Are VPN&#39;s illegal in Saudi Arabia?
<p>I may have to expend extended periods of time in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This is a country with strong censorship, even blocking WhatsApp calls or Discord.</p>
<p>I am aware that in my home country I do a bunch of things online that would get swiftly blocked as well. So if I want to go there, I will have to use a VPN, as it's the only way I won't feel fear from the government's gaze.</p>
<p>So, is installing a VPN previous to entering the country and using it inside illegal?</p>
<p>After a thorough search I just found <a href="https://lifeinsaudiarabia.net/is-it-safe-to-use-vpn-services-in-saudi/#Can_I_use_VPN_Service_in_Saudi_Arabia" rel="nofollow noreferrer">some dude's blog</a> defending his country beliefs without any proof and many tech pages affirming they are legal just <a href="https://www.comparitech.com/blog/vpn-privacy/is-vpn-legal-saudi-arabia/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">to advertise them later</a>.</p>

<p>There does not appear to be a direct &quot;statutory&quot; ban no possession or use of a VPN in KSA, instead the government blocks access to VPN connections. There may well be laws against activities which motivate using a VPN, you can check the cyber crimes law <a href="https://www.mcit.gov.sa/sites/default/files/anti_cyber_crime_law_en_0.pdf" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>. KSA differs from UAE, where <a href="https://wired.me/technology/privacy/vpns-legal-uae-saudi-arabia/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">using a VPN is illegal</a> (&quot;fraudulent computer network protocol address&quot; used in the commission of a crime).</p>

saudi-arabia