The UAE has introduced a robust digital safety framework under Cabinet Resolution No. 106 of 2026, aimed at significantly tightening control over how children interact with social media. The new law mandates that platforms—regardless of where they are based—must strictly verify user ages and immediately disable accounts belonging to anyone under 15. Simple date-of-birth declarations will no longer suffice; companies are required to implement rigorous verification processes, such as government ID checks or biometric scanning. Furthermore, for teenagers aged 15 to 16, access is not unrestricted. Platforms are legally obligated to provide special protective settings, limit high-risk features like open live streaming or direct messaging, and prevent targeted behavioral advertising.

To ensure compliance, social media companies have been granted a 12-month transition period to overhaul their systems. During this time, they must integrate advanced safety tools, including parental controls that allow guardians to monitor settings without having the power to bypass the law's core protections. The legislation also places a clear burden of responsibility on caregivers, prohibiting them from helping children circumvent age restrictions. Oversight will be handled by the National Media Authority and the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, both of which have the power to issue warnings or block platforms that fail to meet these new standards for protecting young digital users.