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Getting an Influencer License in the UAE
There is now a dedicated license for social media influencers in the United Arab Emirates. It has been introduced by the National Media Council, which oversees all media-related activities in the UAE. Simply put, if you make money off your social media posts – or intend to – it is mandatory for you to get an Influencer License. It covers both those living in the United Arab Emirates as well as those in the country on short-term visits. Apart from Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, the Influencer License also extends to vloggers and bloggers.
You can apply as an individual or as a group (such as consisting of friends or family members). Alternatively, you could get registered with the National Media Council as an official social media influencer agency, and obtain an aggregator license that covers all those who are part of your agency or collective. The caveat is that any one social media influencer must have signed up with a social media influencer agency exclusively – they are not permitted to be associated with more than one social media influencer agency or collective.
You could get an Influencer License from the Department of Economic Development in the emirate when you plan to carry out your social media / vlogging / blogging activity, or you could get an Influencer License from a free zone which allows this kind of business activity. It is indeed considered as a commercial activity, because some social media influencers in Dubai charge up to $5,000 per social media post. The most well-known influencers in Dubai charge double this amount. It is estimated that by 2022, around $15 billion will be spent on social media influencer marketing.
What You Need to Know About the Influencer License
The National Media Council defines it as any paid or unpaid form of presentation and/or promotion of ideas, goods, or services by electronic means, or network applications. Strict penalties apply to those who violate the law, that is those who operate without an Influencer License.
The laws have been introduced to bring in professionalism into the field.
- A fine of AED 5000 is already in place, along with the risk of the social media account or handle being shut down by the authorities.
- In case it is determined that you were involved in the sale of an item or multiple items over social media, you could be fined AED 500,000 if you are a resident of the United Arab Emirates.
- It is considered a violation even if you do not receive any payment, but ‘gifts’ from the companies who products/services you are promoting or advertising.
- The Influencer License does not allow you to open a corporate bank account in the United Arab Emirates. You are expected to use your personal bank account to receive all payments towards your social media activities.
- The Influencer License does not entitle you for a visa, or allow you to sponsor your dependent family members.
“The law also applies to international influencers who fly in to the United Arab Emirates or are flown in for short-term promotions. Brands are forbidden from collaborating with those who are not in possession of an Influencer License.”
-Lekha Anoop, Head of Legal, A&A Associate LLC
Things To Keep In Mind When Applying For Your Influencer License
In the United Arab Emirates, it is illegal to take a picture of anyone without their consent. The law applies to video recordings as well, so it is ideal if others are not featured in your social media posts. This also includes a picture of any person or celebrity you might have on your T-shirt when taking a picture or video of yourself, so you need to wear clothing that does not come into contrast with the law
The UAE is a country where anti-defamation laws are strictly enforced. When reviewing a restaurant or any product/service, you need to be mindful of your language. Any negative connotation puts you at risk of jail. On that note, alcohol advertising is also banned in the United Arab Emirates, so you need to be extra careful when posting a sponsored picture or video of yourself with grape juice in a wineglass. When in doubt, it is best avoided
You should also avoid talking about religion or local / regional politics in the Middle East, as anything that is considered seditious or promotes sectarianism is banned under the UAE Cyber Crimes Law. Under no circumstances should you post anything that might be deemed inappropriate for minors. This constitutes an offence in the United Arab Emirates, and you could find yourselves in serious trouble.
In need of an Influencer License in Dubai?
At A&A Associate LLC, we have years of experience helping individuals obtain trade licenses for their businesses. We can help you with an Influencer License in Dubai as well, taking care to see that all the documentation is in order so that you can continue to make money off your social media activities. For more details, please get in touch with us.
A&A Associate LLC is a specialized consulting firm that can be counted on for all matters of business setup in Dubai. With extensive experience in company registration in Dubai, it strives to deliver the best results for its clients who seek professional assistance with company formation in Dubai. It has successfully assisted clients from 100 countries across the world, and takes pride in having a 98% client satisfaction rate so far.
