More than 15,000 content creators and influencers along with 420 presenters attended the third edition of the 1 Billion Followers Summit, the first and largest event in the world devoted to forming the content production economy.
The conference organized by the UAE Government Media Office under the theme “Content For Good” took place in Dubai’s Emirates Towers, the Museum of the Future and the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC).
Mohammad Al Gergawi, minister of Cabinet Affairs stated,“The remarkable success of the 1 Billion Followers Summit, reflected in the growth of engagement among content creators and key players in this vital sector, provides a strong impetus for further growth in future editions.”
This year’s summit built on the momentum of previous years with an expanded and robust agenda developed with local and global partners. The summit attracted more than 125 CEOs as well as leading experts and influencers. Over 10 investment funds totaling AED 50 million also participated to support content creators across various fields.
Saeed Al Eter, deputy minister of Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Projects and chairman of the UAE Government Media Office said, “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.”
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President, Prime Minister and ruler of Dubai will preside over the fourth edition which is scheduled for January 9-11, 2026.
Over 340 sessions covering three primary tracks, economy, content and technology were included in the summit including roundtable discussions, interactive debates, training workshops and keynote addresses.
Alia AlHammadi, vice chairperson of the UAE Government Media Office, CEO of the 1 Billion Followers Summit said that “This edition introduced groundbreaking initiatives, including the One Billion Award valued at $1 million for creators of purposeful content.”
Prominent social media companies, such as LinkedIn, X, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat and Meta (Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp) took part in conversations on the future of content production and creating powerful content.
Winners of the 1 Billion Pitches competition were also announced with $1 million awarded to startups and entrepreneurs with pioneering content creation ideas. The competition received 500 applications from 40 countries with projects spanning various fields. The winner of the One Billion Award, a $1 million prize for inspiring positive content was announced on the summit’s final day attracting over 16,000 entries from nearly 190 countries in just three weeks.
