How to Watch Disney Plus Hotstar in UAE Dubai in 2024
Thomas Jung, Senior Technical Editor
Last updated: September 3, 2024
Experience cybersecurity consultant Thomas Jung, with a decade of expertise and CISM/CEH certifications, excels in cloud security. As a Cybersecurity Expert at VPNBrains and IT Engineer, he recommends strategic security improvements, embodying trust in online safety.
Very useful and comprehensive article! I used NordVPN and connected to a Indian server — now I can enjoy all of my favorite Indian movies and TV shows. Thank you!
Awesome! You are welcome David! Happy to help and I am glad to hear that it is working well for you! Thanks for the comment and for sharing your experience with us.
Which VPN works with other devices like smartphones and smart TVs? I need something that I can share with my family so that we can all watch hotstar in UAE,
Great question Trish! All the VPNs I recommended in the article (ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Surfshark, works with popular Internet-capable devices like smartphones, tablets and smart TVs. As for sharing it with your family, I would recommend going for Surfshark since it supports an unlimited number of devices (simultaneous connections) and works well for unblocking Hotstar.
VPNs are blocked in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) because the UAE government wants to be able to control all internet traffic that goes in and out of the country.
The UAE is a very tightly controlled country with a lot of censorship, and the government doesn’t want its citizens to be able to access any websites or services that might be critical of the government or that might allow them to bypass the country’s online censorship filters.
VPNs are a popular way for people to get around online censorship filters, so by blocking VPNs, the UAE government is making it harder for their citizens to access websites and services that it doesn’t want them to see.
VPNs are a great way to access geo-blocked content, and I highly recommend them for that purpose.
However, be aware that some VPNs are not as secure as they claim to be, so do your research before choosing one. If you pick the wrong VPN, using a VPN to try and access geo-blocked content can be a real headache. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t or it just never works quite right. As with many things in life, it’s about picking the right tool for the job. And if someone wants to use a VPN for watching geo-blocked content, then it’s important to use a VPN that is capable of doing this and doing it well.
I recommend Express, Surf and Nord, b/c not only can they do a great job at unblocking geo-blocked content, but they’re not going to sell your information, or install malicious code on your computer.
I don’t know of another reliable or consistent way to watch Disney Plus Hotstar in the UAE except for using a VPN. The trick is you need a way to connect to a server in the United States. Then you need to make sure whatever you’re using won’t be detected by Disney Plus Hotstar. So if you’re in the UAE, the only option option I’m aware that actually works is to use a quality VPN to connect to a U.S. server. Then you can sign up for an account and start streaming/watching content.
At this point, it’s anyone’s guess as to when or if Disney Plus and Hotstar will ever be available in the UAE. In the meantime, if you don’t want to use a VPN, then at least there are a number of other streaming services available such as Netflix and Amazon Prime. And although I don’t expect things will change in the UAE anytime soon, it’s always a possibility 🙂
One reason is to enforce territorial restrictions. For example, a movie studio may decide to release a movie in the U.S. but not in Canada in order to maximize profits.
Another reason is to prevent people from accessing content that is not intended for them. This might be done, for example, to protect copyrighted content or to prevent people from viewing material that is considered inappropriate or offensive.
Yes, it is currently legal to use a VPN in UAE. However, it’s important to note that using a VPN is technically a breach of the Emirates’ telecommunications law. But as long as you’re not doing anything illegal (like torrenting copyrighted movies), you’re unlikely to experience any problems. VPNs are great for bypassing censorship and protecting your privacy, so I definitely recommend using one if you’re travelling or living in UAE. Just be sure to choose one that’s reputable and trustworthy.
If you the overall best speed and easiest vpn to use, I would go with Express. If you’re looking for the cheapest option that will work (but it’s not as fast as Express), I would go with Surfshark. If you want to narrow things down further you can look at where their servers are located and choose the one w/ a server closest to you. For example, I happen to live in a city that has a Surfshark server. So my speeds with Surfshark are very good (though still not as good as Express). But I can use Surfshark to watch beIN sports w/out a problem. So they’re both great options, but if you want the best, Express is going to be the way to go.
