content creation
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The third edition of the 1 Billion Followers Summit 2025, organized by the UAE Government Media Office, will begin on Jan. 11. The summit focuses on shaping the content creation economy and is themed "Content For Good."

The event will take place over three days at Dubai's Emirates Towers, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), and the Museum of the Future, WAM reported.

The summit has successfully secured support from more than 10 investment funds, totaling AED50 million, to assist content creators. The companies involved manage assets worth $7 to $8 billion. Furthermore, over 500 startups from 40 countries have reached out for support.

The 1 Billion Followers Summit will gather over 15,000 influencers, content creators, and media professionals from around the world to share knowledge and discuss challenges in new media.

The event will feature more than 420 speakers, including over 125 CEOs and global experts. There will be 340 sessions covering keynote talks, roundtables, discussions, and workshops in three main areas: economy, content, and technology.

Experts will address trends in digital media, business, and content creation.

For the first time, leading social media platforms like Snapchat, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Meta (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp) will participate in discussing the future of the industry and help content creators reach wider audiences.

Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammad Al Gergawi highlighted the summit's alignment with the UAE's cultural mission and efforts to enhance the creative economy. He also emphasized its role in leveraging new media to drive institutional progress and sustainable development.

"The third edition gains significant momentum by attracting over 15,000 content creators and 420 speakers comprising the world's top influencers and experts. The summit will also unveil the world's largest and most valuable award for quality content creators, valued at $1 million," Al Gergawi said.

"This initiative serves as a powerful incentive to inspire impactful ideas that contribute to communities and promote noble human values," he added.

Al Gergawi highlighted the rapid growth of the global content industry, valued at $250 billion. He mentioned that just as Dubai successfully established economic and media hubs through Dubai Internet City and Dubai Media City, the UAE now aims to create a sustainable content industry.

This will be achieved through regulatory frameworks, investment support, knowledge sharing, and various innovative initiatives. The UAE is working on a streamlined legislative system to support the launch of content platforms and businesses.

As part of this effort, the country has announced an AED150 million fund to encourage investment in the content industry. Plans for a Creators HQ introduced a year ago, aim to provide high-quality services to content creators and encourage them to relocate to the UAE. Al Gergawi shared that the Creators HQ will soon be launched.

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