The United Arab Emirates has approved a new regulation prohibiting children under the age of 15 from creating or operating personal social media accounts, even with parental consent.
The decision, announced by the UAE Cabinet on Thursday through the state news agency WAM, marks the first such nationwide restriction in the Arab world as governments intensify efforts to protect minors from online risks.
According to the resolution, children below 15 are barred from creating, using, or managing personal accounts on social media platforms. The restriction also extends to accessing key platform features such as posting, commenting, sharing content, joining public groups, and participating in open online communities.
“The resolution sets the minimum age for social media use at 15 years,” WAM reported, adding that platforms are expected to enforce the rule strictly.
Under the new policy, parental consent will not exempt minors from the restriction. The government said the move is aimed at reducing exposure to harmful content, unsafe online interactions, excessive screen time, and data privacy risks affecting children.
The rules also introduce additional safeguards for users aged 15 and 16 who are permitted to access social media. These include content filters, restrictions on unknown contacts, screen-time management tools, and enhanced parental monitoring features.
Authorities said the measure reflects growing global concern over children’s digital safety, as countries continue to introduce stricter regulations on social media usage among minors.
The UAE’s decision positions it as the first Arab nation to enforce a minimum age requirement for independent social media access without parental override, setting a new benchmark for digital child protection policy in the region.