Yes you can. Just be aware that most and i mean MOST, come with a host of restrictions that can compromise your privacy, install malware on your computer or slow down your internet connection.
Otherwise, you’re dealing with bandwidth limits, or limited servers or other limitations. If i were to use a free vpn I’d use Proton. However, I HATE how difficult they make it to make changes to your account. And there are a few other gripes, but again, if I had no money and needed a VPN for something short term, that’s what I would use.
One of the biggest benefits of having a VPN is online privacy.
When you use a VPN, your data is encrypted and sent through a secure tunnel. This makes it difficult for anyone to track your online activity or steal your information.
Additionally, using a VPN can help protect your privacy. Your IP address is masked and replaced with the IP address of the VPN server. This makes it difficult for others to track you down and spy on your activities.
There is a potential risk when using a VPN, but it’s unlikely that Hotstar will block your account. Pretty much what we see is that Hotstar will ask you to stop using your VPN if you want to keep watching.
VPNs are used by people all over the world to access blocked websites and content, so it’s not likely that Hotstar would single out individual users.
And that’s also because people use VPNs for online safety and security. So they can’t necessarily prove whether someone is using a VPN to unblock content or just using a VPN for online privacy.
But if you’re concerned about being blocked by Hotstar, I’d recommend using a VPN that is known to be reliable and has a good track record. You can’t go wrong with any of the VPNs we’ve mentioned in the article.
Generally, the most common reason for geo-blocking is because of licensing or copyright reasons. For Disney Plus to legally show a particular piece of content in your region, they need to own the distribution rights to that specific market. If they don’t have the rights to show content in your region, then it becomes “geo-blocked.”
Another possible concerns is that Disney is concerned about piracy in the region. It’s possible that the company believes that by blocking access to Disney Plus, it can reduce the amount of piracy taking place in the UAE.
Very useful and comprehensive article! I used NordVPN and connected to a Indian server — now I can enjoy all of my favorite Indian movies and TV shows. Thank you!
Awesome! You are welcome David! Happy to help and I am glad to hear that it is working well for you! Thanks for the comment and for sharing your experience with us.
Which VPN works with other devices like smartphones and smart TVs? I need something that I can share with my family so that we can all watch hotstar in UAE,
Great question Trish! All the VPNs I recommended in the article (ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Surfshark, works with popular Internet-capable devices like smartphones, tablets and smart TVs. As for sharing it with your family, I would recommend going for Surfshark since it supports an unlimited number of devices (simultaneous connections) and works well for unblocking Hotstar.
Why are VPNs blocked in UAE?
VPNs are blocked in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) because the UAE government wants to be able to control all internet traffic that goes in and out of the country.
The UAE is a very tightly controlled country with a lot of censorship, and the government doesn’t want its citizens to be able to access any websites or services that might be critical of the government or that might allow them to bypass the country’s online censorship filters.
VPNs are a popular way for people to get around online censorship filters, so by blocking VPNs, the UAE government is making it harder for their citizens to access websites and services that it doesn’t want them to see.
what are your thoughts on using vpns to watch geo blocked content?
VPNs are a great way to access geo-blocked content, and I highly recommend them for that purpose.
However, be aware that some VPNs are not as secure as they claim to be, so do your research before choosing one. If you pick the wrong VPN, using a VPN to try and access geo-blocked content can be a real headache. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t or it just never works quite right. As with many things in life, it’s about picking the right tool for the job. And if someone wants to use a VPN for watching geo-blocked content, then it’s important to use a VPN that is capable of doing this and doing it well.
I recommend Express, Surf and Nord, b/c not only can they do a great job at unblocking geo-blocked content, but they’re not going to sell your information, or install malicious code on your computer.
How can I watch Disney Plus Hotstar in UAE without a VPN?
