Dammam is one of the most populated cities in Saudi Arabia and the capital of the entire Eastern province. In addition, it is one of the triplet cities of Saudi (DMA), including Alkhobar and Dhahran.
As Dhahran is considered an administrative center for Saudi’s oil industry, Dammam shares equal responsibility and plays a crucial role in the administration section of the oil industry.
Damman is known for its breathtaking landmarks, famous tourist destination, and international business hub. Even though Dammam is ahead in technology and livelihood, internet censorship is still prevalent.
Compared to religious places such as Mecca and Medina, there is some relaxation regarding internet censorship in Dammam. However, many websites and media content are filtered or banned because of Saudi’s censorship policy.
People who don’t abide by government-set policies are prone to heavy fines and potential imprisonment. During our trip to Dammam, we had issues using VoIP services on apps such as Skype, Facebook, Facetime, and WhatsApp.
To gain access to this locked content, we tried several techniques and found VPN to be the most reliable and uncomplicated. However, Dammam’s internet censorship restricted most VPNs available on the market. So, we started looking out for the best VPNs that can function well in Dammam, and here are they;
VPN for Dammam
ExpressVPN
| Servers | 3000+ servers in 160 countries |
| Simultaneous connections | Up to 5 devices |
| Encryption | 256-bit AES encryption |
| Supported Protocols | Lightway, OpenVPN, IKEv2, L2TP/IPsec |
| Compatibility | Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, iOS, Android, etc. |
ExpressVPN has performed consistently in all the cities of Saudi Arabia we have visited. We have considered ExpressVPN as the priority in countries such as Saudi, as it can perform exceptionally while handling all the restrictions effectively.
On our trip to Dammam, we paired our devices to the standard Wi-Fi networks and noticed impressive network speeds. However, websites and OTT content filtering restrictions are done on a significant scale.
The main reason behind locking content in Dammam is ISP regulations. These regulations depend on Saudi’s internet censorship policies, and as per our observation, the intensity varies according to the city.
Upon successfully setting up ExpressVPN on our devices in Dammam, we have done the speed test to notice the speed drop. The results were similar to the other cities, with around a 3-4% speed drop which is impressive, and as a result, watching hi-res content and downloading files was never a concern.
ExpressVPN stable servers helped us by unlocking some restricted websites and filtered OTT content, but the severely restricted websites are not yet unlockable.
Regarding ExpressVPN servers, the worth-mentioning feature is Smart Location, which aims to automatically provide a stable and closest server connection to the user during startup and network instabilities.
ExpressVPN’s IP Masking and dedicated IP support helped us stay anonymous on the web. As a result, the overall monitoring is reduced, resulting in enhanced privacy.
ExpressVPN’s AES-256 encryption and updated security protocols provided excellent security while on the web. From the different security protocols, we suggest using Lightway VPN as it supports incredible network speeds and consumes less battery on all platforms.
The no-log policy of ExpressVPN is promising as every activity of ours is kept private and secure. There are no complaints regarding performance; however, the support for five simultaneous device connections is less than other VPNs in its segment.
Besides the expensive plans, customer support, usable interface, and multi-platform compatibility are value additions.
  NordVPN
| Servers | 5400+ servers in 60 countries |
| Simultaneous connections | Up to 6 devices |
| Encryption | 256-bit AES encryption |
| Supported Protocols | NordLynx, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec |
| Compatibility | Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, iOS, Android, etc. |
Speaking of the most prominent and best-rated VPNs, we can see NordVPN being brought up and discussed frequently. For us, NordVPN provided promising results in all cities of Saudi with impressive performance and extreme reliability.
All the standard Wi-Fi networks offered in Dammam are fast and secure, but the biggest concern is the geographically locked content. The reason behind the ISPs of Dammam blocking content is due to Saudi’s strict internet censorship policy.
At Dammam, we were constantly monitored while using the standard Wi-Fi network, and to prevent this, we paired our devices with NordVPN. While performing the speed tests, we noticed that the overall drop is around 3-4% and competes with ExpressVPN.
With the minimal drop, there were no issues while streaming hi-res content and downloading large files. In addition, NordVPN unlocked a large part of the geographically locked content, but the heavily restricted content by the government isn’t accessible.
The servers of NordVPN are promising, with impressive stability and extraordinary network speeds. One of the reliable features that are associated with NordVPN is the Auto-connect support. This feature serves the user by assisting with automatic server picking during instabilities and startup.
Anonymity was never a matter of concern while using NordVPN, as the IP Masking and Dedicated IP support helped us stay anonymous on the web resulting in reduced monitoring.
The 256-bit AES encryption and updated security protocols of NordVPN helped us stay secure on the web. We have preferred using NordLynx security protocol, as it is built on WireGuard VPN protocol and consumes less battery with impressive network speeds.
