Today's Edition
BATOOL GHAITH (ABU DHABI)
The UAE has enacted a comprehensive digital child safety law designed to protect children from online threats and ensure a safe, age-appropriate digital environment as technology becomes more central to everyday life.
The law, formally titled Federal Decree-Law No. (26) of 2025 on Child Digital Safety came into force on January 1, 2026.
At its core, the law aims to shield children from digital risks and harmful content that could negatively affect their physical, psychological or moral wellbeing, aligning with the UAE's declaration of 2026 as the Year of Family to safeguard and enhance the quality of life of children across all environments.
Scope of the Law
The legislation applies broadly to all digital platforms, websites and applications operating in the UAE or targeting users within the country. This includes social media platforms, online gaming services, messaging applications, video sharing platforms, digital advertising services and any other online service that allows interaction, content sharing, or data collection.
It also places obligations on internet service providers, content creators and advertisers, as well as parents and caregivers, creating a shared responsibility model for protecting children online.
Creating a Safe Digital Environment for Children
Central to the law is the requirement that children have access to a safe, age-appropriate digital environment.
Platforms are required to actively prevent children from accessing content that may be harmful to their physical, psychological, or moral development.
This includes violent material, sexual or inappropriate content, content promoting harmful behaviour, misinformation targeted at minors, or material that exploits a child's vulnerability.
Platforms are expected to adopt clear moderation systems, content classification tools and safety mechanisms to ensure compliance.
Stronger Protections for Children's Data and Privacy
The law introduces strict rules governing the collection, processing, and use of children's personal data. Digital platforms are prohibited from collecting or using data belonging to children under the age of 13 without obtaining explicit parental or guardian consent.
It also limits the use of children's data for behavioural tracking, profiling and targeted advertising. Platforms must clearly explain how children's data is used, in language that parents and guardians can easily understand, and must provide the option to withdraw consent at any time.
Age Verification and Restricted Digital Activities
Digital service providers are required to introduce age-verification systems to ensure children are not accessing content or services that are legally restricted. This includes a clear prohibition on children's access to online gambling and similar digital activities, as well as other age-restricted services.
Role of Parents and Caregivers
The law also highlights the role of parents and caregivers in supervising children's digital activity. Guardians are encouraged to use parental-control tools, guide children on safe online behaviour, and report harmful or inappropriate content to authorities or platform operators.
The legislation emphasises digital awareness and education as key pillars of child protection, recognising that legal safeguards must be supported by informed supervision.
Oversight, Enforcement and Penalties
To oversee implementation, the law establishes a Child Digital Safety Council, chaired by the Minister of Family. The council will coordinate national policy, monitor compliance, propose updates to regulations, and lead public awareness campaigns on digital safety.
Authorities are granted enforcement powers, including the ability to take action against platforms that fail to comply with the law's requirements. Administrative penalties may be imposed on entities that violate child protection standards.
Samara Iqbal, Founder of Aramas International Lawyers, said that the new UAE Child Digital Safety Decree-Law represents a significant step in modernising child protection in line with the digital realities children face today.
Speaking to Aletihad, Iqbal said that the law's preventative and shared-responsibility approach truly stands out as it places clear obligations not only on parents and guardians, but also on digital platforms, service providers, and educational institutions to actively safeguard children online.
"By addressing issues such as harmful content, data privacy, cyberbullying, and exploitation under one unified framework, the law signals a shift from reactive enforcement to proactive digital risk management, positioning the UAE as a regional leader in child-focused digital governance," she said.
What distinguishes this decree-law, is its emphasis on prevention rather than punishment, Iqbal noted.
"It encourages early intervention, awareness, and digital risk mitigation, which is a more effective approach when dealing with evolving online harms such as cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and digital exploitation," she explained.
The UAE's Child Digital Safety Law sends a clear message that child protection must extend into digital spaces, with legal accountability shared between families, institutions, and technology providers, Iqbal added.
