When starting up as an influencer for blogging, Photographers, Social Celebrities, Macro-Influencers, Micro-Influencers having a fan base that ranges from 30,000-350,000 followers across their social media networks, Thought Leaders or vlogging, your listed activity listed in the Business License should be - Marketing Services Via Social Media.
After the trade license is issued by the DED and additional approval from the National Media Council (NMC) is mandatory.
With this activity on your license, you are permitted to help businesses and others to promote and market their products and services via social media applications.
All Influencers should familiarize themselves with Emirati laws that govern photography, defamation and privacy.
It is illegal to take someone's photo without their consent. For many street style bloggers, that feature other people and their outfits on their platforms, this could potentially be an issue.
Making defamatory statements against another individual, their family and/or their company could put you in some serious hot water with the law. This could potentially include a bad review of a restaurant, so food bloggers need to be mindful of the language they use when reviewing local eateries.
And privacy in the UAE is a big deal. It's illegal to talk about someone else's secrets or disclose information without a source's consent.
Also. Content that may be considered acceptable abroad might not be legal here in the UAE, due to the cultural sensitivities of the country.
If you are an influencer in Dubai who only receives free gifts, products and services from brands, in exchange for coverage, then you are in the clear – you don’t need to be a licensed influencer to share your posts. Do keep in mind, the moment you enter into a paid collaboration with any brand, you will need this licence, as failure to do so can result in hefty fines. Influencers in Dubai who are affiliated with media agencies certified by NMC will not need to obtain the licence as the Influencer agencies will be responsible for brokering sponsorship deals between brands and influencers.
Influencers who are visiting the UAE from abroad can conduct business as a social influencer in the UAE, provided they are signed with an NMC registered influencer agency. Any brands who are considering flying in an influencer who doesn’t have this media license in Dubai will need to go through a registered influencer agency to avoid facing fines.
Talk to our company formation specialist for full guidance. Call us on +971 52 375 2391 or WhatsApp us on +971 52 375 2391