The most reliable and noteworthy Threat protection feature of NordVPN enhanced our overall security on the web by protecting us from the ad trackers and malware hidden on the web in real-time.
NordVPN’s no log policy keeps all your web surfing activity secure and private. In addition, NordVPN prevents FVEY monitoring resulting in outstanding privacy.
With NordVPN’s multi-platform compatibility support, we could successfully set up NordVPN on all our devices. We are happy with the quick and reliable customer support of NordVPN; however, we had issues navigating the home interface on iOS and Android.
There are no significant drawbacks, but it would have been better if NordVPN offered more simultaneous device support for such expensive plans.
Surfshark VPN
| Servers | 3200+ servers in 100 countries |
| Simultaneous connections | Unlimited device connections |
| Encryption | 256-bit AES encryption |
| Supported Protocols | OpenVPN, IKEv2, and WireGuard |
| Compatibility | Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, iOS, Android, etc. |
Surfshark VPN has been our best pick as an affordable VPN, and we are pleased with its features. We consider Surfshark VPN an all-rounder as it offers most of the features a prominent VPN offers at an affordable price. Even though there are many affordable VPNs, we have never seen them function as well as Surfshark VPN.
At Dammam, we are pleased with the standard Wi-Fi networks as they are secure and fast. However, due to Saudi’s internet censorship policy, the ISPs of Dammam block most of the online content, including many prominent websites and OTT platforms.
To check the potential of Surfshark VPN in Dammam, we have performed the speed test before and after pairing our devices. On comparing the results, we noticed the network speed drop by 7-8%, which is enormous, but it never concerned us as we had no issues streaming and downloading content.
Surfshark VPN successfully unlocked restricted websites and filtered OTT content in Dammam. However, Dammam’s highly-restricted geographically locked content couldn’t be accessed.
With the Surfshark VPN, we have successfully achieved anonymity with the help of IP Masking and dedicated IP. To cross-check our anonymity online, we performed DNS Leak Test before and after connecting our devices to Surfshark VPN, and there are no leaks.
Surfshark VPN uses military-grade AES-256-GCM encryption, and the user can change the security protocol from the three different VPN protocols offered. For us, the WireGuard protocol felt right as it consumed less battery on our device, and the network speeds are impressive too.
We advise our readers and users of Surfshark VPN to enable the CleanWeb 2.0 feature while surfing the web, as it enhances the overall security and protects the user in real-time. With this feature enabled, all ads are blocked, and the user is protected from being the victim of ad trackers and malware.
Except for the issue with server instabilities occasionally occurring, we are happy with the overall performance and features. The affordable plans, reliable customer support, and multi-platform compatibility are value additions.
One of the main reasons behind considering Surfshark VPN is the support for unlimited simultaneous device connection support, which no other VPN its segment offers.
Private Internet Access
| Servers | 18000+ servers in 84 countries |
| Simultaneous connections | Ten device connections |
| Encryption | 256-bit AES encryption |
| Supported Protocols | OpenVPN, IPsec/IKEv2, and WireGuard |
| Compatibility | Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, iOS, Android, etc. |
Usually, people trust well-established software that has been in the market for a long time. Similarly, PIA is one of the oldest VPNs that are available to this date. Even though PIA is old, it comes with updated features following the latest encryption and VPN security protocols.
To check if PIA is compatible with Dammam, we have installed PIA on all our devices and paired it with the standard Wi-Fi network. We first ran the speed test and noticed an overall drop of around 7-9%.
While compared with the other VPNs, the 7-9% feels significant, but in reality, we had no issues while streaming and downloading content. However, we experienced minimal buffering while streaming high-resolution content and delays with large file downloads.
In Dammam, PIA has successfully unlocked websites and restricted OTT content because of Saudi’s internet censorship policy. However, it failed miserably while trying to open heavily restricted content by the government.
With PIA, we could surf the web anonymously, thanks to IP Masking and dedicated IP support. To check our anonymity online, we ran a DNS Leak test, and there were no leaks.
The PIA’s AES-256-GCM encryption technique provides security to the user online, and the best part is that the user can change the VPN security protocol based on their need. We have tried every VPN security protocol on offer, and PIA’s WireGuard VPN protocol suited the best for us, as it consumed less battery and provided outstanding network speeds.
If you’re a PIA user, we recommend using the MACE feature. The MACE feature focuses on enhancing security by protecting the user on the web in real-time. This feature allows you to keep the malware at bay.
The no-logs policy of PIA is just as assuring as the other prominent VPNs, as no logs are gathered without the user’s consent, resulting in enhanced privacy. Speaking of the positives of PIA, it comes with an extremely simple and easy-to-use interface and dependable customer support.
The support for multiple platforms and ten simultaneous device connections is a value addition. Coming to the downsides, we are unsatisfied with the monthly plans as they are unaffordable, and to use PIA, one has to purchase the yearly plan.
