The platforms host startups operating within the content creation economy, offering dedicated exhibition spaces where companies can showcase their ideas and present their offerings, with the aim of securing partnerships or obtaining support to establish a presence in the UAE.
The 1 Billion Followers Summit, the world’s largest gathering dedicated to shaping the content creation economy, has announced the introduction of dedicated platforms for content creation companies for the first time since the event was established. The initiative will be unveiled during the summit’s fourth edition, scheduled to take place from January 9 to 11, 2026, across Emirates Towers, the Dubai International Financial Centre and the Museum of the Future in Dubai, under the theme “Content for Good”.
Organised by the UAE Government Media Office and hosted by the United Arab Emirates, the move marks a significant step in advancing the content creation economy and supporting young creatives by connecting them with the experiences and success stories of leading influencers who have built thriving businesses around their content.
The new platforms are designed as dedicated spaces for showcasing ideas, sharing insights and presenting business visions, contributing to the expansion of opportunities within the content creation ecosystem. They aim to help emerging creators explore the journeys of regional and global influencers, while enabling them to grow their ventures in terms of reach, sustainability and financial returns.
The platforms will host startups operating across the content creation economy, offering exhibition spaces where companies can present their products and services, seek partnerships and explore opportunities to establish or expand their presence in the UAE. This development comes amid continued global growth in the sector, which is now estimated to be worth around $250bn. More than 70 booths will be featured, highlighting small and medium-sized enterprises, including startups founded by content creators who have successfully transitioned into business leadership roles. The Creators Market is powered by Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy.
Alia Al Hammadi, Vice Chairperson of the UAE Government Media Office and CEO of the 1 Billion Followers Summit, affirmed that the introduction of exhibition platforms for content creation companies during the fourth edition reflects the summit’s commitment to continuous development across its events and programmes since its launch. She noted that the initiative underscores the summit’s dedication to providing an ideal environment that reinforces its position as a unique global platform for advancing the content creation economy, while equipping influencers and content creators with the tools needed to grow their businesses and encouraging startups in this sector to expand their reach and presence within the digital and creative industries.
She said: “Through this initiative, we look forward to enriching the fourth edition and strengthening the position of the 1 Billion Followers Summit as a source of inspiration for emerging influencers in the region and around the world. We aim to encourage ambitious individuals to invest in the content creation economy and benefit from the ideas and working models adopted by small and medium-sized companies that have achieved successive successes, proving that the path is open for entrepreneurs to realize their aspirations for excellence, impact, and sustainable growth.”
The platforms will offer content creators and influencer entrepreneurs space to present ideas, share experiences and inspire startups seeking to enter or grow within the sector. By allocating dedicated platforms to individual entrepreneurs, the initiative is also expected to foster closer communication and collaboration between industry leaders and newcomers.
During the fourth edition of the summit, the platforms will serve as a central gateway for showcasing products and services, exploring investment opportunities, exchanging expertise, strengthening partnerships across the ecosystem and facilitating high-value business deals with investors and specialised companies.
A wide range of startups and creator-led businesses are set to participate, representing diverse segments of the content creation economy, further underscoring the scale and ambition of the initiative and its role in shaping the future of the global creator landscape.
