Children under 15 are prohibited from making their own social media accounts or using these platforms anywhere in the UAE, the Emiratis Cabinet has decided. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum chaired the resolution, which was approved on June 18, 2026. By 2026, the UAE will be the first Arab nation to impose a minimum age for social media use.
Key Rules Under the Ban
- Children under 15 years old cannot make, use, or manage any social media account.
- They are not allowed to post, comment, share, or join public groups.
- It’s not possible to waive the ban with parental consent.
- Platforms with limited settings are only available for kidagedom 15-16 years old.
- Platforms have 12 months — up until June 2027 — to 100% comply.
What This Means for Residents
Digital platforms, such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, YouTube, and X, will have to introduce age confirmation on their platforms, while accounts of users aged 15 or under will be banned instantly. Platforms not compliant will face fines or blockage in the UAE.
The UAE government’s survey of 2024 estimates that the average kid spends 3 hours a day on social media. The ban comes as part of the UAE’s initiative to curb child misuse of digital content, dubbed the UAE’s Child Digital Safety (CDS) Law, and underlines the country’s strategy to launch the Year of the Family (YOF) 2026.
FAQs
Which platforms does this ban apply to?
All UAE social media platforms – TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, YouTube, and X.
Can parents permit their child to use social media?
There is no valid exemption from the new resolution (no, it’s parental consent).
What about children aged 15 to 16?
They can use limited access platforms with content filters, no strangers and interactions, screen time limits, and parental controls.
When do platforms need to comply?
Platforms will have up to 12 months from June 18, 2026 (about June 2027).
What happens to existing underage accounts?
Children under 15 years old must have their accounts monitored and suspended or disabled as soon as possible.
