UAE introduces federal law to safeguard children online

Dubai: The UAE government has issued a Federal Decree-Law on child digital safety, introducing a comprehensive legislative framework to protect children from online risks and promote the responsible use of safe, age-appropriate digital content.

The move aligns with the UAE’s declaration of 2026 as the Year of the Family and forms part of the country’s broader vision to safeguard and enhance children’s quality of life across all environments.

The legislation aims to protect children from harmful digital content and practices that may negatively affect their physical, psychological and moral wellbeing.

The decree-law establishes a comprehensive governance framework defining the roles and responsibilities of relevant authorities, ensuring coordination and integration to protect children and their rights within the digital ecosystem.

The decree-law applies to internet service providers and digital platforms operating within the UAE or targeting users in the country.

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

The law also applies to those responsible for the care of children, clearly defining their obligations in ensuring the digital safety of children under their supervision.

Child Digital Safety Council established

The decree-law establishes the Child Digital Safety Council, chaired by the Minister of Family, as an advisory and coordinating body to strengthen collaboration between federal and local entities and the private sector.

The council will be responsible for proposing policies, legislation and strategies to enhance child digital safety, launching nationwide awareness campaigns, and conducting studies to monitor emerging digital risks amid rapid technological change.

Issued following approval by the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council, the decree-law introduces a system for categorising digital platforms based on their risk level and impact on children.

The framework sets regulatory standards according to platform type, content, usage volume and potential impact, and defines age-based controls and restrictions.

The decree-law prohibits digital platforms from collecting, processing, publishing or sharing the personal data of children under 13, except under specific conditions.

Educational and health-related platforms may be exempt, subject to a UAE Cabinet resolution, provided strict measures are in place to protect children’s safety and privacy.

Digital platforms must implement default privacy settings, age-verification mechanisms, age-restriction tools, content blocking and filtering systems, age-rating features, and controls on targeted online advertising.

The legislation also prohibits children from participating in or accessing online commercial games involving gambling or betting, including the creation of related accounts.

Internet service providers are required to activate content-filtering systems, enforce policies against harmful content, and ensure safe and supervised internet use by children. This includes requiring guardians to sign service terms and enabling parental control tools.

Child caregivers must monitor digital activities, use parental control tools, and refrain from creating accounts for children on platforms that are not age-uitable or fail to meet child protection standards.

The Ministry of Family, along with relevant local authorities, will develop programmes and mechanisms to ensure compliance. The decree-law also regulates reporting procedures for harmful content, ensuring swift action against online abuse or exploitation.