An official representative of the National Media Authority (NMA) stated that the proposed restrictions, which prohibit children under 15 from independently creating social media accounts, are unlikely to have a significant impact on the rapidly growing content creator economy in the UAE.
Authorities believe these measures can promote safer participation in digital platforms with parental supervision while supporting the long-term development of the sector. Mohammed Al Zarouni, Director of Strategic Planning at NMA, told Khaleej Times that the law is primarily aimed at preventing the exploitation of children under 15.
He expressed his view that the changes would be positive because 'more young people can start using social media under the supervision of their parents.'
The proposed legislation is part of broader efforts to enhance child safety online and aligns with similar initiatives being implemented in countries such as Australia and certain European regions. Al Zarouni emphasized that the UAE is working to ensure its rules comply with international standards while considering feedback from parents and relevant bodies.
These statements were made at the TikTok UAE Forward event, attended by senior company executives in the region, as well as representatives from the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) and the UAE government's Media Office. Mohammed Al Zarouni, Deputy General Manager of the Information and Digital Government Sector at TDRA, separately noted that the government's goal is to strike a balance between regulation and the further expansion of digital platforms.
He stated that there are legislative requirements that must be met and considers this the 'first line of defense.' He added that their task is to complement the growth occurring on digital platforms by ensuring mutual understanding between the government's need for societal safety and entrepreneurs using these platforms, while also helping to promote the growth of the platforms themselves.
Al Zarouni also noted that supporting reliable digital platforms will ultimately contribute to achieving the UAE's broader ambitions in the digital economy. According to a report presented at the event, TikTok contributed 1.1 billion AED in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UAE economy and supported approximately 7,000 jobs. Furthermore, it was found that over 70,000 small and medium-sized enterprises actively advertise on TikTok in the UAE, and more than 10,000 entrepreneurs, including 3,500 women and 1,400 Emiratis, reported starting their businesses through this platform.
The Theatre Center in Tehran plans to stage Martin McDonagh's play 'The Beauty of Linan', which is set to premiere next week.
According to a report by Mehr, the performance, directed by Hirbod Oliyayi, will begin on July 26 and run until August 19. The cast includes Mobina Kalate, Ghazal Tafahomi, Shayan Torghi, and Amir Hossein Zareian, with Nima Reisi appearing as a voice actor.
The original version of the play was written in 1996. The 1997 London production received a nomination for 'Best New Play' at the Laurence Olivier Awards, and the 1998 Broadway production was nominated for six Tony Awards, winning four of them.
The action of the play unfolds in the mountains of Galway County, Connemara. 'The Beauty of Linan' tells the dark-comic story of Marin Folan, a lonely and unremarkable woman around forty years old, and her manipulative elderly mother, Mag. The mother's interference in Marin's first, and possibly last, chance at a happy relationship sets off a chain of events leading to the play's tragic ending.
The work is viewed as an example of family dysfunction. This masterpiece by McDonagh is filled with biting humor and intense tension, and it was awarded the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Play in 1998. 'The Beauty of Linan' is simultaneously a dark comedy and a heartbreaking piece that explores the dark side of human nature and the malice of people living hopeless lives.
Casa Óculo, a single-family residence located in a residential neighborhood on the outskirts of Palma, was conceived based on a notably simple yet bold architectural gesture: an extensive flat roof extending from east to west. The project uses light, materiality, and climate as central pillars of its conception.
The rational form of the house was shaped to respond to a south-facing slope, offering expansive views of the mountains and meeting the needs of a structured client program. The final result is a contemporary Mediterranean home that manages to harmonize efficiency, tactile sensitivity, and a strong sense of belonging.
The roof is supported by a series of load-bearing walls coated with lime mortar, arranged along the north-south axis. These walls play an organizational role in the spaces, establish the rhythm of the building, and function as visual filters. They protect the sides from adjacent plots while framing wide and directed views towards the south and the mountains. Furthermore, this orientation optimizes natural cross-ventilation, ensuring continuous passive thermal comfort throughout the year.
The vast roof acts as a protective element surrounding the house, generating generous verandas around the perimeter. These shaded transition areas soften the boundary between the interior and exterior environment, providing sun protection during hotter months and allowing the house to be used adaptably in any season.
On the main terrace, a central component stands out: a solar oculus cut into the roof. This oculus has the geometry of an oblique and eccentric truncated cone. It was specifically designed to capture winter light and direct it into the living room. Thus, the oculus creates a dynamic focal point of warmth and luminosity that gradually moves throughout the day, from the dining area to the living room, functioning as a domestic sundial. During the summer, the change in solar angle restricts the light to the terrace, preventing direct radiation incidence and protecting the interior spaces.
The construction employs noble and natural materials, including stone flooring, wooden frames, and natural brass details. The lime mortar, used on the walls, is a living, hygroscopic, and breathable material that helps regulate humidity, enhances internal well-being, and develops a characteristic patina over time, lending authenticity to the work.
The Mediterranean garden, characterized by being low-maintenance and requiring little water consumption, is considered a vital part of the project. It was planned to have a natural and mutable appearance, blending with the surrounding landscape and reinforcing the presence of nearby mountains. Native species form a living composition that reacts to the seasons through their flowering cycles, treating vegetation as another architectural material capable of interacting with the structure through textures, colors, and movement, enriching the house's experience over time.
In summary, Casa Óculo represents a concise manifesto of the contemporary Mediterranean lifestyle: an architecture that is efficient, tactile, and deeply connected to its place, built to interact with the climate, age gracefully, and find its primary constructive elements in light, landscape, and time.
