The UAE Cabinet has issued a resolution setting the minimum age for social media use at 15 and creating rules to protect children online.
Platforms have up to 12 months to implement the requirements in coordination with authorities to ensure technical and regulatory readiness, Reuters reports.
Under the ruling, children under 15 are prohibited from creating or using personal social media accounts and cannot access full platform features.
Those aged 15–16 may use platforms under stricter conditions: age-appropriate content classification, restricted interaction, limits on usage time, and mandatory parental controls. Parental consent does not override these protections.
Platforms must deploy accurate, reliable age-verification systems, monitor non-compliant accounts, and take immediate enforcement actions.
