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The UAE Cabinet has approved a resolution establishing 15 as the minimum age for social media platform use, prohibiting anyone younger from creating, using or operating personal accounts. Those aged 15 and 16 will face mandatory safeguards including robust age verification systems, age-appropriate content filtering, limits on interactions with unknown users, screen time restrictions and parental control features that cannot be overridden by consent alone. The decision, numbered 106 of 2026, gives social media platforms 12 months to implement the necessary technical and operational changes across their services while requiring continuous monitoring and immediate corrective measures for non-compliant accounts.
Platforms must also enforce a full ban on the commercial use of children’s personal data for tracking or advertising purposes under the new rules. The UAE government has emphasised that families and caregivers hold an active role in supervising children’s online activities and promoting safe digital habits to support the regulatory framework. According to the official government platform, these provisions facilitate a gradual shift toward healthier and more balanced digital engagement calibrated to varying age groups.
The UAE has become the first Arab country to introduce such a minimum age restriction as governments worldwide address the impact of online platforms on children. A Reuters report on the resolution highlighted concerns including exposure to inappropriate content, unsafe interactions, excessive use and the collection of personal data as key drivers behind the measures. Comparable steps have appeared in Europe and Australia in recent months as part of broader international efforts to strengthen child online protections.
Implementation demands that platforms integrate advanced age verification technologies, including digital identification and artificial intelligence tools, moving away from self-reported ages that will no longer suffice. Under-15s will be barred from interactive features such as posting, commenting, sharing content, joining public groups or participating in open channels. The resolution further instructs platforms to maintain ongoing compliance audits and enforcement protocols to sustain the integrity of the restrictions over time.
Regional data illustrate the extent of youth engagement with social media that has informed regulatory action across the Gulf. A 2023 study examining Emirati adolescents and young adults connected prevalent social media usage to impacts on sleep quality and other health factors among frequent users. The analysis, published in a peer-reviewed public health journal, aligns with high adoption rates observed throughout the GCC amid widespread internet access.
