Updated on: September 6, 2024
Only 3 Steps (Quick + Easy) to Access Grindr in the UAE in 2024:
- Download and install a VPN. ExpressVPN is my top choice, as it works with Grindr 100% of the time and has advanced security features to protect your data while using Grindr in the UAE. It also has the fastest speeds on the market and user-friendly apps.
- Connect to a VPN server. Select a server in a country where Grindr is available. I recommend connecting to your home country, where you registered your account.
- Log into Grindr. You can now start messaging your favorite profiles!
If you’re traveling to the UAE, you probably won’t be able to access your Grindr account. This is because the UAE censors internet usage and has restrictive laws for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Luckily, I found a solution to this problem — using a VPN. A VPN hides your real IP address and gives you a new one from a location where Grindr is available. It also encrypts your data, so that third parties like the UAE authorities won’t be able to spy on your dating life.
However, not all VPNs are good for accessing Grindr in the UAE. Many VPNs lack the advanced security features needed to protect your personal data while using Grindr in the UAE. Plus, many aren’t fast enough, aren’t able to bypass geo-blocks, or don’t have servers in countries where Grindr is available.
I spent a couple of weeks testing VPNs, and I found the best ones for accessing Grindr in the UAE. All of them work — but I recommend ExpressVPN, as it uses advanced obfuscation technology to reliably unblock Grindr and protect your privacy, plus it has the fastest connection speeds on the market.
NOTE: Access to Grindr may be restricted in your current location. Before accessing Grindr, please ensure it’s legal to use Grindr in your region and that you’re following all relevant local laws and regulations. Click here to find out where Grindr is available.
Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
How to Access Grindr in the UAE on Any Device
Note: A VPN is the best and most secure way to access Grindr in the UAE. However, many VPN websites are blocked in the UAE due to internet restrictions, so you may need to download your chosen VPN app before you travel to the UAE.
1. Get a VPN that works well with Grindr.
My recommendation is ExpressVPN because it’s extremely secure, it has servers in 105 countries, and it has very easy-to-use apps.
2. Install the VPN on your device.
Download the VPN client from the provider’s site or your device’s app store and then install it on your device (this should only take 2 minutes at most).
3. Run the VPN app and connect to a VPN server.
And you’re done! You can now securely use Grindr in the UAE.
Best VPNs for Accessing Grindr in the UAE in 2024
Quick summary of the best VPNs for accessing Grindr in the UAE in 2024:
- 🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN for accessing Grindr in the UAE (with high-end security).
- 🥈2. Private Internet Access — Privacy-focused VPN + blocks pop-up ads on Grindr.
- 🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — User-friendly VPN for Grindr (also has really intuitive apps).
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN for Accessing Grindr in the UAE in 2024
ExpressVPN is my top recommendation for accessing Grindr in the UAE. It offers obfuscation on all of its servers in 105 countries, so your VPN traffic will always be disguised as regular internet traffic. This means that it can bypass strict firewalls in restrictive countries like the UAE, and ExpressVPN has servers in nearby countries where Grindr is allowed, such as Israel, India, and Greece.
I’m a big fan of ExpressVPN Keys, which is a password manager that allows you to secure all your passwords in a digital vault. It can help you create a more secure password for your Grindr account, so you’re less vulnerable to hackers viewing things like chat history, matches, messages, and other sensitive info. It will also auto-fill your login details when you sign in to your Grindr account.
ExpressVPN also has a few extra features that are useful for Grindr. The split-tunneling feature lets you route Grindr through the VPN connection, while you can use your regular internet network for everything else. Threat Manager blocks the ad trackers that are often active on Grindr, and it also prevents you from accessing shady sites (although it doesn’t block ads).
ExpressVPN’s plans start at $4.99 / month. Plus, each plan has a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you have time to try it out and see if it’s right for you.
Read our full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. Private Internet Access — Excellent Ad Blocker for Grindr
Private Internet Access (PIA) has all of the advanced security and privacy features you need to access Grindr safely in the UAE. It offers RAM-only servers, full leak protection, a verified no-logs policy, and perfect forward secrecy.
PIA also offers obfuscation via its Multi-Hop feature. This feature routes your traffic through a Shadowsocks server, where it gets obfuscated before going through the VPN server. The Shadowsocks servers are located in the US, Canada, Japan, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the UK. It’s a little more complicated than ExpressVPN’s obfuscation (which is built in to all of ExpressVPN’s servers), but I’m still pleased to see that PIA offers this feature for safer and more reliable access to Grindr in restrictive countries like the UAE.
PIA also has the best VPN ad blocker on the market — PIA MACE blocks ads, ad trackers, and access to malicious sites. It can help you avoid the annoying pop-up ads that appear on the free version of the Grindr app and protect against the malicious links that can sometimes be distributed via Grindr messages.
