Best VPN for Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has widespread internet access, but online life is shaped by content filtering and strong state oversight. Independent monitoring and research organizations consistently describe the environment as heavy on censorship and surveillance.

If you want a VPN that’s easy to use, privacy-forward, and practical for everyday browsing, streaming, and travel, these are the top picks:

CyberGhost — Best overall VPN for Saudi Arabia (our #1 pick)

Surfshark — Best value + unlimited devices

NordVPN — Best for power users who want advanced security controls

Why People Use a VPN in Saudi Arabia

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a server elsewhere—making it much harder for third parties on the network (like public Wi-Fi operators) to see what you’re doing, and often helping with region-based access issues.

In Saudi Arabia specifically, VPN use usually falls into a few practical buckets:

1) Privacy on monitored networks

Freedom House reports that Saudi Arabia remains among the lowest-scoring countries globally for internet freedom, citing extensive censorship and surveillance and serious consequences for certain online speech.

2) Safer browsing on public Wi-Fi

Hotels, cafés, airports, and co-working spaces are convenient—but they’re also common places for snooping and man-in-the-middle risks. A VPN adds encryption so your traffic isn’t “open” to the local network.

3) Travel and “home country” access

If you’re visiting Saudi Arabia (or traveling abroad from Saudi), a VPN can help you keep access to services that behave differently by region (banking logins, work tools, streaming catalogs, etc.). Whether it works reliably depends on the service and current network controls.

4) Dealing with content blocks

Network measurement projects like OONI track internet interference and show that Saudi Arabia has extensive testing data related to site accessibility and blocking.
A VPN may help in some cases, but nothing is guaranteed, and results vary by ISP/network and time.

Is It Legal to Use a VPN in Saudi Arabia?

This is where you want to be careful and practical.

Many sources note that VPN use itself is not explicitly illegal in Saudi Arabia, even though authorities may restrict access to VPN websites/servers to discourage usage.

Saudi Arabia’s Anti-Cyber Crime Law (Royal Decree No. M/17) criminalizes a range of online misconduct (like unauthorized access, interception, damage, etc.). The law doesn’t revolve around “VPNs” as a product category—but using any tool (VPN included) to facilitate illegal acts is a different story.

Bottom line: A VPN is best treated as a privacy/security tool—especially for Wi-Fi safety and protecting sensitive accounts. Don’t use it for anything unlawful, and if you’re traveling, assume some VPN sites may be blocked and prepare in advance (more on that below).

What to Look for in a Saudi Arabia VPN

The UAE page highlights the “must haves” for censorship-heavy countries: strong encryption, leak protection, kill switch, strict no-logs, and speed.
That checklist translates cleanly to Saudi Arabia too.

Here’s the short version of what matters most:

Security essentials (non-negotiable)

AES-256 encryption (or equivalent strong modern encryption)

Kill switch (prevents accidental exposure if the VPN drops)

DNS leak protection (stops “leaky” DNS requests from revealing where you are)

No-logs policy (ideally supported by independent assurance/audits)

Reliability on restrictive networks

Multiple protocols (e.g., WireGuard/OpenVPN)

“Obfuscation/stealth” options (branding differs by provider)

A large, well-maintained server fleet to rotate when a route is slow or blocked

Speed for daily use

The UAE guide even calls out speed expectations for streaming.
In practice: choose providers known for consistent throughput, and use nearby servers for better latency when you don’t need a specific country.

At-a-Glance Comparison (Our Ranking)
Rank VPN Best for Biggest strength Main trade-off

1. CyberGhost Most people in Saudi Arabia Beginner-friendly, strong privacy posture, strong value 7 simultaneous connections

2. Surfshark Families + multi-device users Unlimited devices, great value Interface is simpler than “power user” VPNs

3. NordVPN Security-focused power users Advanced security features + strong audit trail Typically pricier than budget leaders

1) CyberGhost — Best VPN for Saudi Arabia Overall

CyberGhost is my #1 recommendation for Saudi Arabia because it hits the sweet spot of privacy + usability + value, without making setup feel like a tech project.

Why CyberGhost is #1 for Saudi Arabia

1) It’s designed to be simple.
CyberGhost’s apps are intentionally beginner-friendly, with clear server lists and sensible defaults—helpful if you just want to connect and move on.

2) It backs privacy claims with independent review.
CyberGhost has public material on an independent Deloitte review related to its no-logs policy.

