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Get an Influencer License In Dubai
The use of technology and the internet is becoming more popular in Dubai. It is now considered the center for influential people and companies. According to a report by Global Media Insights, there were 10. 73 million people using social media in the UAE in 2023, which is 99% of the country’s population. Three out of every four people like to follow social media influencers for entertainment and to get ideas for shopping. Every social media influencer in Dubai needs to have a license if they want to get paid for promoting products or creating content. Influencers need a license if they earn money from doing reviews, ads, or featuring products in their content.
This article talks about what an influencer license is, why it’s needed, and how to get one.
What Is an NMC License?
The NMC started giving licenses to social media influencers in 2018. The license is meant to control and manage the social media influencer industry. The National Media council is part of the Media Regulatory Office, which is a part of the Ministry of Culture and Youth. Anyone who gets paid for their work, like from advertising or reviewing products, has to follow these rules. The NMC license does not work for people who have their own websites, write blogs, or promote their businesses on social media. This rule doesn’t count for people who review products for free, as long as they are not connected to the brand and don’t get paid for it. NMC licenses need to be renewed every year after the initial one-year period. There are three choices for the NMC license. They are:
Category 1
Category 1 licenses are for people who want to keep working as social media influencers on their own.
Category 2
This social media license is for small influencer groups who want to start a company together. The company must sign up and get a business license. This way is cheaper than Category 1 licenses.
Category 3
The third NMC license option is for you to join one of the approved Dubai social media influencer agencies certified by the National Media Council. These companies have permission for all of their social media stars, and they will also give you permission. The problem is that you might not have as much control over what content you share.
If you work as a social media influencer without the right license, you could get fined AED 5,000 and your social media accounts might be stopped.
Why You Must Have an Influencer Permit?
In 2018, the UAE government made new rules for influencers in Dubai. They introduced a special license called E-Media License. People who make money from their social media posts need to get a license from the National Media Council (NMC). The rules are for influencers who use Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. The rules also apply to vloggers and bloggers who get paid to promote products in their content. This job might involve advertising products, putting products in shows or movies, or writing about products. Influencers have to follow rules, like not lying or advertising alcohol.
Another thing to know is that if you have a personal website, blog, or promote your own brand, you don’t have to get the E-Media License. This rule doesn’t apply to people who review products without getting paid, as long as they’re not connected to the brand. In Dubai, the license for social media influencers lasts for one year and needs to be renewed every year. It is AED 15,000 for one year. To become an influencer in Dubai, you need to apply for a license from the Media Regulatory Office Ministry of Culture and Youth.
Can an Influencer Use a Free Zone License?
Sure Imagine if you have a job as a social media influencer in a Dubai free zone like Meydan Free Zone. In that situation, you can talk to customers in the United Arab Emirates and all over the world. We can help you start your influencer business in Dubai at Meydan Free Zone. We can also support you with running your business online and with all the business side of things.
Document Required for Social Media Influencer License in the UAE
To get a license to be an influencer in Dubai, you need to have the following documents:
- Passport copies
- Copy of visa
- Emirates ID photocopy
- Business License
- 2 colored passport-size photos
To get an E-Media License, go to the NMC website and apply online. If you work with an influencer agency that is NMC-certified, you won’t have to pay for the license.
Steps to get a Social Media Influencer License in Dubai
The process to get the influencer license in Dubai are as follows –
- An address such as a free zone for company incorporation
- Submit application
- Submit all required documents to the respective authorities
- Complete the payment
Cost to Obtain an Influencer License
The price for an influencer license in Dubai is different depending on the type of license, the kind of business, and where it’s located. In Dubai, the price for an NMC license permit is 15,000 AED. However, the overall cost can change depending on many different things, like we talked about earlier. A famous person on social media who wants to work by themselves also needs to get a license to do business. This could make the yearly costs about AED 14,500. The price of the license changes depending on the location. For example, in Sharjah, the NMC license only costs AED 5,700.
Therefore, if you are not connected to any official influencer groups, the overall cost of getting a license and starting a business in Dubai can be between AED 20,000 and AED 30,000.
Laws for the Influencer License
Anyone who wants to be an influencer in Dubai needs to follow these rules:
- You can’t show support for alcohol in any way.
- You have to obey rules when you take pictures, don’t say bad things about others, and don’t bother people’s privacy.
- Need to keep a list of all the things they advertise.
- Do not share any message that makes fun of leaders or causes trouble.
- Do not use language or messages that are against Islam, promote bad behavior, or could be harmful for young people.
- Do not say anything disrespectful about religion.
A social media influencer in Dubai needs a license to do paid work. If they don’t have a license, they’ll have to pay AED 5,000 as a penalty. In serious situations, the social media accounts may also be banned.
