Mena VPN is a paid VPN app targeting users in the Middle East. It promises to unblock VoIP calls like WhatsApp and Telegram, which are among the apps blocked in UAE. We downloaded the app to see what it offers. Tegant, which publishes this site, makes a competing VPN.
This review covers what we found: the protocols available and transparency issues that UAE users should know about before downloading.
Mena VPN Overview
Mena VPN is a paid VPN application designed for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
- Price: Paid subscription
- Platform: iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows
- Target users: UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Oman residents wanting to bypass VoIP restrictions
The app claims to offer "military-grade encryption," "ultra-fast servers," and a "strict no-logs policy" in its app store listing. Here is what we found.
Protocol Testing: What We Found
Mena VPN lists several protocols in the app: Network+, Open R, z8, V2Ray, Fortress, WireGuard, and IKEv2. However, the reality is more complicated.
Protocol Availability
| Protocol | Server Locations Available | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| WireGuard | None | Listed but no servers available |
| IKEv2 | 4 (USA, England, Netherlands, France) | Easily detected and blocked |
| V2Ray | 2 (Poland, Netherlands) | No servers in Asia or Middle East |
| Fortress | 2 (Poland, Netherlands) | Undocumented protocol |
| z8 | 7 (Singapore, Canada, England, India, France, Netherlands, Germany) | Undocumented protocol |
| Open R | 3 (USA, Germany, Iceland) | Undocumented protocol |
| Network+ | 20+ (including UAE, Saudi Arabia, streaming servers) | Primary protocol, undocumented |
Key Observations
WireGuard is unavailable. Despite being listed in the app, selecting WireGuard shows zero server locations. This is misleading for users who specifically want WireGuard.
V2Ray is limited to Europe. With only Poland and Netherlands servers, V2Ray on Mena VPN is not practical for UAE users. The latency to European servers makes it unsuitable for VoIP calls, which is the primary use case for UAE users.
Proprietary protocols dominate. The protocols with the most servers (Network+, z8, Open R, Fortress) are not industry-standard. There is no documentation explaining what encryption or obfuscation they use. Users cannot evaluate the security of these protocols.
Speed Comparison
Tegant ran its own comparison from the UAE between Mena VPN's Network+ protocol (their primary protocol with the most servers) and Tegant VPN. Tegant came out faster, with lower and steadier latency, but we haven't published a test log, so treat this as a single comparison by a competitor.
For WhatsApp or Telegram voice calls, stable latency matters more than raw speed.
Transparency Concerns
Several aspects of Mena VPN raise questions about transparency:
Protocol Details Hidden Until After Signup
You cannot see which protocols are available or how many servers each has until after you install the app and create an account. This makes it difficult to evaluate the service before committing.
Undocumented Protocols
Mena VPN uses protocol names like "Network+," "z8," "Open R," and "Fortress" that do not correspond to any known VPN protocols. There is no technical documentation explaining:
- What encryption these protocols use
- Whether they include obfuscation
- How they compare to standard protocols like WireGuard or OpenVPN
Without this information, security-conscious users cannot verify that their traffic is actually protected.
V2Ray Implementation Unclear
While Mena VPN lists V2Ray as a protocol option, it is unclear whether their implementation includes modern obfuscation features like VLESS or Reality. The limitation to only two European server locations suggests this may be a basic implementation. For more on how V2Ray works, see our guide on what is V2Ray.
Cross-App Tracking Request
On iOS, Mena VPN immediately requests permission to "track your activity across other companies' apps and websites." This is Apple's App Tracking Transparency (ATT) prompt, typically used by apps that show targeted ads.
However, Mena VPN is a paid app with no visible advertisements. The stated reason is "to find out how you found and installed MenaVPN so we can deliver better service" - but this type of cross-app tracking is unusual for a privacy-focused VPN. Users trust VPNs to protect their privacy, not to track their activity across other apps.
No-Logs Claim
The app claims a "strict no-logs policy," but this has not been independently audited. The company behind Mena VPN has limited public information available, making it difficult to assess their privacy practices. The cross-app tracking request raises additional questions about what data is being collected.
Streaming Performance
Mena VPN offers dedicated "Streaming" servers for services like JioHotstar (formerly Disney+ Hotstar) and UK streaming. However, we found that the England streaming server uses OVH infrastructure.
Why this matters: OVH is a well-known hosting provider, and their IP ranges are commonly blacklisted by streaming services like BBC iPlayer, ITV, and Channel 4. Users attempting to access UK streaming content may find these servers blocked.
For reliable UK streaming access, look for VPN providers that use residential or dedicated streaming IPs rather than shared datacenter IPs.
Pros and Cons
Based on what we found, here is a summary:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Multiple protocol options listed | WireGuard listed but no servers available |
| Servers in MENA region | V2Ray limited to 2 EU locations |
| iOS, Android, macOS, Windows apps | Proprietary protocols with no documentation |
| Easy one-tap connect | Slower and less stable in Tegant's own comparison |
| Protocol details hidden until after signup | |
| Requests cross-app tracking (unusual for a paid-only VPN) | |
| Streaming servers use commonly-blocked IPs |
Alternatives for UAE Users
If you need a VPN that reliably works in the UAE for VoIP calls and streaming, consider these factors:
What to Look For
- Documented protocols: Look for VPNs using standard protocols (WireGuard, V2Ray with VLESS/Reality) where you can verify the security
- Low latency servers: For VoIP calls, servers with ping under 150ms and minimal jitter are essential
- Clear no-logs policy: Look for VPNs with transparent privacy policies and a track record of protecting user data
- Dedicated streaming IPs: Avoid VPNs using shared datacenter IPs that streaming services block
Tegant VPN, our own app, addresses most of these concerns with WireGuard and an XRay suite built on VLESS + Vision + Reality, Trojan and XHTTP (included with Premium), high-speed servers (up to 10Gbps) with low latency, and a no-logs policy (see the privacy policy); like Mena VPN's, Tegant's no-logs policy hasn't been independently audited. Premium is ad-free. For more options, see our guide to the best VPN for UAE.
FAQ
Is Mena VPN free?
No. Mena VPN is a paid subscription service. While it may offer a trial period, ongoing use requires payment.
Is Mena VPN legal in UAE?
In the UAE, using another IP address or any other means to commit a crime or hide one can be punished with prison and a fine of AED 500,000 to 2,000,000 under Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 (Article 10). The regulator, TDRA, treats VPNs used to reach blocked content as prohibited and allows only licensed calling apps, and its FAQ says people who use unlicensed VoIP services may be committing an offence. See our guide on VPN legality for more details.
Does Mena VPN have WireGuard?
WireGuard is listed in the app, but when we checked, there were no server locations available. The protocol appears to be unavailable despite being shown in the interface.
Does Mena VPN work for WhatsApp calls in UAE?
Results are inconsistent. In Tegant's own comparison its latency and jitter were high enough to cause choppy audio and dropped calls. For reliable VoIP, look for a VPN with lower ping and stable connections.
What protocols does Mena VPN use?
Mena VPN lists Network+, Open R, z8, V2Ray, Fortress, WireGuard, and IKEv2. However, most servers use proprietary protocols (Network+, z8, Open R, Fortress) that are not documented. V2Ray is limited to 2 locations, and WireGuard has no servers available.
For a stable and secure connection in the UAE, Tegant VPN offers V2Ray/XRay protocols with Reality obfuscation (included with Premium) and a no-logs policy (see the privacy policy), though no VPN can guarantee it works on every network. Get started with Tegant VPN today.
Get Tegant VPN. Available on iPhone, iPad, Mac and Android.
