Dubai will host the fourth edition of the 1 Billion Followers Summit from January 9, 2026, as the UAE continues to position itself at the forefront of the global creator economy.
Held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the three-day summit is organised by the UAE Government Media Office and will take place across Emirates Towers, DIFC and the Museum of the Future under the theme Content for Good.
Saeed Al Eter, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Projects and Chairman of the UAE Government Media Office, said the summit has grown rapidly since its launch, evolving into what he described as “the world’s largest gathering for content creators.”
1 Billion Followers Summit 2026
He was speaking at a press conference held at Creators HQ in Emirates Towers, attended by Alia AlHammadi, Vice Chairperson of the UAE Government Media Office and CEO of the 1 Billion Followers Summit, alongside representatives from major global social media platforms and local, regional and international media organisations.
Al Eter said: “In its inaugural edition, speakers at the summit totalled 1 billion, a number that grew significantly to reach 3.5 billion followers in the 4th edition. It is the reality of our time that content is the driving force of media.
“Through the 1 Billion Followers Summit, our mission is to harness the positive impact of content creators across all sectors”.
Al Eter said the upcoming edition will focus on two main pillars, the first being a shift from content creation to impact creation.
He said: “Part of this effort is our collaboration with TikTok on an education-focused initiative designed to drive edutainment content and recognise the best education creators. The initiative has attracted 610,000 participants creating 320,000 educational videos that have collectively amassed 1.8 billion views on the platform.”
Content creators in the UAE
He added that the summit has launched five strategic partnerships with YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, X and Meta to support impactful content.
The agenda includes more than 580 sessions and content-focused workshops, with over 500 speakers covering topics from financial literacy and education to healthcare and entrepreneurship.
Under this pillar, the summit and MrBeast launched the 1 Billion Acts of Kindness campaign. Al Eter said the initiative has already inspired more than 170,000 acts of kindness, generating over 100 million views in three weeks.
“Our goal is to shift the perspective of content creators, empowering them to make a meaningful impact within their communities. We seek to be a positive force in the content landscape, supporting creators who produce material that benefits both communities and nations,” he said.
AI, film and the future of media
The second pillar focuses on integrating artificial intelligence into content creation. Al Eter said: “To spearhead this effort, the 1 Billion Followers Summit, in partnership with Google Gemini, has launched the AI Film Award with a grand prize of $1m.
The award has already established itself as a landmark initiative, attracting over 30,000 participants from 116 countries and culminating in five films being shortlisted for the final stage.”
He added: “The 1 Billion Followers Summit is committed to driving tangible change in new media by supporting content creators. The world is undergoing rapid changes, with content, media, and cinema evolving at a greater pace. If we are not at the heart of this evolution, we risk being left behind. Our goal is to actively shape this industry.”
Alia AlHammadi said the summit acts as a testing ground for global new media trends and plays a central role in stimulating talent, accelerating technological adoption and expanding funding opportunities across the creator economy.
“In its fourth edition, the 1 Billion Followers Summit writes a new chapter of global success in the heart of the UAE, moving forward with a clear vision to solidify the nation’s status as a global hub for the creator economy,” she said.
Global impact
The summit will host more than 15,000 creators and influencers from the Arab world and beyond, alongside over 500 speakers, including more than 150 CEOs and global experts.
High-profile speakers include:
- Will Smith
- MrBeast
- Lara Trump
- Max Amini
- Simon Squibb
- Mohamed Alabbar
The event features 400 keynote sessions, workshops, roundtables and debates across three tracks: Economy, Content and Technology. It will also announce the winners of several flagship initiatives.
These include the Creators Ventures Accelerator, organised by Creators HQ in collaboration with 500 Global, which offers funding of up to AED50m ($13.6m) to winning pitches.
The programme received 1,131 applications from more than 70 countries.
On the final day, the summit will also reveal the winner of the world’s largest AI Film Award, valued at $1m, as well as the winners of the 1 Billion Acts of Kindness campaign, supported by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives and the Varkey Foundation.
Will Milner
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