Starting from July 2024, the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) announced penalties for social media influencers practicing advertisement without a license. The influencers will be subjected to fines between AED 3,000 ($817) and AED 10,000 ($2,723), with the possibility of business closure. The department added that social media influencers must obtain a license, regardless of any existing permits from the National Media Council. The license fee for individuals amounts to Dh1,250 and Dh5,000 for companies.
Emirati food blogger Ahmed Alhammadi, with more than 200,000 followers on Instagram, noted, “What this will create is better terms of interaction between influencers and the advertisers, as licensing will ensure the rights of both parties are regulated and protected.”
In January, the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, launched a fund of AED 150 million ($40.84 million) for content creators and influencers.
