Digital guardrails

The wise leaders of the UAE consistently regard the nation’s youth as its most valuable asset, a perspective that is clearly manifested in the government’s robust monitoring guardrails against the digital threats targeting children in today’s interconnected world.

In March, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-president and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, highlighted the extensive efforts to shut down over 160,000 websites and social media accounts promoting substance abuse and behaviours foreign to the UAE’S cultural norms. The responsibility, His Highness stressed, falls upon families to vigilantly monitor their children’s digital activities. “The family serves as the strongest defence for our children, who are the most valuable asset of our nation,” His Highness stated.

While the Internet offers a vast playground of connections and opportunities, it also hosts precarious trends such as ‘lookmaxxing’, ‘starvemaxxing’, and ‘chroming’, which are explored in depth in our cover story this month. The allure and addictive nature of the Metaverse further underscore the necessity for parental awareness and intervention in the dual-edged nature of technological advancements, as discussed in this issue.

As technology propels the rapid dissemination of both information and misinformation, the virtual landscape becomes even more complicated and perilous, with the emergence of cloned websites. Cybercriminals craftily create “facsimiles” of reputable websites to swindle users, targeting sectors as diverse as retail, banking, and even government and news portals. Our feature on cloned websites offers insights into recognising and avoiding these digital traps.

Parallel to addressing these cyber threats, the UAE is making headway in the green sector. By 2030, the country aims to create 50,000 green jobs, marking a substantial commitment to sustainable development and economic diversification. Investments between Dhs150-dhs200 billion are earmarked to support this initiative, setting a clear trajectory towards reduced carbon emissions and enhanced energy efficiency.

With sustainable investments poised to invigorate the green sector, it’s essential to ensure that the workforce supporting this growth remains robust and healthy. To this end, starting 1 January 2025, the UAE Government will implement a mandatory national insurance scheme for all private-sector employees and domestic workers. Previously limited to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the mandatory health insurance scheme will now encompass Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, Ajman, and Fujairah, aiming to provide comprehensive healthcare across the emirates. As we focus on creating a healthier work environment, our Tips & Trivia section offers practical advice for reducing sedentary habits at work and enhancing overall workplace well-being.

The family serves as the strongest defence for our children, who are the most valuable asset of our nation