From Turkey and Syria to Jordan and Qatar, at least seven countries in the Middle East have imposed internet restrictions in 2025. These have disrupted how both citizens and tourists alike access content online.
Internet blocks may be temporary, like in Turkey when authorities restricted access to major social media platforms for 42 hours back in March. But restrictions can also last months or even years. In August, for example, Qatar blocked access to the popular online game, Roblox, due to child safety concerns and it's been years since people in the UAE have been able to use VoIP features on WhatsApp freely.