Private Internet Access offers plans starting at $2.03 / month, and every plan is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full Private Internet Access review
🥉3. CyberGhost VPN — NoSpy Servers for Added Privacy in the UAE
CyberGhost VPN has strong privacy measures in place to protect your identity and data while using Grindr in the UAE. It has a special set of NoSpy servers that only a select few CyberGhost employees have access to, and they’re located in its headquarters in Romania — a privacy-friendly jurisdiction where the VPN can’t be forced to hand over your data. This is an added layer of protection if you’re concerned about using Grindr in a country with restrictive laws against the gay community. CyberGhost also has servers in Armenia, Georgia, and Cyprus.
CyberGhost also has some useful extra features. Content Blocker blocks access to malicious sites, but it’s not great at blocking ads (PIA MACE is much better at blocking ads on Grindr). I also like its Identity Guard feature, which can notify you if your Grindr logins have been exposed in a data breach.
CyberGhost VPN’s plans start at $2.03 / month. Long-term plans include access to its NoSpy servers and are backed by a 45-day money-back guarantee, while monthly plans are limited to the regular servers and have a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full CyberGhost VPN review
Editors' Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
Quick Comparison Table
Editors' Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
How to Choose the Best VPN for Accessing Grindr in the UAE in 2024
- Pick a VPN that can consistently access Grindr in the UAE. All the VPNs on this list are able to access Grindr in the UAE reliably.
- Look for strong security features. I only recommend VPNs that come with industry-standard security features, such as 256-bit AES encryption and reliable leak protection. Plus, they all have a kill switch feature that disables the internet connection if the VPN connection drops.
- Choose a VPN with fast speeds. VPNs slow down your speeds because they encrypt your traffic. However, top brands are able to maintain fast speeds across all servers. ExpressVPN had the fastest speeds in my tests.
- Select a VPN that’s easy to use. All the VPNs on this list have user-friendly apps for most major platforms. Plus, they have intuitive interfaces and allow you to set up helpful shortcuts that make accessing Grindr as quick and easy as possible.
- Get a VPN that offers good value. Every VPN on this list offers affordable plans, money-back guarantees, and additional features like split-tunneling and malicious site blockers.
How to Download the Grindr App While in the UAE
How to Download Grindr from the Apple App Store
- Get a VPN. I recommend ExpressVPN, as it can reliably access Grindr in the UAE and has top-notch security features for iOS.
- Connect to a server. Choose a server in a location where Grindr is available.
- Download the Grindr app from the Apple App Store. Search “Grindr” and click the download button next to the app. (If you don’t have an Apple ID, you’ll first need to go to the Apple ID website, tap on Create Your Apple ID, and follow the on-screen instructions.)
- Open the Grindr app and log in or create your account. Now you can start chatting with other Grindr users!
How to Download Grindr from the Google Play Store
- Get a Grindr-compatible VPN. ExpressVPN is a good choice, as it reliably works with Grindr, has strong security features for Android, and has super-fast connection speeds.
- Connect to a server. Open the list of servers and connect to one in a location where Grindr is available.
- Access the Google Play Store and get Grindr. The process of searching for “Grindr” and finishing the installation should take no more than 2 minutes. (If it’s necessary to use a different Play Store account, you’ll have to click your username, choose Add another account, and then adhere to the instructions shown on the screen).
- Launch the Grindr app and log in or create your account. You can now use the Grindr app in the UAE!
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Grindr available (and unavailable)?
Grindr is available in most countries in North, South, and Central America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
However, Grindr’s support reps don’t guarantee that the app will work in restrictive countries such as China, Indonesia, and Turkey. In Lebanon, Qatar, and the UAE, Grindr’s customer support states that users may be able to log in from private home wifi networks but not from cellular networks. For the time being, Grindr isn’t available in Iran, Crimea, Syria, North Korea, Pakistan, Cuba, and Sudan. Plus, Saudi Arabia has delisted Grindr from the app store.
You’ll need to use a VPN if you want to use Grindr in a country where it’s not available. I recommend ExpressVPN, as it has very strong security features and fast speeds, and its support reps have confirmed that it reliably works with Grindr in restrictive countries. However, you should always check the local laws first before using a VPN for Grindr.
What’s the best VPN for accessing Grindr in the UAE?
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for accessing Grindr in the UAE. It has a vast server network and strong security features to protect your data while using Grindr, plus it has the fastest connection speeds on the market. ExpressVPN’s reps confirm that it reliably works in restrictive countries, too.
Can I use a free VPN to access Grindr in the UAE?
Maybe, but I don’t recommend it. Most free VPNs lack privacy and security features to protect your personal data while using Grindr. They also limit the number of servers you can access, impose strict data limits, and have slow speeds.
Instead, I recommend purchasing a premium VPN like ExpressVPN. It has advanced security features and the fastest speeds on the market, and you can try it out risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Will Grindr work on my phone while abroad?
It depends on which country you travel to. Grindr works on Android and iOS devices, but if you’re traveling to a country that restricts Grindr, you’ll need to use a VPN that’s also compatible with your phone. All of the VPNs on this list have excellent mobile apps and reliably work with Grindr.
