By Ghazali Ibrahim
The United Arab Emirates has announced a nationwide ban on social media use by children under the age of 15, becoming the first Arab country to adopt such a measure amid growing global concerns about online safety and mental health.
Under a cabinet resolution issued on Thursday, social media platforms operating in the UAE must identify and disable accounts belonging to users younger than 15 years or face sanctions, including possible partial or full blocking of their services.
The companies have been given a 12-month transition period to comply with the new rules.
According to the state-run WAM news agency, the resolution sets 15 as the minimum age for creating, using, or operating personal social media accounts.
“Children below this age are prohibited from creating, using, or operating personal accounts on social media platforms,” the agency quoted the resolution as saying.
The UAE joins a growing list of countries tightening restrictions on children’s access to social media. Australia introduced a ban for users under 16 in December 2025, while Britain recently announced similar measures.
Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey and several European countries have also adopted regulations aimed at limiting young people’s exposure to social media.
Authorities say the restrictions are intended to protect children from cyberbullying, online predators, harmful content and addictive digital behaviour, while also addressing concerns about mental health and declining physical activity.
The new rules also limit the features available to younger users, preventing children from participating in social interactions, posting content, commenting, sharing material, joining public groups or accessing large-scale interactive spaces online.
Teenagers aged between 15 and 16 will still be allowed to use social media but under stricter safeguards, including content filters and limits on screen time.
The resolution empowers media and telecommunications regulators to take enforcement actions against non-compliant platforms. Such measures may include warnings, administrative penalties, or the partial or complete blocking of services.
Parents and caregivers are also expected to ensure that children do not circumvent age-verification systems. The government stressed that parental approval would not exempt underage users from the ban.
The move reflects what UAE authorities described as alignment with international efforts to strengthen child protection in digital spaces.
The Gulf nation already maintains strict regulations governing online activity, including laws against spreading misinformation and rumours on the internet. During recent conflicts in the Middle East, authorities arrested hundreds of individuals for sharing images and content related to attacks.
