The UAE has launched the Child Digital Safety Law as part of its 2026 “Year of the Family” initiative, aiming to protect children from online risks. This law assigns responsibility to parents and guardians because it recognizes that both digital and physical safety needs to be protected for children.
The regulation establishes legal responsibility for parents who must monitor their children's online activities across all digital platforms and internet service providers, and at home.
The UAE Child Digital Safety Law requires guardians to implement "Digital Due Diligence" procedures. The requirements include monitoring children's app and game usage to restrict access. Parents need to supervise their children's social media activities to detect cyberbullying. Parents are expected to act immediately if their child is targeted or engages in harmful online behaviour.
The law establishes a tiered penalty system. Initial lapses in monitoring can result in fines starting at AED 5,000, while serious breaches that put children at risk, such as ignoring evidence of grooming, may reach AED 50,000 to AED 100,000. The system doubles penalties for cases involving repeated or intentional breaches that include enabling access to dangerous materials.
The law establishes digital safety training requirements that parents must complete to prove their compliance with existing regulations through the Wadeema Law.
Family members can achieve compliance with the Child Digital Safety Law through the implementation of specific practical measures. Parents need to establish parental controls across all their devices, while they should restrict their children's use of platforms according to their designated age.
The organization establishes communication channels that enable children to report any suspicious events they observe. Parents need to create a home environment that promotes responsible digital behavior because this approach will help them protect their children while remaining within the boundaries of UAE legal requirements.
The new law establishes shared online child protection responsibilities between parents and others who must take required legal and practical actions to protect their children when they use digital platforms.