Influencers in the UAE have welcomed a Dh150 million fund for content creators, saying it will create new opportunities.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, announced the initiative to support content creators and influencers on Wednesday.
Sheikh Mohammed also said a permanent headquarters for influencers would be created.
The news has been widely welcomed by leading young influencers, including Dubai-based Gehna Advani.
“This will help support young influencers like me to grow, evolve and develop new skills as well as launch a brand or business in the evolving landscape of digital media,” said Ms Advani, an Indian beauty, fashion and lifestyle influencer.
“A headquarters would be super-helpful for individuals who might not have access to certain resources. This will create various opportunities for all.”
The scheme, a collaboration between the Government Media Office and the New Media Academy, is designed to serve as a central hub for influencers and content creators.
“This is a great way to provide more economic growth in this sector and just embrace artistry. It will also be beneficial for positioning this region as a hub for digital content creation,” Ms Advani told The National.
“It will bring content creators together to meet up and discuss ideas, potential collaborations and help growth as well as being a great place to provide influencers with a space where studios, equipments and other tools are readily available.”
Creating fortunes
Being a social media influencer is already a lucrative business for some. Especially in the UAE where some charge up to $8,000 per post.
Emirati Ahmed Alkhawaja, 30, is a content creator based in Abu Dhabi.
“This is a very big initiative and it's not just on a local or regional scale. This is global because it showcases how the UAE government is really interested in helping out all these content creators and empowering them,” Mr Alkhawaja said.
“I think it will open up more opportunities for me to work with more organisations, institutions and businesses.”
Mr Alkhawaja believes that content creation comes with responsibility and can be a vital way to spread awareness and messages.
“This will help me have the confidence to go on to a bigger scale when it comes to content creation and having a headquarters here will help influencers connect with each other, exchange ideas, brainstorm and at the same time create great initiatives,” he said.
“Content creation is the best way spread my knowledge because it allows me to spread it on a massive scale, not only in the UAE but the entire region, since my content is in Arabic.”
A whole new world
Walid Elmusrati, 33, from Libya, is a content creator in the travel sector and is looking forward to experiencing the new influencer headquarters.
“This is much-needed, and having a place that will host us all year round will definitely have a huge benefit,” he said.
“UAE support to creators has been endless. I am overwhelmed about the initiative, and the news brought me so much excitement.”
Mr Elmusrati's started out 18 years ago as a blogger, before moving to online radio and then, more recently, to platforms such as Instagram.
“The support creatives receive in the UAE is incomparable,” he said.
“This will definitely attract new content creators to the UAE and the market will get even bigger.”
Emirati Mohamed Alnaqbi, 24, creates educational content about cybersecurity, technology and coding.
“A lot of people were encouraged to get into cybersecurity after watching my videos which made me happy,” said Mr Alnaqbi, who is based in Abu Dhabi.
“For beginners that want to start a career in content creation, such an initiative will help them by teaching them skills like editing, coming up with ideas and writing scripts.
“It also means content creators like me can gather together and make connections.”
SPECS
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COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
%20Ramez%20Gab%20Min%20El%20Akher
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Women%E2%80%99s%20Asia%20Cup
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20fixtures%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3ESun%20Oct%202%2C%20v%20Sri%20Lanka%3Cbr%3ETue%20Oct%204%2C%20v%20India%3Cbr%3EWed%20Oct%205%2C%20v%20Malaysia%3Cbr%3EFri%20Oct%207%2C%20v%20Thailand%3Cbr%3ESun%20Oct%209%2C%20v%20Pakistan%3Cbr%3ETue%20Oct%2011%2C%20v%20Bangladesh%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EUAE%20squad%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EChaya%20Mughal%20(captain)%2C%20Esha%20Oza%2C%20Kavisha%20Kumari%2C%20Khushi%20Sharma%2C%20Theertha%20Satish%2C%20Lavanya%20Keny%2C%20Priyanjali%20Jain%2C%20Suraksha%20Kotte%2C%20Natasha%20Cherriath%2C%20Indhuja%20Nandakumar%2C%20Rishitha%20Rajith%2C%20Vaishnave%20Mahesh%2C%20Siya%20Gokhale%2C%20Samaira%20Dharnidharka%2C%20Mahika%20Gaur%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Jebel Ali results
2pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
Winner: AF Al Moreeb, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)
2.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Shamikh, Ryan Curatolo, Nicholas Bachalard
3pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 64,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: One Vision, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
3.30pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Gabr, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson
4pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 96,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner: Just A Penny, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson
4.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Torno Subito, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 76,000 (D) 1,950m
Winner: Untold Secret, Jose Santiago, Salem bin Ghadayer
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Fines for littering
In Dubai:
Dh200 for littering or spitting in the Dubai Metro
Dh500 for throwing cigarette butts or chewing gum on the floor, or littering from a vehicle.
Dh1,000 for littering on a beach, spitting in public places, throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle
In Sharjah and other emirates
Dh500 for littering - including cigarette butts and chewing gum - in public places and beaches in Sharjah
Dh2,000 for littering in Sharjah deserts
Dh500 for littering from a vehicle in Ras Al Khaimah
Dh1,000 for littering from a car in Abu Dhabi
Dh1,000 to Dh100,000 for dumping waste in residential or public areas in Al Ain
Dh10,000 for littering at Ajman's beaches
Company profile
Name: Tratok Portal
Founded: 2017
Based: UAE
Sector: Travel & tourism
Size: 36 employees
Funding: Privately funded
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Fly Etihad or Emirates from the UAE to Moscow from 2,763 return per person return including taxes.
Where to stay
Trips on the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian cost from US$16,995 (Dh62,414) per person, based on two sharing.
The distance learning plan
Spring break will be from March 8 - 19
Public school pupils will undergo distance learning from March 22 - April 2. School hours will be 8.30am to 1.30pm
Staff will be trained in distance learning programmes from March 15 - 19
Teaching hours will be 8am to 2pm during distance learning
Pupils will return to school for normal lessons from April 5
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
WHY%20AAYAN%20IS%20'PERFECT%20EXAMPLE'
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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WE%20NO%20LONGER%20PREFER%20MOUNTAINS
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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6.
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
