What is the, UAE advertiser permit, the so called influencer license

What is the, UAE advertiser permit, the so called influencer license

Introduction & background of author
As a creator and influencer who is a lifetime member of the UAE creators HQ program I am wanting to help myself and you understand more about the advertiser permit and by writing this article I hope to further understand the so called influencer license. 

What is the UAE Advertiser permit?
The UAE advertiser permit is a newly introduced regulation & and license for social media influencers that’s designed to control and monitor online influencers who advertise third party businesses.
Please note that this only affects influencers who promote 3rd party businesses.

What is the reason for the advertiser permit and what are the real costs involved?
It appears the main aim of the UAE advertiser permit ( the so called influencer license ) is to regulate online advertising in an attempt to protect consumers from misleading advertisements. 


In the 3rd year influencers will have to pay for the license at cost of 1,000aed per year. As an influencer you will also have to set some sort of company or freelance visa to be approved for the license meaning the real world cost is much higher than 1,000aed & you really need to consider the annual renewal fees for what ever business you decide to set up. 

For example I already have a licensed company set up  with RAKEZ in UAE costing 12,000aed per year and I have to add another activity to my license in order to be approved for the new advertiser permit. This is looking like it’s potentially going to cost me an additional 2000aed per year for the added specific license required.
The cost for me is yet to be confirmed as I am currently in the process of updating the company activities.
For further example it looks like I could be spending an extra 3,000aed per year in order to have the advertiser permit bringing my licensing renewal fees from 12,000 to approximately 15,000aed per year once the advertiser permit license costs kick in.

If you do not have a business set up you might be the more fortunate ones because you will know the correct activities to choose when setting up.
Please do make sure to check everything on the phone and email with the UAE media council before committing to any costs of setting up your business.

Does this have any connection with the Creators HQ program?
The creators HQ program was a truly incredible UAE initiative that has attracted over 2,000 influencers from 147 countries to the UAE, the creators HQ Program was set up in January 2025 before the introduction announcement of the advertiser permit in July 2025.
The creators HQ program appears to have no direct links with the UAE’s media council’s advertiser permit.

For clarity if you are a creator and influencer who is part of the creators HQ program who does not advertise third party businesses then you will not need obtain the advertiser permit, this really is only for people who advertise other businesses.

Fines
It does appear that fines are a part of the apparatus and are listed as follows;
Non-compliance carries strict penalties:

  • Content breaches: Dh5,000 – Dh1,000,000 (depending on severity)

  • Violations affecting state interests or national security: Dh50,000 – Dh500,000

  • Operating without a licence: Dh10,000 (first offence), Dh40,000 (repeat)

  • Publishing false or misleading information: Dh5,000 – Dh10,000

  • Licence misuse or expired licences: Dh150/day (capped at Dh3,000), Dh20,000 for misuse
    What the influencers think
    From speaking to influencers I think the general community find it unusual and it could put of lot of creators creating content in the UAE fearing fines.
    Creators have never really seen a move like this before globally. This appears to be the first of it’s kind partially asking creators to clearly display an influencer number. 

    There was a similar introduction in the real estate market forcing brokers to add QR codes onto their videos that seen quality brokers leave the UAE market.

    A recent video has surfaced online stating that an influencer was denied the license because of a very unusual reason.  

    Even with the creators HQ program this advertiser permit could scare influencers from setting up in the UAE.


What licenses / business activities do I need for the advertiser permit?
This is where it all becomes a little confusing as having a business in the UAE is not enough to be approved for the advertiser permit.
For example I have a business set up in the UAE with residency and bank accounts etc. but…. I need to add activities to my business in order to be considered for the advertiser permit.

Currently my business activities are
*Media
*Ecom
These do not qualify me for the advertiser permit application.

It’s at this point you really need to check and check again what activities and business licenses can be approved for the advertiser permit because having a business & residency in the UAE is not enough, you need one of the specific approved activities.

I have a friend who has amended his business activities twice and is still facing issues so again please check as amending business activities comes at a cost to the business owner.

Again you really do need to call and email the UAE media council to confirm what it is you need and the best route for you.

Do I really need to display my license number in my description?
Yes, it seems strange but one of the requirements is that  you do need to alter your social media page and clearly display the advertiser permit and yes having these irrelevant numbers in your profile will affect your SEO. 



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