Lead:
The United Arab Emirates moved on several significant fronts on Friday, reinforcing its international diplomatic posture, expanding its artificial intelligence infrastructure, and enacting new domestic legislation. From a joint ministerial statement condemning settler violence against Palestinians to a cabinet decree regulating children's access to social media platforms, the breadth of official action signals a government operating at full legislative and diplomatic capacity.
Details:
On the diplomatic front, Al Khaleej and Newsd report that the UAE joined foreign ministers of Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar in issuing a joint statement strongly condemning the continued escalation of settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Separately, Newsd reports that Maqsoud Cruz, the Foreign Ministry's envoy for countering extremism and terrorism, traveled to Brussels to advance the UAE-NATO partnership framework, underlining Abu Dhabi's intent to deepen institutional ties with the Atlantic alliance.
Domestically, the Cabinet — chaired by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai — issued a resolution setting the minimum age for social media platform use at fifteen years, according to Newsd. The decree is designed to regulate children's digital access and has drawn broad support from civil society voices, who described it, per Al Khaleej, as a pioneering step in safeguarding children's mental and physical health.
On artificial intelligence, Newsd reports that the Office of International Affairs at the Presidential Court launched an AI-powered digital spokesperson named "Zayed," reflecting the state's drive to integrate advanced technology into institutional communications. Separately, Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammed Abdullah Al Gargawi affirmed, according to Newsd, that the UAE stands as the world's most prepared and mature nation in adopting artificial intelligence, framing the moment as the opening of a new developmental phase.
In the judicial sphere, Al Khaleej and Newsd both report that Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and President of the Judicial Council, witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Sharjah Judicial Department and the courts of the Dubai International Financial Centre, a move aimed at strengthening cross-emirate legal cooperation.
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