The UAE Federal National Council (FNC) has approved a draft law to protect the country’s cultural heritage, with severe penalties for anyone who damages, steals, or illegally trades in protected heritage items.

If enacted, the legislation would introduce fines of up to Dh10 million and prison sentences of up to 10 years for the most serious offences involving archaeological and heritage sites.

Why the new law?

The proposed legislation is designed to preserve the UAE’s rich cultural identity while supporting sustainable development and cultural tourism.

The law aims to:

• Protect, preserve, document, and promote the UAE’s cultural heritage.
• Encourage research and education related to heritage.
• Support cultural exchange and diversity.
• Preserve heritage for future generations.
• Boost heritage tourism across the UAE.
• Integrate cultural heritage into everyday community life.
• Encourage government and private organisations to include heritage in sustainable development plans.

What the law covers

The proposed legislation applies across all seven emirates, including free zones.

It protects a wide range of heritage, including:

• Tangible heritage such as historic buildings and artefacts.
• Intangible heritage, including traditions, customs, and cultural practices.
• Natural heritage.
• Digital heritage, including culturally significant digital records and archives.

The draft law classifies historical buildings as structures built before 1960, while modern heritage includes significant buildings constructed after 1960, such as schools, hospitals, museums, and industrial facilities.

Archaeological sites, shipwrecks, and submerged aircraft located within UAE territory are also protected under the proposed legislation.

Reporting heritage discoveries is mandatory

Anyone who discovers an archaeological object or cultural heritage item must report it within 48 hours to the relevant authority, the Ministry of Culture, or the nearest police station.

People who promptly report discoveries may be eligible for a reward, encouraging public participation in protecting the nation’s heritage.

Major penalties

Fines of Dh500,000 to Dh10 million

The highest penalties apply to offences such as:

• Deliberately damaging or destroying heritage sites or artefacts.
• Stealing or unlawfully taking cultural heritage items.
• Carrying out construction, demolition, or infrastructure work at protected sites without official approval.
• Smuggling cultural or archaeological items into or out of the UAE.

Up to 10 years in prison

Offenders may face prison sentences of up to 10 years, along with fines ranging from Dh300,000 to Dh5 million, for:

• Conducting illegal archaeological excavations.
• Using heritage sites as dumping grounds.
• Submitting false documents to export antiquities.
• Forging heritage artefacts or intentionally creating fake cultural items to deceive others.

Up to three years in prison

The draft law also proposes prison terms of up to three years and fines between Dh100,000 and Dh5 million for offences including:

• Removing or relocating heritage items without approval.
• Trading materials taken from protected heritage sites.
• Displaying advertisements on heritage or archaeological locations.
• Failing to register heritage items in private possession.
• Neglecting the preservation of registered heritage items.
• Obstructing authorised inspectors.
• Organising events involving cultural heritage without the required permits.

Strengthening heritage protection

The proposed legislation reflects the UAE’s commitment to preserving its history and cultural identity while promoting responsible tourism and sustainable development. If implemented, it will establish one of the region’s strongest legal frameworks for safeguarding cultural heritage and ensuring its preservation for future generations.

Planning to ride the UAE’s first Etihad Rail passenger service? Now is the perfect time to book. Etihad Rail has unveiled a limited-time 50% launch discount on tickets for its new Abu Dhabi–Fujairah route, bringing fares down to as little as Dh55.

The passenger service officially begins on June 30, but travellers will need to act fast. Demand has been exceptionally high since bookings opened, with many seats on launch day already sold out or close to selling out. The introductory offer applies to both Comfort and Premium classes, giving passengers an affordable chance to be among the first to experience the UAE’s highly anticipated rail network.

Introductory prices

Passengers can choose between two travel classes, both currently available at discounted launch fares:

Comfort Class

• Regular fare: Dh109
• Launch fare: Dh55

Premium Class

• Regular fare: Dh239
• Launch fare: Dh120

Which ticket type should you choose?

Etihad Rail offers three ticket tiers designed to suit different travel needs and levels of flexibility.

Saver

Ideal for travellers with fixed plans.

• Lowest-priced option
• Changes and refunds are not permitted
• Seat selection available for an additional fee
• Complimentary seat allocation 24 hours before departure
• Tickets cannot be transferred to another passenger

Value

Perfect if you need some flexibility.

