I'm living in the UAE but my credit card info is based on my USA address. When I try to download an app for my iPad an error comes up on the page that says for assistance I must go to the apple.com support page but the error does not say the issue.

You may only use an iTunes or the Mac App Store designated for the country/region in which you reside. To make purchases you must provide a bank card from a bank in the country where you reside with a verifiable billing address in the country where you reside. Anything that does not meet these requirements is unacceptable and will result in rejection of your payment method.

If you maintain a US residency there isn't a problem with using a qualified US account while traveling. You just need a US bank card from a US bank with a verifiable US billing address.

As to your uncalled for crack about the late Steve Jobs, the iTunes Store was introduced in APR 2003, and this has been the policy from the start, long before Steve Jobs passed away.

If you read over what I have stated, you have to make purchases in the store for which your credentials qualify you. In your case, you may only make purchases in the US store. You may not make purchases in the store for the UAE.

Actually, yes. I have both a US and a Mexican account, because I have residency and the proper bank credentials for both. I have never had an issue with either of them from wherever in the world I have tried to use them.

Since you had to use a VPN, I would guess that the real issue is that you are in the UAE. The countries of the Middle East are known to control the use of the internet very conservatively. Apple's FaceTime is not allowed in some Middle Eastern countries and it is impossible to install the app on iOS devices sold in those countries. Folks who have bought iOS devices from other countries with FaceTime have reported that the app does not work when in certain Middle Eastern countries.

I agree with your thoughts but there are many other matters that impinge on the situation. Royalties, exclusivity deals with developers, licenses are just some of the reasons.