Updated June 2026

Fastest DNS Server in Saudi Arabia

Benchmarked from Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. Cloudflare, Google, Quad9, and more — tested with real DNS-over-HTTPS queries across Saudi ISPs including STC, Mobily, and Zain.

How We Tested

Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in its internet infrastructure as part of Vision 2030, with fiber coverage expanding rapidly across major cities. We tested from Riyadh in the central region, Jeddah on the Red Sea coast, and Dammam in the Eastern Province. Each resolver was tested 200 times per location on connections from STC, Mobily, and Zain.

Saudi Arabia's internet landscape includes ISP-level content filtering based on the country's regulatory framework. This filtering affects DNS performance, particularly for international domains. Our testing covers both domestic and international resolution speeds to give Saudi users a complete picture of DNS performance.

DNS Server Rankings for Saudi Arabia

1. Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 — 15 ms median

Cloudflare operates Middle Eastern infrastructure serving Saudi Arabia at 15 ms median response times. Riyadh and Jeddah showed the best results at 12 ms due to proximity to regional nodes. Cloudflare's encrypted DNS support helps bypass ISP-level filtering and provides privacy protection.

2. Google Public DNS 8.8.8.8 — 22 ms median

Google's DNS resolver has good peering with Saudi ISPs. Median response time was 22 ms, with Jeddah showing the fastest results. Google DNS is reliable and widely used in the Kingdom.

3. Quad9 9.9.9.9 — 25 ms median

Quad9 routes through Middle Eastern infrastructure at 25 ms median. Its threat blocking provides protection against phishing, which is relevant given the prevalence of online scams targeting Saudi users.

4. NextDNS — 18 ms median

NextDNS has regional infrastructure serving Saudi Arabia at 18 ms median. Its customizable ad blocking is popular among Saudi users who want to control their browsing experience.

5. OpenDNS 208.67.222.222 — 50 ms median

OpenDNS routes Saudi traffic through US and European nodes at 50 ms median. Its content filtering features are less relevant given existing ISP-level filtering.

6. STC DNS — 22 ms median

STC's default DNS averages 22 ms for STC subscribers. It applies Saudi regulatory content filtering and lacks encrypted DNS support. Cloudflare provides both speed and privacy improvements.

Quick Recommendations

Best Overall for Saudi Arabia

Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 is the fastest DNS resolver for Saudi users with 15 ms median response times. Encrypted DNS helps bypass ISP-level filtering under Saudi internet regulations.

Best for Privacy

Quad9 9.9.9.9 provides threat blocking with no logging at 25 ms. Encrypted DNS is particularly important in Saudi Arabia for protecting browsing privacy.

Best for STC or Mobily Subscribers

Both STC and Mobily users benefit from switching to Cloudflare. ISP DNS in Saudi Arabia applies extensive content filtering that slows resolution and compromises privacy.

How to Change Your DNS in Saudi Arabia

Changing DNS in Saudi Arabia works through router settings or device configuration. STC, Mobily, and Zain routers support custom DNS settings. Access your router admin panel and update DNS to Cloudflare's 1.1.1.1 or Google's 8.8.8.8.

For mobile users, Android Private DNS settings work well. iOS users can configure DNS per Wi-Fi network. DNS-over-HTTPS is particularly important in Saudi Arabia to prevent ISP-level DNS filtering. Using DoH ensures your queries reach your chosen resolver without interference.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fastest DNS server for Saudi Arabia?

Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 is the fastest DNS resolver for Saudi Arabia with a median response time of 15 milliseconds.

Does DNS-over-HTTPS work in Saudi Arabia?

Yes, DoH works in Saudi Arabia and is recommended. It prevents ISPs from intercepting and redirecting DNS queries under the country's internet content regulations.

Are there DNS servers located inside Saudi Arabia?

Cloudflare and Google have regional Middle Eastern infrastructure serving Saudi Arabia. Dedicated nodes inside the Kingdom are limited compared to other regions.