Key Takeaways
- The 1 Billion Followers Summit in Dubai focuses on content creation’s role in economic development and global awareness.
- Over 15,000 creators and 500 speakers are attending, highlighting the scale of the creator economy.
- Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum emphasized investing in talent and equipping youth for responsible content creation.
- The summit showcases global initiatives like the 1 Billion Acts of Kindness campaign and the AI Film Award, promoting social impact.
- It includes training programs for content creators, aiming to enhance skills in various sectors and reinforce Dubai’s position in the creator economy.
The 1 Billion Followers Summit returned to Dubai with global attention on content creation and digital impact. The 1 Billion Followers Summit brought together creators, platforms, and policymakers to examine how content drives economic development and global awareness. Furthermore, the event reflects the UAE’s growing role in shaping the creator economy.
1 Billion Followers Summit opens in Dubai
The 1 Billion Followers Summit is organized by the UAE Government Media Office. The fourth edition runs from January 9 to January 11. Events are hosted at Emirates Towers, the Dubai International Financial Centre, and the Museum of the Future. The summit theme is Content for Good.
Accordingly, more than 15,000 content creators and influencers are attending. Over 500 speakers are participating. Their combined audience exceeds 3.5 billion followers worldwide. Attendees include digital creators, media professionals, entrepreneurs, government officials, and global technology leaders.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum attends the 1 Billion Followers Summit
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum attended the 1 Billion Followers Summit during its fourth edition. He is Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai. His visit highlighted the role of content creation in shaping awareness, driving development, and supporting the future economy.
During the visit, Sheikh Mohammed emphasized the importance of investing in people. According to him, talent can be transformed into impact when supported by ideas, resources, and responsibility. He also highlighted content creation as a pathway to sustainable growth and opportunity.
Regarding the purpose of the event, Sheikh Mohammed said the 1 Billion Followers Summit aims to equip youth from across the region and the world with tools for influence and responsible content creation. In addition, he noted that the summit helps strengthen the UAE’s position as a global destination for creatives and visionaries.
Global platforms at the 1 Billion Followers Summit
As part of the 1 Billion Followers Summit, Sheikh Mohammed toured exhibition spaces hosted by major global platforms. These included Snapchat, X, YouTube, TikTok, Google Gemini, Meta, Disney+, and Twitch. The summit brings these platforms together to share tools, strategies, and innovation linked to digital content.
The presence of these platforms reflects the scale of the creator economy. Further, it also highlights how technology companies support creators through tools, monetization, and distribution systems.
Global initiatives showcased at the 1 Billion Followers Summit
During the summit, Sheikh Mohammed reviewed several global initiatives shaping the creator economy. Among them, the 1 Billion Acts of Kindness campaign received specific attention. MrBeast partnered in launching the campaign. The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives and the Varkey Foundation support the program.
Since its launch, the 1 Billion Acts of Kindness campaign has recorded more than 170,000 humanitarian and community actions. Within three weeks, the campaign also generated over 100 million views. Through creator participation, the initiative encourages measurable real world social impact across different regions.
At the same time, Sheikh Mohammed reviewed details of the AI Film Award. The award was launched in partnership with Google Gemini. Notably, it carries a total prize value of one million dollars. Furthermore, the competition attracted more than 30,000 participants from 116 countries. In total, 3,500 films were submitted as part of the award.
Alongside these initiatives, the summit also highlighted the Creators Ventures program. This program focuses on supporting businesses and startups operating within the content economy. During the event, outcomes from the first and second editions of the program were presented. As a result, attendees received insight into how the initiative supports entrepreneurial growth and innovation within the digital
Content creation and impact at the 1 Billion Followers Summit
The fourth edition of the 1 Billion Followers Summit focuses on two main pillars. First, the summit highlights the transition from content creation to impact creation through the Content for Good framework. Second, it emphasizes the integration of artificial intelligence into content development.
In addition, the summit features more than 580 sessions across its program. These sessions include keynote speeches, panels, roundtables, and workshops. Moreover, over 500 global experts and speakers contribute to the agenda. As a result, discussions cover a wide range of topics, including storytelling, digital influence, artificial intelligence, platform strategy, and future media trends.
Graduation of creators
During Summit, Sheikh Mohammed attended the graduation of 522 content creators and new media specialists. The graduates completed seven specialized training programs. These programs were organized by the UAE Government Media Office and the New Media Academy with strategic partners.
Sheikh Mohammed congratulated the graduates. He said investing in people is the foundation of building the future. He noted that professional content creators play a key role in communicating the UAE’s message globally.
Training programs linked to the 1 Billion Followers Summit
The graduating programs covered a wide range of fields. These included the Impact Makers initiative, Specialized Content Creators, Historical Content Creators, and the sixth edition of the Faris Al Muhtawa Content Creators Program. Thus, graduates also completed the Executive Diploma in Government Digital Communication, Economic Content Pioneers, and the Social Media Professional Program.
The Impact Makers initiative focuses on humanitarian storytelling and crisis communication. It trains participants in media engagement, narrative development, video production, and artificial intelligence tools for humanitarian content.
The Specialized Content Creators program targets professionals in government and the private sector. Further, it focuses on producing high quality content in areas such as economy, business, medicine, mental health, agriculture, and food security.
The Executive Diploma in Government Digital Communication is delivered by the Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government in partnership with the New Media Academy. The program includes 13 modules delivered over 76 training hours across eight weeks.
The Historical Content Creators program trains storytellers interested in presenting Arab history through digital formats. Participants receive training in scripting, production, digital marketing, and AI powered tools.
The Economic Content Pioneers program trains Emirati and Arab youth to produce economic and entrepreneurial content. The program supports the national campaign The Emirates: The Start-up Capital of the World. Furthermore, the Social Media Professional Program equips digital communication professionals with global social media strategies and AI driven marketing tools.
Global role of the Summit
The 1 Billion Followers Summit continues through January 11. Organizers describe the event as a global platform for collaboration, skills development, and innovation. The summit reinforces Dubai’s position as a global hub for the creator economy and digital media leadership.
Lastly, the 1 Billion Followers Summit highlights how content creation connects influence with responsibility. The event positions creators as drivers of economic growth, social impact, and global awareness in the digital age.