• Free seat selection included
• Unlimited free changes up to 72 hours before departure
• Changes made within 72 hours incur a Dh20 fee plus any fare difference
• Non-refundable
• Non-transferable

Flex option

The most flexible ticket option.

• Complimentary seat selection
• Unlimited free changes before departure and up to 30 minutes after scheduled departure
• Full refund available when cancelled at least 24 hours before travel
• Same-day cancellations incur a 30% cancellation fee
• Transferable to another passenger before boarding

Travellers can upgrade from Saver to Value for an additional Dh10, or to Flex for Dh20.

How to book your ticket

Booking a journey is straightforward and can be completed online through the Etihad Rail website or mobile app.

Step 1: Choose the route

Select Abu Dhabi and Fujairah as your departure and arrival stations, then choose your preferred travel date. Tickets are currently available for journeys from June 30, 2026 onwards.

Step 2: Select the class

Choose between Comfort and Premium Class, then pick the ticket tier that best matches your travel plans.

Step 3: Add a return trip

If you’re planning a round trip, simply repeat the booking process for your return date.

Step 4: Enter passenger information

Provide your full name, email address and mobile number.

Step 5: Add optional services

Passengers can also book a connecting shuttle bus service for an additional Dh10.

Step 6: Complete payment

Pay securely using a credit card, debit card or mobile wallet. Once payment is confirmed, your digital ticket will be issued instantly. Physical ticket vending machines will also be available at stations.

Etihad Rail rollout timeline

The Abu Dhabi–Fujairah route marks the first phase of Etihad Rail’s passenger operations, with additional stations opening over the coming months.

June 30, 2026

Passenger services begin between Abu Dhabi and Fujairah.

September 30, 2026

Dubai Train Station and Al Dhaid Train Station officially open.

December 30, 2026

Stations in Al Dhafra become operational as the network expands further.

March 30, 2027

Sharjah Train Station opens, completing the planned passenger route network.

With launch fares starting from just Dh55 and travel times expected to transform journeys across the UAE, it’s no surprise tickets are already selling quickly. If you’re planning to be among the first passengers to experience Etihad Rail, booking sooner rather than later may be your best bet.

The UAE has introduced one of its strongest measures yet to protect children online, setting a minimum age of 15 for social media use.The new rules mean that children under 15 will no longer be allowed to create or use personal social media accounts, even if they have their parents’ permission.

For many families, the announcement raises practical questions. Which apps are affected? Can parents make exceptions? How will age checks work? And what changes for teenagers aged 15 and 16?

Here’s a breakdown of what the new regulations mean for parents.

Which platforms are affected?

The rules apply broadly to almost any platform that functions as a social media service. This includes platforms that allow users to create profiles, share content, interact with others, join communities, or receive content recommendations through algorithms. Whether a service is free or paid does not matter. If it is available in the UAE or targets users in the country, it falls within the scope of the new regulations.

What is banned for children under 15?

The most significant change is the introduction of a minimum age of 15 for social media use. Children below this age will no longer be allowed to create, use or operate personal social media accounts.

The restriction goes beyond simply opening an account. Children under 15 will also be prohibited from accessing the full range of social media features, including posting content, commenting on posts, sharing material, participating in public groups or channels and engaging in wider social interactions through personal profiles.

In effect, the UAE has drawn a clear line by establishing 15 as the age at which children can begin accessing social media platforms.

Can parents give permission?

No. One of the most notable aspects of the new regulations is that parental consent cannot be used to bypass the age restriction.

The resolution explicitly states that permission from a parent or caregiver does not constitute a valid exemption from the rules. This means that even if a parent is comfortable with their child using social media before the age of 15, the platform is still required to prevent access.

The measure is designed to create a uniform national standard rather than leaving the decision entirely to individual families.

What happens when a child turns 15?

Turning 15 does not mean teenagers gain unrestricted access to social media. Instead, the regulations introduce a more controlled environment for young users aged between 15 and 16.

Teenagers in this age group will be allowed to have accounts, but platforms will be required to apply enhanced safety measures. These protections are expected to include stronger privacy settings, age-appropriate content filtering, restrictions on interactions with unknown users and tools that help manage the amount of time spent online.

