The United Arab Emirates is leading the way in the Arab world with a new regulation that restricts children’s use of social media platforms until the age of 15. This significant move, announced by the UAE Cabinet, addresses growing concerns about the risks associated with young users on such platforms. By becoming the first Arab nation to implement these measures, the UAE is taking proactive steps to ensure a safer digital environment for its youth amidst increasing calls from across the region for similar regulations.
The Regulation Details
On Thursday, the UAE Cabinet announced a new regulation that establishes a minimum age of 15 for children to use social media platforms, marking a significant milestone as the first Arab country to adopt such a measure. This decision was reported by the country’s official news agency, WAM, and comes as part of broader efforts in the Arab world, with Egypt having hinted at similar initiatives in recent months.
Rationale Behind the Decision
The Cabinet cited the rapid increase in children’s usage of social media as a reason for the new regulation. Concerns have been raised regarding the associated digital challenges, including exposure to inappropriate content, unsafe interactions, personal data collection, and excessive usage patterns. The regulation, therefore, aims to protect children from these emerging risks.
Scope of the Regulation
This newly instituted regulation applies to all social media platforms that allow users to create accounts, engage socially, or share content, regardless of whether the services are free or paid. The law mandates that users under 15 are prohibited from creating or managing personal accounts on these platforms. Additionally, full access to features such as social interaction, posting, commenting, or joining public groups is also restricted for this age group.
Implementation Measures
The regulation requires social media platforms to implement technical and organizational measures to effectively enforce age verification, utilizing digital identification methods or artificial intelligence-supported technologies. Platforms operating in the UAE or targeting users within the country are also required to monitor accounts created by children under 15 and take immediate action to deactivate or suspend infringing accounts.
Regulatory Oversight and Transition Period
The National Media Authority and the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority have been designated as the enforcers of compliance with the new rules, ensuring that social media platforms adhere to the established standards. These platforms are granted a transitional period of up to 12 months to align with the new regulations, with authorities empowered to take necessary actions against violations, including warnings or complete blocking of accounts.
As highlighted in the recent “Digital 2026: UAE” report from DataReportal, the number of internet users in the UAE reached 11.3 million by the end of 2025, indicating a penetration rate of 99% among the population. Concurrently, 12.5 million active social media identities have been recorded, underlining the need for robust regulations like this to safeguard younger users in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.