Dubai will host the fourth annual 1 Billion Followers Summit starting January 9, 2026, positioning itself as the epicenter of the global content creator economy. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the three-day event is organized by the UAE Government Media Office and will unfold across prominent venues like Emirates Towers, DIFC, and the Museum of the Future. Operating under the banner “Content for Good,” the summit aims to pivot the focus of digital influence away from mere engagement and toward tangible societal and economic impact.
The upcoming summit, which has evolved into the world’s largest gathering for content creators, reflects the UAE’s strategic vision to cement its status as a global media hub. Speakers at the inaugural edition represented one billion followers collectively; this figure has quadrupled for the 2026 event, underscoring the explosive growth of the creator economy.
Shifting Focus: From Creation to Impact
Saeed Al Eter, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Projects and Chairman of the UAE Government Media Office, emphasized that content is now the driving force of modern media. The summit’s mission is to harness this power for positive ends, primarily through two core pillars.
The first pillar centers on impact creation. Building on this philosophy, the summit has forged five strategic partnerships with major platforms—YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, X, and Meta—to support impactful content across various sectors, including financial literacy, education, healthcare, and entrepreneurship.
A significant undertaking under this pillar involved a collaboration with TikTok focused on edutainment. This initiative attracted 610,000 participants who collectively created 320,000 educational videos, generating 1.8 billion views.
Furthermore, the summit, in partnership with global sensation MrBeast, launched the “1 Billion Acts of Kindness” campaign. The project inspired over 170,000 acts of kindness, accruing more than 100 million views in just three weeks. The top 10 creators will receive support from the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI) and the Varkey Foundation to execute a humanitarian project.
Innovation and the Future of Content
The second central pillar focuses on the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools within the content creation lifecycle, recognizing AI’s capacity to spark profound, far-reaching changes in the industry.
To galvanize this future-forward approach, the summit, in collaboration with Google Gemini, established the AI Film Award. This landmark initiative offers a grand prize of US$1 million and has already attracted over 30,000 participants from 116 countries, highlighting global interest in AI-driven creativity.
Alia AlHammadi, Vice Chairperson of the UAE Government Media Office and CEO of the 1 Billion Followers Summit, highlighted the event’s role as a “laboratory for testing global trends in new media.” She affirmed that the summit is committed to stimulating talent, supporting technological adoption, and increasing investment opportunities to drive the growth of the creator economy.
The 2026 agenda features over 580 sessions and workshops, hosting more than 500 speakers, including over 150 CEOs and global experts. Among the confirmed headliners are American actor and producer Will Smith, pioneering YouTube star MrBeast (James Stephen Donaldson), and renowned comedian Max Amini. Additionally, representatives from leading social media platforms—including Disney+, TWITCH, and the Meta ecosystem—will attend to explore the future landscape of the creator economy.
By uniting over 15,000 creators, influencers, and industry leaders, the 1 Billion Followers Summit provides a vital platform for sharing expertise and collectively shaping the future of digital media, solidifying Dubai’s strategic position as a global nexus for digital innovation.