Using a VPN for criminal activities or any other illegal purposes can result in a hefty fine of up to AED 2 million. According to Article 10 of the United Arab Emirates Cyber Law, those who misuse VPNs can face prison sentences and a fine of between 500,000 and 2 million dirhams. VPNs are also used to access restricted content, such as dating websites, gambling, pornography, drugs and VoIP, among others. Nord Security reported that as content restrictions increase, so does the demand for VPN services in the Gulf region.
In fact, demand for VPNs in the United Arab Emirates grew by 36 percent, indicating an increasing number of Internet users accessing banned content. Recently, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority issued a press release clarifying that there are no regulations that prevent companies, institutions and banks from using VPNs to access internal networks via the Internet. However, residents and expatriates in the United Arab Emirates are reminded that the misuse of virtual private networks (VPNs) can be punishable by a fine of up to AED 2 million.
