+ rights, including dating apps like Tinder. Also, producing or sharing any content regarding a governmental scandal or anything that might distort the social order and cause upheaval is not tolerated.
FAQs
Generally, using a VPN is legal in KSA as long as it’s not used for criminal or fraudulent activities or for access to content prohibited by Sharia laws.
No, fines are not applied for lawful VPN usage; penalties are enforced only for misuse, such as facilitating cybercrimes or accessing prohibited content.
Yes. Given that you’re using a reputable VPN, it’s safe for business applications, such as secure remote access and data protection.
