5 min read · Updated August 2026 · Fixes for Etisalat & du
Quick fix: Enable Stealth protocol in ProtonVPN settings. ProtonVPN's Stealth protocol is their obfuscation feature — it disguises VPN traffic as regular HTTPS so Etisalat and du's deep packet inspection cannot detect it. Without Stealth, standard ProtonVPN protocols are blocked in UAE.
Etisalat (e&) and du use deep packet inspection (DPI) at their network gateways to detect and block VPN traffic. ProtonVPN's standard protocols — WireGuard and OpenVPN — have recognisable packet signatures that UAE ISPs identify and block automatically.
ProtonVPN's solution is Stealth protocol — their obfuscation technology that wraps VPN traffic to look like regular HTTPS web browsing. Without Stealth enabled, ProtonVPN will fail to connect or connect briefly before being dropped on UAE networks.
Note: ProtonVPN Free does not include Stealth protocol — it is a paid plan feature. If you're on ProtonVPN Free and it's not working in UAE, you'll need to either upgrade to a paid plan or switch to an alternative with a free trial like FlickVPN.
Open ProtonVPN → Settings → Protocol → select Stealth. This is ProtonVPN's obfuscation mode and resolves most UAE blocking. Note: Stealth is only available on paid ProtonVPN plans (Plus and above) and on Android, iOS and Windows. Mac support is available from ProtonVPN v3.0+.
Your current server's IP may be on Etisalat or du's blocklist. Switch to a different server — Netherlands, Switzerland or UK servers work well from UAE. ProtonVPN's servers in privacy-focused jurisdictions (Switzerland, Iceland) are good options.
ProtonVPN updates Stealth protocol regularly to stay ahead of ISP blocking. Update to the latest app version via your app store to ensure you have the most current obfuscation capabilities.
On mobile, toggle airplane mode on for 10 seconds then off to get a fresh network connection from your ISP. Then reconnect ProtonVPN with Stealth protocol enabled.
ProtonVPN has support at proton.me/support. Tell them you're in UAE and that Stealth protocol isn't resolving the connection — they can recommend currently working server configurations for Etisalat and du.
Settings → Protocol → Stealth → reconnect. Requires ProtonVPN paid plan.
Settings → Protocol → Stealth → reconnect. Available on ProtonVPN Plus and above.
Settings → Connection → Protocol → Stealth. Reconnect after changing.
Available from ProtonVPN v3.0+. Settings → Protocol → Stealth.
If ProtonVPN continues failing in UAE — particularly if you're on the free plan which doesn't include Stealth — these are confirmed working on Etisalat and du in August 2026:
| # | VPN | Obfuscation | Free Option | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FlickVPN | ✅ Built-in | ✅ Free trial | Free trial | Try Free — Android |
| 1 | FlickVPN iOS | ✅ Built-in | ✅ Free trial | Free trial | Try Free — iOS |
| 2 | NordVPN | ✅ Obfuscated servers + NordWhisper | ❌ Paid only | ~AED11.35/mo | Get Deal |
| 3 | Surfshark | ✅ Camouflage Mode | ❌ Paid only | ~AED7.30/mo | Get Deal |
See also: General VPN not working in UAE · NordVPN not working in UAE · ExpressVPN not working in UAE · FlickVPN full review
Free trial, obfuscation built in, confirmed working on Etisalat and du.