Dubai Police issued a public warning this week urging parents to stay alert to the hidden dangers children can face on online gaming platforms. While multiplayer games offer genuine opportunities for connection and fun, the force cautioned that the same spaces can also be exploited by people seeking to harm children. some individuals work to gain a child's trust during gameplay before shifting the conversation to a private chat, where they may ask for personal details or photos. This pattern, widely recognised in child-safety circles as "grooming," often unfolds gradually, making it harder for children to recognise the risk in the moment.
Dubai Police called on parents to talk regularly and openly with their children about who they interact with while gaming, and to explain clearly why personal information should never be shared with strangers online. The force stressed that an informed, engaged family is the strongest safeguard against this kind of online harm.
The advisory comes as multiplayer gaming continues to grow in popularity among children and teenagers across the UAE, with titles that combine voice chat, messaging and matchmaking features increasingly part of everyday digital life. Digital-safety specialists generally recommend that parents make use of built-in parental-control settings on consoles, apps and devices, and stay aware of who their children are playing with, without undermining the trust between parent and child.
Dubai Police encouraged families who notice suspicious behaviour directed at their children to report it promptly through the force's official channels.