Latest news with #byDubai
Time Out Dubai
22-04-2025
- Business
- Time Out Dubai
Dubai launches travel influencer academy: Your need to know
Dubai has launched a travel influencer academy aimed towards bringing more high-quality content to your feed. The new initiative, titled the Beautiful Destinations Academy, Powered by Dubai, hopes to 'set new global benchmarks' for travel content as well as help creators with the business side of being an influencer. The academy is the latest scheme designed to bring more influencers to the emirate following the launch of a special content creator golden visa and a Dhs150 million government support fund. Established by Visit Dubai and Beautiful Destinations, the academy will attempt to bring 'structure, credibility and accountability to a previously informal field of work'. In its launch statement, the academy pointed out that 76 percent of travel decisions are now influenced by social media content and the hope is that graduates will be able to produce more high-quality content encouraging visits to Dubai. The Dubai travel influencer academy curriculum Budding content creators will learn valuable marketing lessons as well as creative and commercial skills while enrolled in the programme. The Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing outlined the following key modules: Mastery of audio-visual content creation across multiple platforms Cinematography, shots and movement including sequences and transitions All aspects of post-production from editing and grading, to narrative, music and sound design Emerging technologies and VFX including AI-assisted content creation and CGI Strategic understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement Tourism industry knowledge and destination marketing principles Professional ethics and business acumen Students will get hands-on mentorship from top creative and professional experts in the travel sector. Graduates will be awarded with a certificate of participation from Dubai College of Tourism. Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Visit Dubai), says that the academy should boost Dubai's global appeal. He said: 'The launch of this innovative programme with Beautiful Destinations is a testament to our commitment to fostering creativity, innovation, and excellence in the tourism sector. 'By providing a dedicated space for content creators, we aim to amplify Dubai's global appeal and further solidify our position as the best city to visit, live, and work in. 'This aligns perfectly with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, and our vision to make Dubai a leading global city for business and leisure. 'Thanks to a diverse range of offerings and experiences, Dubai provides an unrivalled platform for capturing creative, engaging content, and we look forward to working with Beautiful Destinations and content creators from around the world to amplify their storytelling globally.' The Dubai golden visa for content creators The influencer golden visa has been rolled out following the 1 Billion Followers Summit in January 2025. A Creators HQ was established at Emirates Towers to assist up to 10,000 content creators in their pursuit of long-term residence. It means that online personalities will be able to live, work and create in the UAE without the need for a sponsor. Content creators are able to apply for this golden visa via the Creators HQ website. This application will be reviewed and your eligibility will be assessed under the Golden Visa criteria – Content Creators and Creative Talent Category. In other Dubai news When is the next school holiday in Dubai? There's another break coming soon Coming soon: Dubai to get driverless taxis by 2026 The futuristic plans you need to know about RTA offers free bus service this week Here's how to get involved
The National
22-04-2025
- Business
- The National
Dubai launches academy for travel influencers to ‘amplify global appeal'
Dubai has launched an academy for travel content creators to boost tourism and support digital storytelling projects. It is hoped that the 'Beautiful Destinations Academy, Powered by Dubai' initiative will help promote the city's global image. It will introduce formal standards, structure and accountability to a previously informal field. The curriculum is designed to develop creative and commercial skills combining technical proficiency with marketing principles. After completing the programme, they will be awarded a certificate of participation from Dubai College of Tourism. Influencers interested in enrolling can apply online through the Beautiful Destinations website. The academy session will take place in Dubai from May 2025, lasting three months. 'The launch of this innovative programme with Beautiful Destinations is a testament to our commitment to fostering creativity, innovation, and excellence in the tourism sector,' said Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing. 'By providing a dedicated space for content creators, we aim to amplify Dubai's global appeal and further solidify our position as the best city to visit, live, and work in.' It follows the formation of the Creators HQ earlier this year, which aims to attract 10,000 influencers to the UAE. This will serve to 'empower creators, amplify their impact, and establish sustainable frameworks for the booming creator economy', according to the government. It was established with 100 members drawn from 20 countries, including some of the world's leading content creators as well as those championing the rise of the sector. The hub, launched at the 1 Billion Followers Summit in January, will also allow influencers to apply for a 10-year residency golden visa. The initiative has been endorsed by many of the world's most prominent names in the field of written or visual content, including Meta, TikTok, X, Spotter, Creator Now, Tube Filter, Epidemic Sound and the New Media Academy. 'Today we spearhead major efforts dedicated to building a comprehensive content economy that further establishes the UAE's leadership in a field that has become a key driver of the future,' said Mohammad Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, at the time of the launch. If you are making money through social media in the UAE, you will also need a licence from the National Media Council, which costs Dh15,000 in Abu Dhabi and Dubai – but costs can vary depending on the emirate. The standard content creator licence must be renewed each year, which would not be the case for golden visa holders, who would not have to update it during the 10 years of their accreditation. This amounts to a 'huge opportunity for any content creator, in or out of the country', according to Rami Al Asmar, who posts history videos on TikTok and Instagram and spoke to The National during the summit. Coral Stevens, who reviews restaurants and other popular destinations under the handle of dxb-hun on Instagram in Dubai had another perspective, saying that having a golden visa will make it easier to settle for the long term and would ease some financial pressures. 'I'm hoping it will allow more stability as a content creator, and more financial stability. Knowing my future is more long term than having to renew my visa every two years would definitely make me feel more stable. Also, my business licence is very costly at Dh22,000 a year. Having the golden visa could definitely help reduce this cost.' The changes make content creators feel more valued, Ms Stevens said. She added that she wants to apply for the golden visa because it would secure her future in the UAE and enable her to stay long term with her family. 'I'm extremely excited I could apply for it – it's something I'd be so honoured to have,' said Ms Stevens, who has 128,000 online followers. 'I know my page has brought some tourism to the country, and it would definitely be the cherry on the cake, I would feel extremely valued and all the hard work I've put into content would have paid off.' Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, posted on social media platform X last year that the UAE welcomes creators whose work can help create a better life and future. He added the country would build a sustainable economic sector for content creation.
