Best VPN for Kuwait

Kuwait may not be on the tip of your tongue when discussing possible destinations for your 2019 summer vacation but it has a lot to offer in the way of architecture, cultural experiences and golden beaches. Kuwait City is a unique shopping destination with everything from a traditional souq experience to modern malls reminiscent of those found in Bangkok and Dubai.

Despite its attractions, Kuwait nevertheless has certain online restrictions visitors should be aware of before they venture into Kuwaiti cyberspace. Cybercrime legislation means anyone publishing adult content online or even just criticizing a religious figure could face heavy fines or imprisonment.

The only way for such measures to be imposed is through the monitoring of users’ online activities, which is why a VPN should be considered vital when visiting Kuwait. The best VPNs for Kuwait can keep you completely anonymous, safe from prying eyes and free to enjoy your preferred content.

For the most reliable connection and access to all of your favorite content in Kuwait, get Express VPN.

The Best VPNs for Kuwait

#1 ExpressVPN – Best Overall VPN for Kuwait

Even something as innocent as hooking up with a same-sex partner on a dating website could land you in hot water in Kuwait, where homosexuality is criminalized under the “debauchery” law. With ExpressVPN, however, anyone watching wouldn’t know who you were or what site you’d visited thanks to its robust encryption. ExpressVPN uses AES-256 encryption which is the same as that used by the US government. It really doesn’t get much safer than that!

ExpressVPN’s top-class encryption code is backed up by some impressive security features including its Network Lock which will block all traffic to and from your device should your VPN connection fail. ExpressVPN also uses advanced technology on their servers to reduce the risk of data theft or retrieval. Furthermore, even if you did something illegal according to Kuwaiti law, ExpressVPN wouldn’t be able to respond to a legal request for information about your online activities simply because they don’t keep any records or logs.

Few VPN providers have servers in Kuwait itself and ExpressVPN is no exception. Although ExpressVPN’s server network is extensive, with over 3,000 servers in 94 different countries, it’s coverage of the Middle East is limited. That’s not to say that you won’t get some impressively high speeds using ExpressVPN in Kuwait, however, and connecting to a US server will give you seamless access to all your favorite content, from YouTube to Netflix.

ExpressVPN keeps no logs or records of your activities or even your original IP address. Based in the British Virgin Islands where there is no mandatory data retention legislation, ExpressVPN is secure, reliable and dedicated to user privacy. If you want the very best VPN for Kuwait, try ExpressVPN today and make the most of its 30-day money-back guarantee and three months’ free protection.

#2 Surfshark VPN – Best Budget VPN for Kuwait

At a glance Surfshark seems like a cheaper imitation of ExpressVPN, utilizing the same encryption and security protocols and sharing its location in the British Virgin Islands, but Surfshark is far from being a carbon copy of ExpressVPN. Surfshark and ExpressVPN do have some characteristics in common, like high speeds and cutting-edge security, but Surfshark likes to do things a little differently.

While the other VPN providers in this list of the best VPNs for Kuwait have in excess of 3,000 international servers, Surfshark has just over 800. This makes Surfshark sound like the ultimate underdog but the fact that it manages to provide reliable high-speed connections across the globe belies the limited number of servers. Surfshark has only been around for a couple of years and maybe it’s its status as a newcomer that enables it to go unnoticed. Certainly, streaming sites like HBO Now and Netflix have yet to target Surfshark so users are still enjoying unlimited access even while overseas.

Although it has a rather more minimal interface than the user-friendly CyberGhost, for example, Surfshark VPN is nonetheless easy to install and simple to operate. With applications compatible with iOS, smartphones, tablets and the latest smart TVs, Surfshark works effectively across all devices. One of the most exceptional aspects of Surfshark’s service is that it allows for unlimited simultaneous connections, while most VPN providers limit users to between three and six devices.

Surfshark VPN prides itself on operating effectively in restricted countries like Kuwait and is a cost-effective way of getting comprehensive protection even in the riskiest regions of the digital world. Like ExpressVPN, Surfshark also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can test drive the service without making any financial commitment.

#3 CyberGhost VPN – Best VPN for Beginners in Kuwait

If the whole concept of cybersecurity leaves you feeling completely out of your depth, CyberGhost is waiting for you. With a slightly different approach to online security, CyberGhost focuses on functionality rather than location, making tasks like torrenting and streaming as simple as possible, even in restricted areas.

