What’s On/Influencer
Why the UAE has become a home for content creators
Fifteen thousand licensed creators, a Dubai hub with 5,000 members, a ten-year visa and a summit that fills the city every January. A look at the UAE's creator economy and what it means for brands.
Few countries have courted content creators as deliberately as the UAE. The latest figures, released at the end of September 2026, show the effect. Gulf News reported that Creators HQ in Dubai now has 5,000 members from 130 countries with more than five billion followers between them, and Saeed Al Eter of the UAE Government Media Office said 15,000 licensed content creators from over 90 nationalities work in the country.
A hub at Emirates Towers
Creators HQ opened on 12 January 2025 with 100 founding members from more than 20 countries, an aim of attracting 10,000 creators and a 150 million dirham Content Creators Support Fund behind it. Its membership numbers are sometimes confused with golden visas, but they measure different things.
Ten years of residency
Creators can apply for a ten-year golden visa in the content creators and creative talent category. According to Khaleej Times, Creators HQ endorses and nominates applicants, who then complete the medical, service centre and Emirates ID steps. No official total of visas granted has been published.
The January summit
The 1 Billion Followers Summit has become the creator world's annual gathering in Dubai. The 2026 edition, from 9 to 11 January, welcomed more than 30,000 attendees, over 15,000 of them creators, across more than 580 sessions. The fifth edition runs from 8 to 10 January 2027, with OpenAI among the platforms taking part.
The rules of the game
- Creators promoting products or services, paid or unpaid, have needed an Advertiser Permit since 1 February 2026. Roughly 3,000 had been issued by late 2025.
- The permit is free for residents and citizens for three years; visitors need a three-month permit through a licensed agency.
- AI images or video of national symbols or public figures need official approval.
- From mid-2027, under-15s may not hold personal social media accounts.
What this means for brands
- There is more choice than ever, so check where a creator's audience actually lives before you book.
- Make the permit the first question, and keep a copy with the agreement.
- Allow time to arrange visitor permits when flying talent in.
- Use January, when so many creators are in Dubai, for meetings and casting.
- Expect professional negotiations. Many creators now run proper businesses, with managers and rate cards.
Looking for creators who genuinely fit your brand, properly licensed and briefed? ALXO can build the partnership with you. Get in touch.
