With more than 15,000 content creators, influencers, and 420 speakers from around the world, the 1 Billion Followers Summit 2025 in Dubai was the largest and most influential event focused on the content creator economy.
Hosted at Dubai’s Emirates Towers, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), and the Museum of the Future, this year’s summit served as a dynamic platform for collaboration, innovation, and investment in the digital age.
The summit brought together thought leaders, industry giants, and creative innovators to explore the rapidly evolving content economy. This year’s edition highlighted the UAE’s growing role as a global hub for digital media, offering a platform where opportunities for creators, investors, and entrepreneurs in the content creation industry.
The 1 Billion Followers Summit in Dubai marked the first global gathering of major social media platforms, including Meta (Facebook, Instagram), TikTok, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and Snapchat, showcasing their latest tools and strategies for empowering content creators.
Under the theme “Content For Good,” the 1 Billion Followers Summit 2025 celebrated the growing importance of the content creator economy, which is rapidly reshaping global industries. Over 10 investment funds, amounting to AED 50 million, came together to support creators and startups across diverse fields. With the growing presence of social media platforms and content-driven entrepreneurs, the summit showcased how the UAE is positioning itself as a global hub for the evolving content economy.
Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum attended part of the third edition of the 1 Billion Followers Summit. “The 1 Billion Followers Summit aims to contribute to the creation of a sustainable content-based economy. We take pride in hosting 15,000 content creators followed by over 2.3 billion people. The UAE will remain a hub and destination for all talents in this sector,” he said.
UAE Cabinet Affairs Minister Mohammad Al Gergawi said that the rapidly growing global content industry, estimated at $250 billion holds significant potential for the UAE. “Just as we successfully established an economic sector through Dubai Internet City and our media sector through Dubai Media City, we now aim to build a sustainable content industry through regulatory frameworks, investment support, knowledge sharing, and a series of exceptional initiatives.” UAE is developing a legislative ecosystem to facilitate the launch of content platforms and businesses, he said, sharing plans for a Creators HQ and AED150 million fund to support investment in the content industry.
Key Highlights
- Over 15,000 content creators and influencers, with more than 420 speakers, contributed to a dynamic exchange of ideas and strategies.
- More than 10 investment funds totaling AED 50 million participated in the summit, backing content creators and entrepreneurs across industries.
- British entrepreneur Simon Squibb was awarded the One Billion Award, valued at $1 million, for his impactful content.
- The summit hosted over 340 sessions, including keynote addresses, roundtable discussions, and workshops across three main tracks: Economy, Content, and Technology.
- The summit offered financial support and mentorship to emerging startups and entrepreneurs in the content creation space.
125+ CEOs and a stunning lineup of speakers
The 1 Billion Followers Summit brought together over 125 influential CEOs from major global companies, alongside a prestigious roster of content creators and influencers. These experts shared their insights through panels, workshops, roundtables, and interactive discussions covering key topics in business, economy, investment, and content creation. The goal was to empower emerging talents and foster industry innovation.
Notable speakers included Maye Musk, a 76-year-old model and entrepreneur, who discussed her parenting journey and how it contributed to Elon Musk’s success. Naguib Sawiris, the Egyptian billionaire with expertise across industries like telecom, media, and finance, shared his entrepreneurial insights. Andre Le Masurier from Skyscanner and Andrew Graham from CAA brought their experience in brand development and digital strategies.
Other prominent figures included Ben Relles of Reid Hoffman’s office, Cayman Rojas from LinkedIn, and Chris Williams from Pocket Watch. Emma Harman from Whalar Group and Grigory Lavrov from Warner Bros. Discovery discussed creator economy growth, while Kate Ward and Zach Honarvar from Creator Now focused on empowering creators.
The summit also featured leaders like Lewis Crosbie (Komi), Paul Bakaus (Spotter), Brittany Brown (NASA), Aliana Miller (Roblox), and Elise Swopes (Adobe Express), who offered valuable insights into creator tools, digital marketing, and visual storytelling.
With more than 340 sessions covering everything from economic trends in digital media to the ethical responsibilities of influencers, the summit became a melting pot of insights and future-facing discussions.