Once a free VPN, CyberGhost has undergone a serious facelift and is now considered one of the most reliable and effective VPNs around. Although it won’t allow you to connect an unlimited number of devices simultaneously, it’s limit of seven is still pretty generous and more than adequate for the average user.

Based in Romania, CyberGhost is in a similar position to both ExpressVPN and Surfshark in that it is not under any legal obligation to store data about its users. It reinforces its no-logging policy with a resilient privacy policy while using advanced technology to guard against potential data leaks and vulnerabilities.

Operating and managing its own network of over 3,500 servers, CyberGhost cuts out the middleman and keeps your activities extra safe by utilizing perfect forward secrecy. This is an encryption protocol that requires a new key to decode the current session, thereby ensuring that any data exchanged in the previous session remains secure even in the event of a cyber attack.

A little more expensive than Surfshark VPN, CyberGhost is, nonetheless, good value for money, effectively accessing Netflix while providing reliable, secure connections. The intuitive interface is simple enough that even a complete beginner can master its day-to-day operations, while a helpful customer support team is on hand to answer any questions via its live chat service.

Find out more about CyberGhost’s hauntingly effective cybersecurity solutions by reading our full review, or simply try it out for free for 24 hours.

#4 NordVPN – Safest VPN for Kuwait

Although NordVPN doesn’t always produce the fastest speeds, it does have some of the best online security available. NordVPN introduced specialized obfuscated servers to enable users to connect in areas where the internet is restricted or VPN usage banned, making it one of the best VPNs for Kuwait. NordVPN also has one of the most expansive server networks in the world, with over 5,000 servers scattered across the globe.

NordVPN uses some of the most advanced VPN technology to keep you protected but, in the event of your connection failing, its automatic killswitch will ensure the integrity of your device and personal data remains faultless. Not only does NordVPN utilize a standard internet kill switch, it also has an app killswitch that enables users to close specific applications in the event of a dropped VPN connection.

Despite its extensive server network, NordVPN has limited coverage in the Middle East, but users should be able to connect to nearby servers in countries like Turkey to get a good local connection. Accessing US content will require a US IP address but, with over 1,500 servers in the USA alone, that shouldn’t be a problem. NordVPN also has servers that allow for both P2P traffic and streaming, while its SmartPlay technology makes sure you have access to all of your favorite US content while maintaining your anonymity.

NordVPN offers excellent value for money, especially if you’re willing to commit to a long-term subscription, while its commitment to user privacy is evident in both its privacy policy and its watertight no-logging policy. Based in Romania, NordVPN has little to worry about when it comes to data retention which means users have little to worry about in terms of their identities or online activities being exposed.

Pay For Your VPN with Cryptocurrency and Stay Anonymous in Kuwait

You need a VPN in Kuwait in order to ensure maximum security and anonymity on the internet. Purchasing said VPN subscription might be tricky if you want that transaction to be off the radar as well. Most likely, you will be offered to pay for your subscription with either a credit card or your PayPal account.

Unfortunately, when choosing to pay for your subscription with either of these options, you will leave a trail visible to the bank of your purchase, which includes information such as your full name as well as your billing address.

To avoid leaving a trail, many of the top VPNs mentioned will allow you to pay for your subscription with bitcoin. Whenever you make a transaction with bitcoin, it is broadcast to the bitcoin network.

As soon as that happens, miners, who are regular people like you using regular computers are tasked with processing that transaction, with their computers creating a block in the process.

When that is completed, their computer has to solve a crypto puzzle and submit proof of the work back to the public network. This is redirected to other miners which need to verify the integrity of the block, and your transaction is complete.

Each transaction needs to complete this process, making bitcoin a reliable and self-sufficient system. While you don’t have to be a tech genius to make bitcoin transactions, you should know that bitcoin transactions are irreversible, so if any of the currency leaves your account, you will not be able to get a refund.

Access and Restrictions in Kuwaiti Cyberspace

More progressive than many of its neighboring countries, Kuwait is still not a democratic nation and tends to be a little more heavy-handed than many first-world democracies when it comes to internet freedom. Although Kuwaitis enjoy high-speed internet connections, there are still numerous sites that are blocked for both moral and political reasons.