I don’t know of another reliable or consistent way to watch Disney Plus Hotstar in the UAE except for using a VPN. The trick is you need a way to connect to a server in the United States. Then you need to make sure whatever you’re using won’t be detected by Disney Plus Hotstar. So if you’re in the UAE, the only option option I’m aware that actually works is to use a quality VPN to connect to a U.S. server. Then you can sign up for an account and start streaming/watching content.
Do you think that Disney Plus and Hotstar will eventually unblock their services in the UAE?
At this point, it’s anyone’s guess as to when or if Disney Plus and Hotstar will ever be available in the UAE. In the meantime, if you don’t want to use a VPN, then at least there are a number of other streaming services available such as Netflix and Amazon Prime. And although I don’t expect things will change in the UAE anytime soon, it’s always a possibility 🙂
why is geo-blocking used?
Geo-blocking is used for a variety of reasons.
One reason is to enforce territorial restrictions. For example, a movie studio may decide to release a movie in the U.S. but not in Canada in order to maximize profits.
Another reason is to prevent people from accessing content that is not intended for them. This might be done, for example, to protect copyrighted content or to prevent people from viewing material that is considered inappropriate or offensive.
Is it legal to use a VPN in UAE?
Yes, it is currently legal to use a VPN in UAE. However, it’s important to note that using a VPN is technically a breach of the Emirates’ telecommunications law. But as long as you’re not doing anything illegal (like torrenting copyrighted movies), you’re unlikely to experience any problems. VPNs are great for bypassing censorship and protecting your privacy, so I definitely recommend using one if you’re travelling or living in UAE. Just be sure to choose one that’s reputable and trustworthy.
I got ExpressVPN VPN but Hotstar app seems to detect VPN 🙁 on my phone
If you the overall best speed and easiest vpn to use, I would go with Express. If you’re looking for the cheapest option that will work (but it’s not as fast as Express), I would go with Surfshark. If you want to narrow things down further you can look at where their servers are located and choose the one w/ a server closest to you. For example, I happen to live in a city that has a Surfshark server. So my speeds with Surfshark are very good (though still not as good as Express). But I can use Surfshark to watch beIN sports w/out a problem. So they’re both great options, but if you want the best, Express is going to be the way to go.
can i use a free vpn?
Yes you can. Just be aware that most and i mean MOST, come with a host of restrictions that can compromise your privacy, install malware on your computer or slow down your internet connection.
Otherwise, you’re dealing with bandwidth limits, or limited servers or other limitations. If i were to use a free vpn I’d use Proton. However, I HATE how difficult they make it to make changes to your account. And there are a few other gripes, but again, if I had no money and needed a VPN for something short term, that’s what I would use.
What else can I do with a VPN?
One of the biggest benefits of having a VPN is online privacy.
When you use a VPN, your data is encrypted and sent through a secure tunnel. This makes it difficult for anyone to track your online activity or steal your information.
Additionally, using a VPN can help protect your privacy. Your IP address is masked and replaced with the IP address of the VPN server. This makes it difficult for others to track you down and spy on your activities.
Is there a risk Hotstar will block my account for using a VPN?
There is a potential risk when using a VPN, but it’s unlikely that Hotstar will block your account. Pretty much what we see is that Hotstar will ask you to stop using your VPN if you want to keep watching.
VPNs are used by people all over the world to access blocked websites and content, so it’s not likely that Hotstar would single out individual users.
And that’s also because people use VPNs for online safety and security. So they can’t necessarily prove whether someone is using a VPN to unblock content or just using a VPN for online privacy.
But if you’re concerned about being blocked by Hotstar, I’d recommend using a VPN that is known to be reliable and has a good track record. You can’t go wrong with any of the VPNs we’ve mentioned in the article.
Why do you think Disney Plus has chosen to block access in the UAE?
Generally, the most common reason for geo-blocking is because of licensing or copyright reasons. For Disney Plus to legally show a particular piece of content in your region, they need to own the distribution rights to that specific market. If they don’t have the rights to show content in your region, then it becomes “geo-blocked.”
Another possible concerns is that Disney is concerned about piracy in the region. It’s possible that the company believes that by blocking access to Disney Plus, it can reduce the amount of piracy taking place in the UAE.