Simon Squibb and the One Billion Award finalists
One of the most inspiring moments of the 1 Billion Followers Summit 2025 was the announcement of the One Billion Award winner, which went to British entrepreneur and motivational speaker Simon Squibb. With over nine million followers across social media platforms, Squibb was recognized for his impactful work in empowering future leaders and fostering social enterprises.
Squibb, founder of HelpBnk, an online platform offering free business advice, was recognized for his efforts to empower others and inspire entrepreneurial success. In his acceptance speech, he expressed his gratitude, saying, “I’ve never had so much love directed at me in one room, in one moment.”
The award also celebrated five other finalists:
- Mahmoud Zuaiter (Palestine): A Gaza-based creator who inspires hope and advocates for humanitarian aid with 3 million followers.
- Nasser Al Aqeel (Saudi Arabia): An educator simplifying complex concepts for over 9 million followers on his YouTube channel Dupamicaffeine Sciences.
- Creators For Lebanon (Lebanon): A group of four creators using their platforms to rebuild communities, with over 40 million followers.
- Samuel Weidenhofer (Australia): A positive influencer known for spreading kindness, with 10 million followers.
These creators exemplify the transformative power of content in driving social change and inspiring global communities.
The five finalists underwent final evaluation by an expert jury which included Ahmed AlGhandour, content creator and summit ambassador; Prajakta Koli, global content creator and event ambassador; Zakry Dereniowski, renowned for his impactful storytelling; Amine Ehmayer, winner of the 2024 “Hope Creator” award; and Hassan Suleiman (AboFlah), the gaming legend and one of the most-followed influencers in the Arab world.
1 Billion Pitches: Winners of $11 million prize pool
The 1 Billion Pitches competition, held at the 1 Billion Followers Summit in Dubai, awarded a total of $11 million to four innovative content creation startups. The competition, aimed at supporting and funding promising ventures in the content creation sector, culminated in an exciting pitch event where startups from around the globe competed for investment.
Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, and Mahmoud Adi, Founding Partner at Shorooq Partners, which partially funded the awards, presented the prizes during the Summit’s final day in Dubai.
Among the winners was Halo AI, a Saudi-based startup that expanded to the UAE, claiming the top prize of $6 million. The company uses AI to quickly connect brands with the perfect content creators, offering fully automated solutions. Eugenius, a South Korean entertainment production company, took home $3 million for its focus on creating impactful, cross-cultural content.
Additionally, two UAE-based startups —Taa Marbouta and PenSell— were awarded $1 million each. These winners represent the thriving startup ecosystem in the UAE, underscoring the country’s role as a hub for digital innovation and content creation.
With a total of AED50 million in funding (AED30 million from Shorooq Partners and AED20 million from the Summit), the competition attracted 500 applications from 40 countries. Startups had the unique opportunity to pitch their ideas to venture capitalists and investors, showcasing the global scope of innovation within the content creation economy.
Platform for Content Creation Investment and Opportunities
The summit’s investment-driven initiatives further solidified its reputation as a vital platform for creators looking to turn their ideas into sustainable businesses. The competition, which is the first of its kind in the region, offers financial support to innovative content creation startups with a focus on sectors like education, health, technology, and women’s empowerment.
“The success of the third edition of the 1 Billion Followers Summit was evident in its impactful results, particularly in strengthening the UAE’s position as a global hub that unites all stakeholders driving progress and innovation in this sector,” said Saeed Al Eter, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Projects and Chairman of the UAE Government Media Office.
This year’s edition saw the debut of the One Billion Award, a US$1 million prize aimed at celebrating creators of positive and purposeful content. The award received more than 16,000 entries from 190 countries, spotlighting global creators like Mahmoud Zuaiter of Palestine, Nasser Al-Oqail of Saudi Arabia, and Simon Squibb from the UK.
With the conclusion of the 2025 summit, the stage is already set for the 4th edition of the 1 Billion Followers Summit, which will take place from January 9-11, 2026. The summit’s continued success underscores the UAE’s growing role in shaping the global content creation landscape, offering a launchpad for innovators and a meeting point for diverse voices from around the world.
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