Parents' Decisions Regarding Digital Media Use by Their Children Under Three Years Old in the United Arab Emirates
February, 2026
The TLD Lab’s latest publication in Infancy explores how UAE parents navigate digital media with children under age three. While Western data is common, this study provides a rare look at the Gulf region’s unique parenting choices.
Key Insights:
Usage Trends: The majority of very young children (68%) do not use digital media at all. However, for those who do, average daily use is around 2.5 hours.
Preferred Content: Families primarily choose early learning activities (like the Arabic alphabet) and Arabic-language videos.
The Role of Parents: Most parents engage with their children during about half of their screen time. Importantly, this joint engagement is linked to less overall screen time.
Key Takeaway: Experts suggest moving beyond just "counting minutes" toward choosing high-quality, culturally relevant content and interacting with children while they use devices.