3) Strong “day-to-day” performance and streaming utility.
Independent reviewers frequently note strong speeds and solid streaming access performance (though streaming reliability always fluctuates by platform).

4) It explicitly markets Saudi Arabia support and a Saudi IP option.
CyberGhost’s Saudi Arabia page highlights “Saudi IP address” availability and “NoSpy servers” positioning for extra privacy.

What you get with CyberGhost (practical highlights)

Saudi IP option (helpful if you need Saudi-specific access while traveling)

NoSpy servers positioning for privacy-conscious users

7 simultaneous device connections (fine for most people, but a real cap)

45-day money-back guarantee on longer plans (a generous testing window)

Best CyberGhost use cases in Saudi Arabia

You want a VPN that “just works” across phone + laptop without fiddling

You care about privacy assurance and want something audit-forward

You travel and want a straightforward way to switch regions or use a Saudi IP

CyberGhost downsides (keep it honest)

The 7-device limit can be restrictive for big households.

Power users may want more granular controls than CyberGhost emphasizes (depending on platform/app).

2) Surfshark — Best Value + Unlimited Devices

Surfshark earns #2 because it’s one of the most practical VPNs if you’re juggling multiple devices (or sharing with family).

Why Surfshark is a great Saudi Arabia VPN

1) Unlimited device connections on one subscription.
Surfshark explicitly supports unlimited simultaneous devices across its plans.

2) No-logs assurance work with Deloitte is part of its transparency story.
Surfshark has public communications about Deloitte verification of its no-logs stance (and it’s been covered in tech media as well).

3) Strong overall value proposition.
Multiple review outlets regularly position Surfshark as a top “cheap VPN” option because of the combination of price and features (just watch out for renewal pricing, as with most VPNs).

Best Surfshark use cases in Saudi Arabia

Households with lots of devices (phones, laptops, tablets, TVs)

Frequent travelers who want simple apps and consistent performance

People who want solid privacy positioning without paying “premium VPN” pricing

Surfshark trade-offs

If you want extremely deep configuration controls, Surfshark can feel a bit “simplified” compared to more technical VPNs.

3) NordVPN — Best for Power Users and Security Features

NordVPN lands at #3 in this ranking (per your requested order), but it’s still a heavyweight—especially if you care about advanced security options.

Why NordVPN is still excellent in Saudi Arabia

1) Strong third-party assurance track record.
NordVPN has announced repeated independent assurance engagements related to its no-logs claims, including work with Deloitte Audit Lithuania (end of 2024 engagement).

2) Security-first feature set.
Nord is widely known for offering advanced privacy/security options (for users who want more than “connect and forget”).

Best NordVPN use cases in Saudi Arabia

You want a VPN that’s more “security suite” than basic tunnel

You like having multiple privacy modes and extra protective tooling

NordVPN trade-offs

Pricing is often higher than budget leaders (especially outside promos).

More features can mean more decisions—great for enthusiasts, unnecessary for some.

How to Set Up a VPN in Saudi Arabia (Step-by-Step)

This mirrors the UAE guide’s practical advice: install first, then connect, then confirm your safety settings are on.

Download and install your VPN before you arrive (or before you need it).
Some VPN provider sites and endpoints may be blocked locally.

Log in and connect to a nearby region first for speed (unless you need a specific country).
Nearby servers generally reduce latency and improve stability.

Turn on the kill switch and leak protection in settings.
These help prevent accidental exposure if the VPN disconnects.

Test your connection (open a few normal sites, then the services you actually care about—work tools, streaming, etc.).

If Your VPN Isn’t Working in Saudi Arabia

Even good VPNs can hit turbulence on restrictive networks. Try these safe, legitimate fixes:

Switch servers (same country or nearby region)

Switch protocols (WireGuard ↔ OpenVPN)

Update the app (blocks and countermeasures change)

Use provider support—reputable VPNs will recommend working configurations for your network

Final Verdict

If you want one VPN that’s easiest to recommend to the broadest number of people in Saudi Arabia, CyberGhost is the #1 pick: it’s approachable, privacy-forward (with public audit-related transparency), and has strong consumer protections like a 45-day money-back window on longer plans.

If you’re optimizing for value and lots of devices, Surfshark is the most practical everyday alternative thanks to unlimited connections and strong transparency signals.

And if you want a feature-rich “security nerd” VPN with a deep assurance trail, NordVPN remains a powerful option.