The aim is to recognise that older teenagers are increasingly participating in the digital world while ensuring that they remain protected from some of the risks associated with social media use. The regulations describe this as part of a gradual transition towards healthier and more balanced digital habits.

What role will parents play?

While parents cannot override the age limit, they will still play a central role in supervising their children’s online activity.

For teenagers aged 15 and 16, caregivers will be able to use parental control tools provided by social media platforms to manage account settings and monitor usage. However, any changes made through these tools must remain within the limits established by the regulations.

The rules also place specific responsibilities on parents and caregivers. They are expected not to assist children in circumventing age-verification systems or accessing platforms in violation of the regulations. At the same time, they are encouraged to actively supervise their children’s digital activities, discuss online risks and promote safe and responsible internet use.

The message from regulators is clear: protecting children online is not solely the responsibility of technology companies but a shared responsibility involving families as well.

How will age verification work?

A key challenge for governments around the world has been ensuring that children cannot simply enter a false date of birth when signing up for social media accounts. The UAE’s new framework seeks to address that issue directly.

Under the regulations, platforms must implement effective and reliable age-verification systems. These may include digital identity checks, artificial intelligence-powered verification tools, biometric technologies or other mechanisms approved by the Child Digital Safety Council.

Importantly, self-declared ages will no longer be accepted as sufficient proof. Platforms will be expected to demonstrate that their systems can accurately determine whether a user meets the required age threshold.

At the same time, the regulations require companies to handle personal information responsibly. Data collected for verification purposes must be limited to what is necessary, stored securely and retained only for as long as required. Users must also be informed about how verification systems operate.

What new responsibilities will social media companies face?

The regulations place significant obligations on social media platforms, reflecting the UAE’s view that technology companies should play a more active role in protecting children online.

Platforms will be required to identify and remove accounts operated by children under 15, introduce measures to prevent users from bypassing safety systems and regularly assess risks to children’s digital wellbeing. They must also provide parental control tools and educational resources that help families navigate the online environment safely.

The rules further restrict how children’s data can be used. Platforms will not be permitted to target children with personalised advertising based on behavioural tracking, nor can they use information gathered from children’s online activities for commercial purposes.

The overall approach positions social media companies as active partners in child protection rather than simply providers of digital services.

When will the changes take effect?

The regulations will not be implemented overnight. Social media companies have been given a transition period of up to 12 months to introduce the necessary technical systems and compliance measures.

This period is intended to ensure that platforms have enough time to build age-verification mechanisms, introduce enhanced protections for teenagers and align their services with the new requirements.

Who will enforce the rules?

Responsibility for oversight will be shared between the National Media Authority and the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority. Both organisations have been granted powers to monitor compliance and take action where necessary.

Platforms that fail to comply could face a range of measures, including warnings, administrative penalties and, in serious cases, partial or full blocking of their services within the UAE.

Alongside these regulators, the Child Digital Safety Council will play an important role in assessing emerging risks, developing safety policies and ensuring that the framework continues to evolve as technology changes.

Why is the UAE introducing these measures?

The new social media rules form part of a broader effort to strengthen child protection in the digital age.They build on existing legislation, including Wadeema’s Law, which protects children from neglect, abuse and exploitation, and follow the establishment of the Child Digital Safety Council as part of the UAE’s wider family-focused initiatives.

Officials say the objective is not simply to restrict children’s access to technology but to ensure that young people can engage with the digital world in a safer, healthier and more age-appropriate way.

What does this mean for families?

For many parents, the new rules may provide welcome clarity. Families have long faced pressure from children who want to join social media because friends and classmates are already online. A nationally enforced minimum age may make those conversations easier by creating a clear and consistent standard.

At the same time, questions remain about how effectively the rules can be enforced in practice. Children around the world have historically found ways to bypass age restrictions by providing inaccurate information when signing up for accounts. Whether the new verification systems can close those loopholes will be closely watched.

What is clear, however, is that the UAE is signalling a major shift in its approach to children’s online safety. By placing greater responsibility on technology companies while giving parents clearer guidance and stronger tools, the country is seeking to reshape how young people engage with social media in the years ahead.