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 license 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. If you are passionate about getting into the social media industry and become an influencer, continue reading.
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 permit in a free zone.
Social media influencer license in Dubai costs approximately AED 11,900. On the other hand, it costs approximately AED 5,750 in Sharjah. It will be valid for 12 months after which the digital creator needs to renew their permit.
It takes less than a week to obtain your permit. Failure to have the correct permit will result in a fine. It is also commonly known as an e-media permit.
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 them 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 do 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 those 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 the license
When applying for your permit 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, click here.
The other requirements are the same as the standard procedures to open a free zone company in Dubai such as document submission. The documents that need to be submitted are as follows:
- Complete application form
- Passport copy
- Visa copy
- Emirates ID copy (if applicable)
- Two coloured passport sized photographs with white background
Steps to acquire your social media influencer permit in Dubai:
To get your influencer permit in Dubai and across the UAE, you need first to apply for your trade license.
- Choose your preferred jurisdiction
- Apply for your license registration
- Submit all required documents to the free zone authorities
- Complete the process of payment
Obtain your license in the UAE with Shuraa
If you want to start your journey as a digital creator in the UAE legally, it is best to obtain a permit for it. Take your first step into the world of social media with Shuraa Business Setup.
Shuraa will help you guide you and ensure that the entire process of obtaining your license runs smoothly. Shuraa has been one of the leading business setup companies in the UAE for over 20 years. Furthermore, our goal is to help entrepreneurs build a foundation in the UAE’s thriving economy, from start to finish.
Our expert consultants 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 us on +97144081900. Send a WhatsApp message for a chat query on +971507775554. You can also email us at [email protected].
