UAE enacts law setting minimum age of 15 for social‑media use

The United Arab Emirates Cabinet issued Resolution No. 106 of 2026, titled “Regulating Children’s Access to Social Media Platforms.” The law establishes 15 years as the minimum age for personal social‑media accounts. Children under 15 are prohibited from creating, using, or operating personal accounts and from accessing full platform features such as posting, commenting, sharing, and joining large interactive spaces.

A second tier applies to youths aged 15 to under 16, allowing limited access but mandating protective measures including content filtering, parental controls, restrictions on interactions with unknown users and screen‑time limits. NEP experts Asma Al Azri, Faisal Al Hawi and Sumaya Al Hajeri emphasised that the law’s impact will depend on cooperation from families, schools and digital platforms, noting growing risks from social media, online gaming and generative AI.

The legislation is presented as a step toward stronger child digital safety and positions the UAE as a regional leader in regulating online environments for minors.