UAE 1 Billion Next Summit draws 1,131 global creators to new startup accelerator
Flass event
The program aims to identify and foster promising entrepreneurs, provide training, share knowledge, and find investment networks to help them build sustainable businesses in a growing economy.
Participants will be shown in the fourth edition of 1 billion fans, to be January 9 to 11 2026 at the Emirates Towers, Dubai International Managen Center, under the theme of “good content.”
Take a look
- 1,131 applications from 70 countries
- 609 You have qualified for the next stage
- 20 participants to join the first group
- Funding at AED50m ($13.6m)
- Last announced 126 billion followers
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Of the 1,131 applicants, 609 qualified for the next stage after meeting the participation criteria.
It includes 347 content creators from more than 70 countries – led by India, followed by Egypt, the United States, the United Kingdom and Syria.
The accelerator also attracted 262 proposals from digital startups and business platforms.
From these, 20 applicants will be selected for the eumbaural cohort.
A special team of venture capitals and digital-media experts will evaluate projects on innovation, creativity, social and economic impact, quality of execution, business planning, investment potential, and investment potential.
They will also provide training throughout the program to support long-term growth.
Funding opportunity of AED50m
Participants will join an extensive training program that includes 500 company-building technologies through their ecosystem dedicated to the Creator’s economy.
In the first stage, the organizers will invite 20 participants to present their ideas on stage, advance 10 to the last, and choose the last three.
The winners, announced on the closing day of the conference, will receive an investment opportunity and capital of up to AED50m ($13.6m) from HQ creators and industrial investors.
The Global Design Economy
Khadija Hussain, Managing Director of Other Media Communications in the UAE and Deputy CEO of six thousand followers, found the response highlighted the UAE’s increasing role as a magnet for creative talent.
Hussein said: “We are delighted with the great response from the creators working with the Accelerator Program, which shows the UAE’s growing stature as a hub for ambitious and creative top talent from around the world”.
He added that the program provides an unprecedented opportunity for creators and emerging digital companies to turn ideas into sustainable projects.
“Creators find the accelerator program to work as a collaborative platform that brings creativity and innovation within a single ecosystem.
“This integrated model emphasizes the role of content creation as one of the most important sectors of the new economy, giving participating creators a real opportunity to become influential business leaders.”
He emphasized that through its collaboration with 500 Global, Summit provides creators and tools to expand their projects to competitive companies around the world.
Empowering entrepreneurs
Mei Chel Tan, managing partner in the 500 world line, said the partnership demonstrates the firm’s commitment to new growth in the creative economy.
“The Creator’s Economy is an important influence on today’s social and commercial outcomes, with the potential to drive real economic value and innovation,” said Tan.
“We are very excited for Creators and HQ in this initiative, where we are equipping content creators with Creator’s technology to build and solve businesses and solutions.”
Creators without an accelerator emphasizes the goal of 500 worldwide to find its technology and a global platform to help creators and entrepreneurs who turn ideas into high-impact businesses and move forward on a global scale.
Digital and Creative Economy
The accelerator operates under Creators HQ, the UAE’s first content creator and the UAE and Eapeast
By combining education, financial exposure, and a nationwide program, the Initiative advances the UAE’s strategy to build a diverse and creative digital economy that empowers entrepreneurs to compete globally.
