More than two billion people worldwide rely on WhatsApp for free messaging and calling every day. However, if you’re in Saudi Arabia, you’ve likely noticed a major limitation: WhatsApp calls have been blocked since 2019.
The good news is that there’s a simple and effective workaround. In this guide, we’ll show you exactly how to make both voice and video calls on WhatsApp while staying in Saudi Arabia.
Step-by-Step: How to Make WhatsApp Calls in Saudi Arabia
Can’t call your family and friends using WhatsApp? All you need is a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to make WhatsApp think you’re outside of the country.
Here are the steps you need to take to use WhatsApp’s full set of features in Saudi Arabia:
- Subscribe to a VPN. We used NordVPN to unlock WhatsApp calling features easily and quickly. NordVPN’s discounts, often more than 70% off, made it a no-brainer pick.
- Download and install NordVPN. This VPN has apps for Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and more.
- Log into your NordVPN account with your email address and password or an activation code.
- Connect to a server outside Saudi Arabia. Below, we include a list of countries that allow voice and video calls using WhatsApp.
© NordVPN - Log into WhatsApp. You should now be able to call your friends for free.
Which VPN Servers Should You Use for WhatsApp Calls?
WhatsApp calling is available in countries all over the world, so technically, you can connect to any server you want.
However, for the best speeds, we recommend connecting to a server near you. If you’re currently in Saudi Arabia, you can connect to NordVPN’s servers in Israel and Turkey.
NordVPN has over 8,000 servers across 126 countries, ensuring that you always have thousands of servers to choose from. Its app can even choose the fastest VPN server for you, so you can make WhatsApp calls in Saudi Arabia without suffering from speed bumps.
Why You Can’t Make WhatsApp Calls in Saudi Arabia
In 2019, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia banned WhatsApp’s voice and video call services. So even though you can still send and receive messages, you can’t use WhatsApp to make or receive voice and video calls in the Kingdom.
Saudi Arabia’s Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) said WhatsApp failed to meet regulatory requirements. However, Freedom House notes that regulators in Saudi Arabia have historically been aggressive against free or low-cost Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services.
The Kingdom also presents many obstacles to internet access, scoring only 25 out of 100 points on the 2023 Freedom of the Net Index.
The Best VPNs for Making WhatsApp Calls in Saudi Arabia
Having trouble choosing the best VPN for you in order to use WhatsApp in Saudi Arabia? Most countries with strict censorship block VPN use, which severely limits the list of VPNs to choose from.
We tested 20+ VPNs to find ones that work in Saudi Arabia. Below, we list the top 3 VPNs that work in the Middle East so you can start calling using WhatsApp in Saudi Arabia.
1. NordVPN
NordVPN is our #1 VPN for WhatsApp in Saudi Arabia because it has everything you need to make calls securely. Not only does it have fast servers in nearby countries, but it also offers top-notch speeds and a strict privacy policy. It’s no coincidence that we consider it the most reliable VPN for Saudi Arabia.
This Panama-based provider has over 8,000 servers in 126 countries. Among these are servers in Israel, and Turkey, which are near enough Saudi Arabia that your calls are sure to be stable.
We also like that NordVPN is a no-logs VPN, so it doesn’t collect any of your data while you use its many features. And those features are plenty. With a single subscription, you get obfuscation, an ad and malware blocker, a kill switch, and more.
NordVPN is also the fastest VPN on the market, so you can make voice and video calls without worrying about lagging. It even protects up to 10 devices with one subscription.
Want this top-tier VPN? NordVPN offers discounts that often go above 60% off, which you can get right now with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. ExpressVPN
Want a great alternative to NordVPN? ExpressVPN is our next top pick, with its 3,000+ servers in 105 countries. You can use it to connect to servers in Morocco and Turkey, which are near enough Saudi Arabia that you won’t suffer much from speed reductions.
