How to obtain an influencer license in the UAE? | Business Setup in Dubai

The digital industry has undeniably taken the world by storm. Not to mention, the digital world has made a major impact on the economy. There are also well known digital creators based in Dubai such as NasDaily. Because of this, the social media influencer license in the UAE has now become one of the most popular permits.

Although obtaining it isn’t a complicated process, it does require you to have a certain level of understanding to acquire the right permit.

Why does one need an influencer permit?

The UAE has introduced various rules and regulations for social media content creators in order to make this line of work more professional and transparent. As per the National Media Council (NMC), it has been introduced to help provide a more balanced and responsible media content to protect the public from negative and harmful material.

This rule is not only applicable to digital creators using Instagram, Facebook and Twitter but also extends to bloggers and vloggers. Due to this, in order to become a blogger/vlogger in the UAE, it is mandatory to obtain a permit. It is much more cost effective to obtain your influencer permit in a free zone.

The Dubai influencer license is valid for 12 months after which the digital creator needs to renew their permit.

It takes less than a week to obtain your influencer permit. Failure to have the correct permit will result in a fine. It is also commonly known as an e-media license.

You can also apply for it if you already have a freelancer permit. The requirement to obtain this license is not necessary for influencers who are in partnership with the National Media Council (NMC). This is because the agencies certified by NMC will do the needful for its influencers to operate in the UAE. However, these agencies come with their own rules and regulations that the digital creators need to follow.

The only exception in which a digital creator does not need to obtain a license is when they only receive gifts, experience, and/or products in exchange for coverage for brands. However, this isn’t applicable for influencers who get paid to do promotions for a brand.

It is also important to note that this permit is meant for bloggers and vloggers who are already a resident in the UAE. Hence, this permit does not entitle the individual for visa eligibility.

Requirements to obtain an influencer license

When applying for your social media influencer license in Dubai it is vital to ensure that your application form is completely free from any mistakes. 

It is also useful to open a free zone bank account to manage your finances. To understand more about how the entire process of opening a bank account works.

The other requirements are the same as the standard procedures to start a free zone company such as document submission. The documents that need to be submitted are as follows:

·        Complete application form

·        Passport copy of the influencer

·        Visa copy

·        Emirates ID copy (if applicable)

·        Passport sized photographs with white background

The steps to acquire your influencer license in Dubai are as follows:

·        Choose your preferred jurisdiction

·        Apply for your license registration

·        Submit all required documents to the free zone authorities

·        Complete the process of payment for your influencer permit

Obtain your influencer license in the UAE with Bizgate

If you want to start your journey as a digital creator in the UAE legally, it is best to obtain a license for it. Take your first step into the world of social media with Bizgate.

Bizgate will help you guide you and ensure that the entire process of obtaining your license runs smoothly. Furthermore, our goal is to help entrepreneurs build a foundation in the UAE’s thriving economy, from start to finish.

Our business expert advisor will help you through the entire process — from getting you registered with the ideal free zone for your license, to getting the documentation process completed.

To get in touch with our expert business consultants, call or WhatsApp us at +971 56 220 1709.