Legislation Details
- Full Title: Federal Decree by Law Regarding Child Digital Safety
- Law Type: Federal Decree-Law
- Law Number: [26] of 2025
- Issued Date: 01 Oct 2025
- Effective Date: 01 Jan 2026
- Official Gazette: No. 809
- Sector: Family and Community
- Status: Active
- Number of Articles: 43
- Chapters/Parts: 0
- Amendments: 0
Summary
The Federal Decree-Law Regarding Child Digital Safety aims to enhance child digital safety in the UAE. It establishes a governance framework to protect children from digital risks and harmful content, and to promote responsible use of digital platforms. The law applies to internet service providers, digital platforms, and child caregivers, defining their obligations and establishing a Child Digital Safety Council to coordinate efforts across federal and local authorities. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Child Digital Safety, 2025, Arts. 1-3) The law is significant for businesses and individuals in the UAE, as it introduces new requirements for digital platforms and service providers to implement enhanced child protection controls and age verification mechanisms. It also empowers authorities to monitor and enforce compliance, with potential penalties for non-compliance. The practical impact is to create a safer digital environment for children in the UAE. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Child Digital Safety, 2025, Arts. 4-20)
What is the scope and purpose of this law?
The Federal Decree-Law Regarding Child Digital Safety aims to enhance child digital safety in the UAE. It applies to internet service providers and digital platforms operating within the UAE or directed at UAE users, as well as child caregivers. The law's objectives are to protect children from digital risks and harmful content, raise awareness about digital rights and responsibilities, and establish a governance framework to coordinate efforts across authorities to safeguard children's rights in the digital environment. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Child Digital Safety, 2025, Arts. 2-3)
What are the key definitions under this law?
The law provides the following key definitions:
- State: The United Arab Emirates
- Ministry: The Ministry of Family
- Minister: The Minister of Family
- Authority: The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA)
- Council: The Child Digital Safety Council
- Child: Any human being who has not completed the age of eighteen (18) Gregorian years
- Child Caregiver: The person legally responsible for the child, whether a parent, guardian, or any person entrusted by law with the child's care and protection
- Internet Service Provider: Any licensed person who provides users with access services to the information network
- Digital Platform: An electronic means that enables interaction and communication among users in the digital space and provides digital services or content
- Harmful Content: Any content that may adversely affect the moral, psychological, or social values of children or society, and contravenes media content standards
(Federal Decree by Law Regarding Child Digital Safety, 2025, Art. 1)
What are the main obligations and requirements?
The law imposes the following key obligations: 1. Internet service providers and digital platforms must comply with the digital platform classification system and implement enhanced child protection controls based on their classification. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Child Digital Safety, 2025, Art. 6) 2. Digital platforms must protect the privacy and personal data of children under 13, obtain parental consent, and provide mechanisms for withdrawing consent. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Child Digital Safety, 2025, Art. 7) 3. Digital platforms must implement age verification mechanisms to restrict access by children to age-inappropriate content or services. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Child Digital Safety, 2025, Art. 8) 4. Child caregivers must fulfill their obligations to protect children in the digital environment, including monitoring and managing their children's digital activities. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Child Digital Safety, 2025, Art. 13)
What licensing, registration, or approval requirements exist?
The legislation does not specify any licensing, registration, or approval requirements under this law.
What rights and protections does this law provide?
The law aims to protect children's rights in the digital environment, including: 1. The right to access appropriate and safe digital content. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Child Digital Safety, 2025, Art. 2(1)) 2. The right to privacy and protection of personal data. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Child Digital Safety, 2025, Art. 7) 3. The right to be protected from digital risks and harmful content that may adversely affect their physical, psychological, and moral well-being. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Child Digital Safety, 2025, Art. 2(1))
Which authorities or bodies are responsible for enforcement?
The key authorities and bodies responsible for enforcement under this law are: 1. The Child Digital Safety Council, which is established to coordinate efforts across federal and local authorities, propose policies and legislation, and monitor implementation. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Child Digital Safety, 2025, Arts. 4-5) 2. The Ministry of Family, which chairs the Child Digital Safety Council and is responsible for proposing strategic directions, policies, and legislation. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Child Digital Safety, 2025, Arts. 4-5) 3. The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), which is responsible for regulating internet service providers and digital platforms. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Child Digital Safety, 2025, Art. 1) 4. Federal and local authorities concerned with child affairs, cybersecurity, digital environment protection, and digital media regulation. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Child Digital Safety, 2025, Art. 1)
What are the penalties for non-compliance?
The legislation does not specify any penalties for non-compliance with the provisions of this Federal Decree-Law.
What fees, charges, or financial provisions are specified?
The legislation does not specify any fees, charges, or financial provisions under this Federal Decree-Law.
What exemptions or exceptions apply?
The legislation does not provide any exemptions or exceptions from the scope of this Federal Decree-Law.
How are disputes resolved under this law?
The legislation does not specify any dispute resolution mechanisms under this Federal Decree-Law.
What are the key deadlines and time limits?
The legislation does not specify any deadlines or time limits under this Federal Decree-Law.
How does this law interact with other UAE legislation?
The Federal Decree-Law Regarding Child Digital Safety references and interacts with the following other UAE legislation: 1. Federal Law No. (1) of 1972 Regarding the Competences of Ministries and the Powers of Ministers, as amended. 2. Federal Decree by Law No. (3) of 2003 Regarding the Regulation of the Telecommunications, as amended. 3. Federal Law No. (3) of 2016 Regarding the Child Rights Law (Wadeema), as amended. 4. Federal Decree by Law No. (34) of 2021 Regarding the Countering Rumors and Cybercrimes, as amended. 5. Federal Decree by Law No. (45) of 2021 Regarding the Protection of Personal Data. 6. Federal Decree by Law No. (55) of 2023 Regarding the Regulation of Media. 7. Federal Decree by Law No. (42) of 2024 Regarding the Establishment and Regulation of the Education, Human Development, and Community Council. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Child Digital Safety, 2025, Preamble)
When did this law come into effect?
The Federal Decree-Law Regarding Child Digital Safety was issued on 01 October 2025 and came into effect on 01 January 2026. (Federal Decree by Law Regarding Child Digital Safety, 2025, Art. 20)
Source Documents
This article analyses Federal Decree by Law Regarding Child Digital Safety for legal research and educational purposes. For the purpose of interpretation and application, reference must be made to the original Arabic text. In case of conflict, the Arabic text prevails. This does not constitute legal advice.