The 1 Billion Followers Summit, the world’s largest creators economy event, has concluded its preparatory meetings defining the agenda for its fourth edition. The summit Dubai, organised by the UAE Government Media Office, reinforces the UAE’s role as a global hub for content creation and digital economy growth.

The event announced the launch of the world’s largest prize for AI-generated films, valued at US$1 million. It also revealed a packed agenda featuring speakers with a combined following of over 3 billion.

The fourth edition of the Summit Dubai will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum from 9th to 11th January 2026. Venues include Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai International Financial Centre, and the Museum of the Future.

The preparatory meetings brought together CEOs of social media platforms, digital media companies, and leading content creators. Participants explored strategies for purposeful content creation, storytelling, technological trends, and ways to combat misinformation.

Topics included:

• Future of social media platforms and monetisation strategies
• Building cross-border partnerships among creators and startups
• Expanding innovation networks with major tech firms

Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, affirmed that His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid has consistently supported the media and content creation sector. He reiterated that the launch of the world’s largest AI film prize with Google Gemini strengthens the UAE’s role in the content economy.

The AI film prize requires entries to be fully generated using AI, with judging based on creativity, storytelling, execution, and alignment with humanitarian themes. The winning film will be honored, and the top 10 films showcased during the summit.

The event also announced AED50 million for the Creators Ventures Programme, aimed at funding innovative projects with cultural and social impact. A new Content Creation Companies Pavilion will also debut, hosting 100 SMEs and startups founded by content creators.

The Summit Dubai will appoint five new ambassadors, including Simon Squibb, Alexandra Mary Hirschi (Supercar Blondie), Khalid Al Ameri, Omar Farooq, and Ammar Kandil. The summit further revealed partnerships with SEE Holding, Emirates, MBC Group, Sony, and Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy.

Global platforms including Google, Meta, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, and X will also participate.

The third edition of the summit in 2025 attracted 15,000 creators, 420 speakers, and recorded over 1.5 billion digital interactions. The hashtag #1BillionSummit trended worldwide with millions of engagements.

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