Snap launches in-app mental health portal in partnership with UAE Digital Wellbeing Council

The launch of the portal will promote the values of being a positive digital citizen. (Supplied)
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Updated 11 October 2021
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Snap launches in-app mental health portal in partnership with UAE Digital Wellbeing Council

  • The new portal, Here For You, will provide resources to help users through mental health and emotional crises

DUBAI: Snap Inc. has launched its in-app mental health portal, Here For You, in the UAE in partnership with the UAE Digital Wellbeing Council.

Snapchat first launched the platform in March 2020 globally. Here For You provides support to Snapchat users who may be experiencing mental health or emotional crises, or who may be curious to learn more about these issues and how they can help friends and family that are dealing with them.

The National Program for Happiness and Wellbeing launched the UAE Digital Wellbeing Program in March 2018. Its online platform aims to provide tools and resources that help children, parents, educators, and the larger community in leading positive and safe digital lives.

The launch of the Here For You platform “comes in line with our goals of enhancing digital wellbeing among individuals and the community and encouraging the purposeful use of technology,” said Amal Al-Blooshi, director of UAE Digital Wellbeing at the Ministry of Community Development.

The launch of the portal will promote the values of being a positive digital citizen, resources on online privacy, and bullying prevention, Al-Blooshi added.

“Snapchatters appreciate our commitment to privacy and how it allows people to be themselves, without the pressure of being judged by others,” said Jake Thomas, head of the UAE market at Snap Inc.

The new portal has been designed to empower the community with self-help resources for individuals and their family and friends, he added.

Given that Snapchat reaches over 60 percent of 13-24-year-olds and one-third of 18-34-year-olds in the UAE, “we believe that the most impactful way we can provide support and education for young people is in-app,” said Thomas.

The portal will promote UAE Digital Wellbeing Council’s resources to users when they search for common mental health terms like anxiety, depression, and stress on Snapchat. These resources are designed to be easily shared so that users can help and support their family and friends.


DCO and Arab News partner to combat digital misinformation, explore AI’s impact on media

Updated 06 February 2026
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DCO and Arab News partner to combat digital misinformation, explore AI’s impact on media

KUWAIT CITY: The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) and the international Saudi newspaper Arab News have signed a Letter of Engagement aimed at strengthening knowledge and expertise exchange on the impact of artificial intelligence in the media sector, as well as leveraging expert insights to develop best practices to combat online misinformation amid accelerating technological advancements.

DCO said this step aligned with its efforts to strengthen collaboration with international media institutions to support responsible dialogue around digital transformation and contribute to building a more reliable, inclusive, and sustainable digital media environment.

Commenting on the agreement, Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the Digital Cooperation Organization, said: “At a moment when AI is reshaping how truth is produced, distributed, and trusted, partnership with credible media institutions is essential.”

She added that “working with Arab News allows us to bridge technology and journalism in a way that protects integrity, strengthens public trust, and elevates responsible innovation. This collaboration is about equipping media ecosystems with the tools, insight, and ethical grounding needed to navigate AI’s impact, while ensuring digital transformation serves people and their prosperity.”

Faisal J. Abbas, Editor-in-Chief of Arab News, emphasized that the partnership enhances media institutions’ ability to keep pace with technological shifts, noting that engagement with representatives of DCO Member States enables deeper understanding of emerging technologies and regulatory developments in the digital space.

He added: “DCO’s commitment to initiatives addressing online content integrity reflects a clear dedication to supporting a responsible digital environment that serves societies and strengthens trust in the digital ecosystem.”

The Letter of agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Fifth DCO General Assembly held in Kuwait City under the theme “Inclusive Prosperity in the Age of AI”, alongside the second edition of the International Digital Cooperation Forum, held from 4–5 February, which brought together ministers, policymakers, business leaders, entrepreneurs, and civil society representatives from more than 60 countries to strengthen international cooperation toward a human-centric, inclusive, and sustainable digital economy.