Although banning content on the basis of morality isn’t altogether a bad thing, legislation regarding such restrictions tends to be very broad and non-specific, leaving it open to interpretation. For example, a Kuwaiti woman who posted a video of her 11-year-old son’s emotional reaction to his grandmother’s death faces up to two years’ imprisonment for allegedly making her child “a commodity of trade”. Given some of the images we see on social media, this seems a little extreme and yet, under both the Kuwaiti constitution and the law, it is a criminal offense for anyone to “take a picture of a child for the purpose of humiliation, degrading or destroying their psychology”.

While that seems fair enough, Kuwaiti authorities haven’t stopped there and the extensive book banning that took place last year hasn’t made residents feel any more confident about their online freedoms. It’s not just censorship and surveillance that you have to worry about in Kuwaiti cyberspace either and the high incidence of cybercrimes is enough to persuade most visitors of the necessity of having some kind of VPN protection.

More worryingly is evidence of online government surveillance and monitoring. Earlier this year, Kuwaiti law professor Dr. Fatima Al Matar sought asylum in the US after a tweet she made landed her on the wrong side of Kuwait’s cybersecurity law. Al Matar made a joke about asking God for a Ferrari and equal rights and was subsequently accused of blasphemy and misuse of a phone! She could have faced up to 10 years in prison had she stayed in the country.

Even if you believe all your social media posts to be politically and religiously innocuous, you probably don’t want any Kuwaiti officials reading them over your shoulder or judging your morality, so hiding within the secure tunnel of one of the best VPNs for Kuwait simply makes sense.

How to Access Kuwaiti Content from Overseas

Getting a Kuwaiti IP address isn’t the easiest thing in the world. Whereas nearly every VPN provider has numerous servers in Europe and the US, few have servers in restricted countries like Kuwait. Nevertheless, there are one or two VPN providers that are capable of providing you with a Kuwaiti IP address. HideMyAss VPN seems to have made putting servers in obscure locations its mission and has to be one of the top choices for securing a reliable connection from a Kuwaiti location. Ivacy VPN also has a couple of servers in Kuwait, as does PureVPN.

If you just want a Kuwaiti IP address but still want the protection of one of the best VPNs for Kuwait, you could try using a proxy server to fake the IP address for you instead. Whatever action you take to get a Kuwaiti IP address, once secured, you’ll be able to access sites and content that are geographically restricted to people living within Kuwait. Although this doesn’t mean such exciting streaming sites as Netflix or BBC iPlayer, for Kuwaitis living overseas, it can mean a few homely comforts.

The main television channels in Kuwait are state-run but there some independent broadcasters bringing viewers the latest in entertainment, sports, and comedy. With a Kuwaiti IP address, you could enjoy homegrown comedy on FunoonTV, news and topical entertainment on Al-Rai TV, and the latest sporting action on KTV Sports.

Some Final (Secure) Thoughts

Not only is internet access restricted and monitored by Kuwaiti authorities, but cybercrime is also growing in the region and shows no sign of slowing down. As a result, going into Kuwaiti cyberspace without the protection of a VPN is as rash as leaping into shark-infested waters with a bleeding wound.

Although Kuwait itself is surprisingly safe as a tourist destination and has high-speed internet available for all, VoIP services, some websites and certain types of content are blocked, making accessing US content and keeping up with friends back home rather challenging.

The best VPNs for Kuwait can disguise your IP address and thereby find a way around government restrictions, giving you access to everything, from Skype to your favorite Netflix series. Not only will you be free to browse under the virtual protection of ExpressVPN, for example, but you’ll also be free to use social media without fear of accidentally committing a crime.

Although Kuwait certainly isn’t competing with the top tourist destinations of the Middle East, it has a unique appeal, especially for those who like to get off the beaten track. Whether you’re planning a trip to Kuwait City to see the famous towers and visit the famous Tareq Rajab Museum or visiting the commercial hub of Hawalli for a business meeting, making sure you have one of the best VPNs for Kuwait is a must. Leave without one and you may find your tweets blocked, your Skype chats silenced, and your access to your favorite content blocked. You have been warned!

For the best VPN in Kuwait, get Express VPN.