UAE to introduce stricter measures to prevent minors accessing digital content with gambling
Authorities in the UAE are preparing phased online child protection measures.
New online child protection measures in the UAE will cover a range of digital services, including gaming and gambling-related content. The policy direction was discussed during a meeting of the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council, where officials identified online child protection as a national priority.
They discussed a phased regulatory approach beginning with high-impact platforms and later extending to other digital platforms. The framework will build on Federal Decree-Law No. 26 of 2025 on Child Digital Safety, which prohibits digital platforms from allowing minors to access, create accounts for, or participate in online games with gambling elements.
Authorities said there will be clearer obligations for service providers, including age-gating systems, monitoring tools and enforcement mechanisms designed to prevent underage access to restricted digital content.
