Dubai: The 1 Billion Followers Summit 2025, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, will take place from January 11-13.
The event will be held at prominent Dubai locations, including Emirates Towers, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), and the Museum of the Future.
Organized by the UAE Government Media Office, the summit will focus on shaping the future of the global content creation economy under the theme “Content For Good.”
At a press conference, Mohammad Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, highlighted the UAE’s strategic vision to develop a sustainable content industry, building on its successes in media and technology.
Empowering Content Creators
The summit, now in its third edition, is inspired by the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. It aims to foster the growth of a creative economy while advancing the UAE’s mission to utilize new media for institutional progress and sustainable development.
The summit’s third edition promises to be a milestone event, attracting over 15,000 content creators and 420 speakers, including the world’s top influencers and experts.
Among the key highlights is the One Billion Award, a $1mn prize, the largest and most valuable award for content creators globally, aimed at recognizing creators whose content inspires positive change and fosters unity. The award has already attracted over 16,000 entries from nearly 190 countries in just three weeks.
Al Gergawi noted that the global content industry—worth approximately $250bn—holds significant potential for the UAE, given its leading regional infrastructure and high global ranking in the Network Readiness Index.
The UAE is also unveiling a new regulatory framework and an AED150mn ($40.8mn) fund to support the content industry. Furthermore, Creators HQ, a new initiative designed to provide content creators with top-tier services, will soon be launched in Dubai.
Under the Patronage of Mohammed bin Rashid
The #1BillionFollowersSummit kicks off on Saturday, January 11, bringing together over 15,000 content creators and influencers, and 420 speakers.https://t.co/jPzfOZGhqy pic.twitter.com/HMzOlADNf1— UAEGOV (@UAEmediaoffice) January 7, 2025
In addition to the award, the summit will feature the One Billion Pitches competition, offering AED 50mn ($13.6mn) in funding to innovative startups and content creators.
With a strong focus on empowering creators, the competition attracted 500 applications from 40 countries, with ideas spanning diverse fields like education, advanced technology, women’s empowerment, health, and entrepreneurship. The summit will announce the winners on its final day.
Shaping the Future of Digital Media
Saeed Al Eter, Chairman of the UAE Government Media Office, emphasized the summit’s role in connecting content creators, investors, entrepreneurs, and key stakeholders, further cementing Dubai’s place as a global hub for the digital media sector.
Saeed noted that this year’s edition would feature an expanded agenda, including 340+ sessions, keynote addresses, roundtables, and workshops on economy, content, and technology.
For the first time, the world’s leading social media platforms—including Snapchat, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp)—will join the summit.
These platforms will engage with participants on topics such as the future of content creation, empowering influencers, protecting intellectual property, combating misinformation, and leveraging AI and analytics to create impactful content.
The summit will also feature over 125 CEOs and global experts, who will discuss emerging trends, investment opportunities, and best practices for content creators. In a bid to further empower creators, the summit’s economy track will focus on industry advancements and sustainable business models.
As the largest and most anticipated event of its kind, the 1 Billion Followers Summit is set to significantly shape the future of digital content creation, offering unparalleled networking, learning, and growth opportunities for content creators worldwide.