Dubai to allocate more than $40m for content creators’ support fund

The announcements were made in conjunction with Dubai hosting the 1 Billion Followers Summit, a gathering of leading global social media influencers and content creators. (AFP/File)
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Updated 11 January 2024
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Dubai to allocate more than $40m for content creators’ support fund

  • Fund to support personal and professional development of creative talents
  • Sheikh Mohammed announces plans for the establishment of a permanent headquarters designed for influencers

LONDON: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the UAE’s vice president, prime minister and ruler of Dubai, has unveiled a fund of Dh150 million ($40.8 million) dedicated to supporting content creators and influencers.

In addition to this financial backing, Sheikh Mohammed announced plans for the establishment of a permanent headquarters designed specifically for influencers.

In a statement reported by the state news agency WAM, Sheikh Mohammed outlined the initiative: “Today we issued directives to allocate a fund valued at Dh150 million to support content creators and transform the digital media sector.

“We also instructed the establishment of a permanent influencers’ headquarters that provides year-round support.”

The move appears to align with Dubai’s commitment to investing in creative talents and nurturing the digital industry, both of which play pivotal roles in enhancing the UAE’s influential global media footprint.

Emphasizing the importance of novel communication channels, Sheikh Mohammed said: “Impactful media reflects the past and provides inspiration for the future.”

The announcements were made in conjunction with Dubai hosting the 1 Billion Followers Summit, a gathering of leading global social media influencers and content creators.

The two-day summit, held at Emirates Towers and Dubai’s Museum of the Future, brought together more than 3,000 attendees, 100 speakers, and more than 300 companies from the technology and social media landscape.

The initiative will provide support to content creators, assisting them in making creative and impactful content while also attracting investments in new media.

The fund will also offer training courses aimed at nurturing local and regional talents.

In addition, the influencers’ headquarters, a joint venture between the UAE Government Media Office and the New Media Academy, aims to serve as a hub for top influencers and content creators.

Mohammad Al-Gergawi, minister of cabinet affairs, said that the fund was dedicated to “supporting content creators, talents and innovators to help transform the digital media sector (and) presents exceptional opportunities for them to fulfil their potential, grow their business and showcase the accomplishments and ambitions of the Emirati people to the world.”


Shahid, Disney+ and OSN+ launch exclusive streaming bundle across GCC

Updated 24 December 2025
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Shahid, Disney+ and OSN+ launch exclusive streaming bundle across GCC

  • Bundle available exclusively visa Shahid for $25 a month

RIYADH: In a landmark regional collaboration, Shahid, Disney+, and OSN+ have announced an exclusive streaming bundle that brings together world-class hits from the three platforms under a single subscription in a first-of-its-kind offer for audiences in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

The all-in-one entertainment package, available only through Shahid in the GCC for about $25 a month, grants subscribers full access to three leading platforms covering Hollywood blockbusters, Disney+’s expansive range of beloved films, animations and series, OSN+’s library of HBO originals and international hits, and Shahid’s Arabic premium content.

The bundle is designed to simplify subscription management with a unified payment model, allowing viewers to access all three apps at the price of two and offering a streamlined user experience. 

Natasha Matos-Hemingway, chief commercial and marketing officer at Shahid, said the partnership reflects a broader effort to expand digital entertainment offerings in the Middle East, catering to a growing audience seeking diversity, convenience and high-quality programming.

“We are proud to collaborate with OSN+ and Disney+ to offer an unmatched streaming experience to our subscribers,” she said. “With one subscription, one payment, and full access to premium content from all three platforms, we’re delivering unbeatable convenience, value and entertainment.”

With a growing demand for high-quality on-demand content, the bundle is expected to attract a wide range of users seeking comprehensive entertainment without juggling multiple subscriptions.

The move also signals increasing cooperation between global media giants and regional platforms, in a bid to meet the entertainment preferences of Arab audiences while expanding market reach.

Karl Holmes, SVP and general manager at Disney+ EMEA, said the collaboration will bring award-winning series like FX’s “Shogun” and favorites such as “Lilo & Stitch” into a unique bundle with Shahid’s regional hits including “Al Dariya.”

The agreement “reflects a shared ambition between Disney+ and Shahid to shape the future of entertainment in the Middle East,” said Holmes. “The Middle East is young, dynamic and fast-growing, and we’re delighted to give consumers a new and easy way to access extraordinary content at exceptional value.”

Choucri Khairallah, chief business officer at OSN+, said the partnership takes OSN+’s entertainment experience “to the next level.”

He added: “Today’s audiences expect more than great content; they seek seamless access, variety and exceptional value. This all-in-one bundle delivers exactly that.”