We recommend this VPN service for people in countries with strict governments since ExpressVPN has built-in obfuscation technology. This means it can circumvent censorship easily. Pair this with the VPN’s strict no-logs policy, military-grade encryption, and kill switch, and you get a fast, secure, and feature-rich VPN.
On top of its long list of features, ExpressVPN is also fast and user-friendly, and it can protect up to 14 devices on a single subscription. Get 73% off your purchase, which is also protected by a 30-day money-back guarantee:
3. Private Internet Access (PIA)
When it comes to bang for buck, Private Internet Access is tough to beat. At just over $2 per month, you get an ultra-fast VPN that protects an unlimited number of devices, perfect for sharing with family and friends.
PIA has servers in Israel, Georgia, and Morocco, making it a good choice for WhatsApp voice and video calls from Saudi Arabia. Like NordVPN and ExpressVPN, PIA has obfuscation technology, which hides your VPN use, thereby helping you circumvent censorship in places that regulate VPNs.
Want even more privacy? PIA offers dedicated IP addresses, which are IPs that only you can use. Dedicated IPs are yet another tool that helps fight against censorship (and it can even unblock streaming sites!)
Take advantage of PIA’s 30-day money-back guarantee and its at least 80% discount on your purchase when you click on the link below:
Can You Use a Free VPN to Make WhatsApp Calls in Saudi Arabia?
If you want to use WhatsApp for free calls, then why should you bother paying for a VPN subscription at all?
While it’s true that there are many free VPNs available on the market, it’s rare to find one that works well in Saudi Arabia or other strictly censored countries. What’s more, free VPNs pose a challenge to fast and stable video calls. Here are the reasons why:
- Few free VPNs offer obfuscation. In countries where VPN use is banned or restricted, you need obfuscation technology to hide your VPN use.
- Free VPNs often have speed and data caps. Even the best free Android VPNs (for example) cap your data, which means you can’t use video calling for very long. And even if you have enough data, the speed limits can cause stuttering and lagging while video calling.
- Free VPNs have limited server options. Many of the free VPNs we tested don’t have servers in the Middle East. If you connect to a server far from you, you may suffer from speed drops.
- Free VPNs log and sell your data. Some free VPNs have been discovered to collect and sell user data, endangering your online privacy.
To avoid the pitfalls of free VPNs, we recommend you choose an affordable but high quality VPN instead. NordVPN offers up to a 60% discount if you get a 2-year subscription.
Conclusion
Don’t let government restrictions stop you from connecting with family and friends. A VPN lets you use voice and video calling on WhatsApp even when you’re in Saudi Arabia (where these features are usually blocked).
All you need to do is install a VPN on your phone and connect to a server outside of the Kingdom. From there, you can use WhatsApp as you usually do – except now, you get to make calls for free, too!
Our top VPN for WhatsApp in Saudi Arabia is NordVPN as it has the fastest speeds on the market and the most number of servers in the Middle East.
ExpressVPN is a good choice too, especially if you’re concerned about privacy and security. But if you’re looking for the most affordable VPN, then PIA is your best bet.
Ready to dial in? Take your pick among our best VPNs and start calling on WhatsApp in Saudi Arabia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I legally use WhatsApp calls in Saudi Arabia with a VPN?
While millions of residents and travelers use VPNs to bypass restrictions, the legality of VPN use in Saudi Arabia is a gray area. VPNs themselves are not explicitly illegal, but using them to access restricted services may conflict with local regulations. Always weigh the risks before proceeding.
What’s the best way to unblock WhatsApp calls in Saudi Arabia?
The most reliable method is to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network). A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and reroutes it through a server in another country where WhatsApp calls are not restricted. This makes it appear as though you’re connecting from abroad, restoring full calling functionality.
Do VPNs affect WhatsApp call quality?
A good VPN like NordVPN should have little to no negative impact on call quality. In fact, if your ISP is throttling VoIP traffic, using a VPN can actually improve stability. For the best experience, connect to a server geographically close to Saudi Arabia.