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The UAE has taken a decisive step in strengthening online protection for minors with the introduction of Federal Decree Law No. 26 of 2025 on Child Digital Safety in the UAE. This landmark legislation places extensive obligations on digital platforms operating in or targeting the UAE. It includes global technology companies, streaming services, social media platforms, online games, and e-commerce providers. The law signals a clear shift toward heightened accountability, requiring platforms to embed child safety at the core of their digital operations.
Scope and Reach of the Child Digital Safety Law
The Child Digital Safety Law applies to all digital platforms that provide services accessible to users in the UAE. It does not matter where the platform is headquartered. This extraterritorial reach means that foreign technology companies must comply with UAE standards if their services are available to children in the country. The law comes into effect on January 1, 2026, with a one year transitional period allowing platforms to align their systems before full enforcement begins in January 2027.
Age Thresholds and Parental Consent Requirements
A central pillar of the law is the protection of children’s personal data. Platforms are prohibited from processing personal data of children under the age of 13 without explicit and verifiable parental consent. Even where consent is granted, data usage must be strictly limited, with clear prohibitions on profiling, behavioural advertising, or any form of commercial exploitation targeting minors.
Enhanced Privacy by Default
The legislation mandates high privacy settings by default for all child users. Platforms must ensure that accounts created by or for minors automatically restrict data sharing, visibility, and interaction features unless actively modified by a parent or guardian. This approach reverses traditional platform models that rely on user intervention to enhance privacy.
Age Verification and Risk-Based Controls
Digital platforms are required to implement age verification mechanisms proportionate to the level of risk posed by their services. Higher risk platforms, such as social media, gaming, and streaming services, must apply more robust verification and monitoring measures. Age classification of content is mandatory, ensuring that children are not exposed to material deemed inappropriate for their age group.
Content Moderation and Harm Prevention
The law places strong emphasis on proactive content moderation. Platforms must deploy systems, including artificial intelligence tools, to detect, block, and report harmful material, including child sexual abuse material and other content that threatens child wellbeing. Clear notice and takedown procedures must be established, with prompt action required once violations are identified.
Restrictions on Gambling and Commercial Gaming
Children are expressly prohibited from accessing gambling or commercial gaming features. Platforms offering such services must implement effective barriers to prevent underage access and ensure compliance through technical and procedural safeguards.
Parental Controls and Supervision Tools
To reinforce parental involvement, platforms must provide tools enabling caregivers to supervise usage. These include time limits, activity monitoring, content controls, and reporting mechanisms. The law recognises parents and guardians as key stakeholders in digital safety, placing shared responsibility on families alongside platforms.
Obligations on Internet Service Providers
Internet Service Providers operating in the UAE are also subject to new duties. They must support content filtering, enforce parental control terms, and report detected violations. This creates a multi layered regulatory framework extending beyond platform operators alone.
Regulatory Oversight and Governance
A newly established Child Digital Safety Council will oversee implementation, issue technical standards, classify platforms by risk level, and coordinate enforcement strategy. While specific penalties are expected to be detailed through future regulations, the law builds on existing frameworks such as UAE cybercrime legislation and child protection laws, indicating serious consequences for non compliance.
Compliance Implications for Global Technology Companies
For global platforms, compliance will require significant operational adjustments. These include updating privacy policies with child specific sections, redesigning user journeys, upgrading technical infrastructure, implementing transparency reporting, and aligning internal governance with UAE regulatory expectations. Failure to adapt exposes companies to regulatory scrutiny and potential enforcement action.
Conclusion
The UAE Child Digital Safety Law represents a comprehensive and forward looking regulatory approach to protecting minors in an increasingly digital world. By extending obligations across borders and demanding proactive safeguards, the UAE has positioned itself as a regional leader in child online protection. Digital platforms operating in or accessible from the UAE must act decisively to ensure compliance, not only to meet legal requirements but to maintain trust and long term market access.
For businesses seeking guidance, Al Kabban & Associates, with over 30 years of experience in UAE law and recognition by Legal 500, stands ready to help corporations build resilience against legal risks while ensuring compliance with local and international standards. For more information or to schedule a consultation, contact us at +971 4 453 9090 or visit www.alkabban.com. You can also follow us on social media for more updates on everything law related in the UAE: @Alkabban_Law
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