UAE issues new federal law on child digital safety

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UAE issues new federal law on child digital safety

December 27, 2025

ABU DHABI,— The United Arab Emirates has issued a new federal decree-law aimed at strengthening protections for children in digital spaces, establishing a broad legal framework that addresses online safety, data protection, and age-appropriate content, according to the state-run Emirates News Agency WAM.

The law was issued on Friday and forms part of the country’s wider social policy agenda, including the government’s declaration of 2026 as the Year of Family.

Officials said the legislation is designed to improve the quality of life for children and protect them across digital, social, and technological environments.

According to WAM, the decree-law focuses on reducing digital risks that may harm children’s physical, psychological, and moral well-being.

It introduces clear responsibilities for government authorities, private sector companies, and caregivers, while establishing oversight mechanisms to ensure coordination among relevant institutions.

The legislation applies to internet service providers and digital platforms operating within the UAE or directing their services toward users in the country.

Covered platforms include websites, search engines, smart applications, messaging services, forums, online gaming platforms, social media networks, live streaming services, podcast platforms, video-on-demand services, streaming platforms, and e-commerce websites.

In addition to companies, the decree-law also applies to individuals responsible for children, setting out their duties related to supervising and safeguarding minors in digital environments.

A central element of the legislation is the establishment of a Child Digital Safety Council.

Photo: Creative Commons/Andrea Piacquadio/pexels

According to the decree-law, the council will be chaired by the Minister of Family and will act as an advisory and coordination body linking federal and local authorities with the private sector.

Its role is to align national efforts aimed at improving digital safety standards for children.

The council’s responsibilities include proposing policies, legislation, and national strategies related to child digital safety. It will also be tasked with recommending awareness campaigns and conducting research to track emerging online risks linked to rapid technological change, according to the official statement.

The decree-law was issued following approval by the UAE Cabinet and came after endorsement from the Education, Human Development, and Community Development Council. It introduces a national system for classifying digital platforms based on their potential risks and impact on children.

This classification framework will assess platforms according to their content, purpose, level of user engagement, and overall influence on minors. Based on this assessment, platforms will be subject to specific regulatory standards, including age-based restrictions and usage controls.

Under the law, digital platforms are prohibited from collecting, processing, publishing, or sharing personal data belonging to children under the age of 13, except under defined conditions.

Platforms used for educational or health-related purposes may be exempted through a Cabinet resolution, provided that strict safeguards are in place to protect children’s privacy and security.

The decree-law also imposes obligations on digital platforms to reduce children’s exposure to harmful content. These include the use of default privacy settings, age verification systems, tools that enforce age limits, content filtering mechanisms, age-based content ratings, and controls on targeted digital advertising.

Online gambling-related activities involving children are strictly prohibited. The law bans digital platforms from allowing children to participate in, register for, or access online commercial games that involve betting or monetary wagering.

Internet service providers are also required to comply with new obligations. These include implementing network-level content filtering systems and taking steps to ensure that internet access for children is safe and supervised.

Providers must require guardians to agree to service terms that include the use of parental control tools.

The decree-law outlines responsibilities for caregivers as well. These include monitoring children’s online activities, using parental controls, and avoiding the creation of accounts for children on platforms that are not suitable for their age or do not meet enhanced protection standards.

According to WAM, the Ministry of Family, along with relevant local authorities, will develop programs and enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance.

The law also establishes procedures for reporting harmful digital content, with the goal of enabling faster responses to cases involving online abuse or exploitation of children.

(With files from UAE government | WAM)