CyberGhost VPN
| Servers | 9700+ servers in 91 countries |
| Simultaneous connections | Up to 7 devices simultaneously |
| Encryption | Military-grade 256-bit AES encryption |
| Supported Protocols | OpenVPN, IKEv2, (L2TP) / IPSec, and WireGuard. |
| Compatibility | Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, iOS, Android, etc. |
We consider all types of readers in any compilation we develop and provide a few affordable options. Usually, we suggest more affordable VPNs in this compilation. We had a hard time finding an affordable VPN that works well in Dammam, so the best affordable option was the CyberGhost VPN.
After reaching Dammam, we tried several standard Wi-Fi networks, and everyone was fast and secure. However, with the government’s strict internet censorship policy, the ISPs of Dammam blocked most content on the internet.
The speeds of the CyberGhost VPN didn’t disappoint us, and the network drop of 7-9% might be significant on paper, but in reality, we enjoyed streaming and downloading content without issues.
If the resolution is upscaled, there is a slightly noticeable buffering. The downloads might be delayed if the source isn’t good or it is a large file. Speaking of unlocking the geographically locked content, CyberGhost has done a great job opening the slightly restricted websites and OTT content.
We ran the DNS Leak test to confirm our anonymity, and no leaks were visible. As there were no leaks, we happily surfed the web, knowing that the government’s monitoring was reduced by a little.
CyberGhost VPN’s military-grade 256-bit AES encryption plays a crucial role in maintaining security. The security protocols on offer can be interchanged. The WireGuard security protocol suited us right as it consumed less battery while providing impressive network speeds.
We are happy with CyberGhost’s Wi-Fi protection, which helped us pick the secure Wi-Fi network. The ad-blocking and real-time web protection are enabled by default, and no feature is dedicated to those.
The affordable plans of the CyberGhost VPN are best suited for the masses. The support for seven simultaneous devices for this price is a big thumbs up. In addition, the welcome additions are multi-platform compatibility and customer support.
Best VPN for Dammam Compared
| VPN Service | Cost | Speed | Encryption Type | Data Logging | Free Trial | Money-back guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ExpressVPN | $6.67 per month | Super Fast | 256-bit AES | No | No | 30 days |
| NordVPN | $4.19 per month | Very Fast | 256-bit AES | No | No | 30 days |
| Surfshark VPN | $2.49 per month | Very Fast | 256-bit AES | No | Seven days | 30 days |
| Private Internet Access (PIA) | $3.02 per month | Very Fast | 256-bit AES | No | No | 30 days |
| CyberGhost VPN | $2.29 per month | Super Fast | 256-bit AES | No | 24-hour free trial | 45 days |
How to Choose the Best VPN for Dammam
As we discussed VPNs for Dammam, we suggest you consider these key points below before purchasing a VPN.
Dammam-Compatible: The biggest concern with using VPNs in Saudi Arabia and its cities is the severe restrictions. Even though VPNs are not banned in Saudi, they are throttled purposefully, directly, or indirectly. Hence choose the VPN that works well in Dammam.
Unlocking Geographical content: After visiting Dammam, we noticed that all the citizens prefer VPNs to unlock the geographically locked content. This locked content includes websites, OTT content, VoIP services, etc. So choose the VPN that opens the geographically set restrictions.
Network Speeds: The first thing that matters while surfing the web or watching content is the network speed. A VPN with poor network speed affects the user experience, so consider purchasing VPNs with a below 10% drop in network speeds.
Security: Security on the web isn’t something to worry about in Dammam; however, all cities might not promise the same level of security. Hence purchase a VPN that can provide security to the user worldwide.
FAQs on the Best VPN for Dammam
Are VPNs Useful in Dammam?
VPNs are beneficial in Dammam as they help citizens and tourists to unlock geographically locked content and provide anonymity. With VPNs, one can enhance privacy and security online in any part of the world.
Is TOR an Excellent Alternative to VPN?
TOR browser is an advanced and anonymous web browser that provides anonymity and security to its users by transferring data through private relays. It can be considered a great alternative, but keep in mind that many countries ban or restrict TOR.
Will Free VPNs work in Dammam?
Per our tests, we had no success using the free VPNs in Dammam as they couldn’t stand up against the restrictions. We suggest using the above-listed VPNs as they work well in Dammam without issues.
Conclusion
Dammam’s internet censorship policy is similar to many other cities in Saudi Arabia. As a result of these policies, citizens, and tourists are monitored and restricted from accessing several websites and OTT content.
Most of these restrictions can be lifted using VPNs, and we suggest users use them responsibly. If a citizen or tourist is found misusing them, the government can impose fines and lengthy jail sentences.
Apart from this, the VPN can be used in any part of the world, and the excellent part is that VPNs are not illegal and shouldn’t be restricted. Hence VPNs can enhance security and anonymity anywhere in the world.
