Grindr
Blocked under telecommunications licensing and morality laws. Grindr's official Help Center lists the United Arab Emirates as both government-restricted and delisted from app stores.
Blocked in United Arab Emirates
The tracker lists 2 complete bans, 8 partial restrictions and 5 age-verification requirements in United Arab Emirates.
Tinder
Blocked under the country's strict internet regulations regarding dating apps and VoIP services.
Al Jazeera
Blocked in May 2017 during the Gulf diplomatic dispute. Freedom House (Freedom on the Net 2024) and regional media monitoring confirm that the United Arab Emirates unblocked Al Jazeera's main websites (aljazeera.com and aljazeera.net) in early 2023 following post-Al-Ula normalization, though television broadcast licensing and local bureau operations remain subject to state regulation.
Discord
Discord's voice and video features are blocked by major United Arab Emirates ISPs under rules against unlicensed VoIP services; text chat generally works.
KakaoTalk
KakaoTalk's VoIP features (voice and video calls) are strictly blocked by the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), which restricts unlicensed VoIP services.
LINE
United Arab Emirates telecom controls throttle LINE's VoIP and communications functions as part of the licensing regime for foreign internet calling services; text messaging may remain available.
New York Times
The United Arab Emirates utilizes a sophisticated internet filtering system that periodically blocks certain critical foreign news articles. In 2014, a local publishing partner refused to print an edition of the NYT because it contained a front-page investigation into labor abuses.
Roblox
Previously blocked over child safety concerns, though access was later restored.
Viber
Viber's calling service remains blocked in the United Arab Emirates under the unlicensed-VoIP regime; Freedom House reports that the block has been in place since 2013. This is a feature restriction rather than a block of text messaging.
WhatsApp voice and video calls are blocked in the United Arab Emirates, where unlicensed VoIP services are prohibited; messaging works normally.
United Arab Emirates Cabinet resolution (announced 18 June 2026) bars children under 15 from creating, using or operating personal social media accounts. Platforms must use robust age-verification — including digital identity and AI-supported checks; self-declaration alone is not accepted — with enhanced safeguards for users aged 15 to under 16. Phase one covers X, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok. Platforms have a 12-month transition, with full compliance expected by June 2027.
United Arab Emirates Cabinet resolution (announced 18 June 2026) bars children under 15 from creating, using or operating personal social media accounts. Platforms must use robust age-verification — including digital identity and AI-supported checks; self-declaration alone is not accepted — with enhanced safeguards for users aged 15 to under 16. Phase one covers X, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok. Platforms have a 12-month transition, with full compliance expected by June 2027.
Snapchat
United Arab Emirates Cabinet resolution (announced 18 June 2026) bars children under 15 from creating, using or operating personal social media accounts. Platforms must use robust age-verification — including digital identity and AI-supported checks; self-declaration alone is not accepted — with enhanced safeguards for users aged 15 to under 16. Phase one covers X, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok. Platforms have a 12-month transition, with full compliance expected by June 2027.
TikTok
United Arab Emirates Cabinet resolution (announced 18 June 2026) bars children under 15 from creating, using or operating personal social media accounts. Platforms must use robust age-verification — including digital identity and AI-supported checks; self-declaration alone is not accepted — with enhanced safeguards for users aged 15 to under 16. Phase one covers X, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok. Platforms have a 12-month transition, with full compliance expected by June 2027.
X
United Arab Emirates Cabinet resolution (announced 18 June 2026) bars children under 15 from creating, using or operating personal social media accounts. Platforms must use robust age-verification — including digital identity and AI-supported checks; self-declaration alone is not accepted — with enhanced safeguards for users aged 15 to under 16. Phase one covers X, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok. Platforms have a 12-month transition, with full compliance expected by June 2027.
Data updated:
Sources checked: