It’s only natural to take a few selfies and upload them on social media, when on a vacation especially if you are in a beautiful country like the United Arab Emirates, which has styled itself as the tourism capital of the world. However, things are about to change if you are an influencer taking part in such activities.
Over the past few years, thousands of influencers have flocked to the UAE, to live there and earn a living as social media influencers and who can blame them, considering how fun and luxurious life can be in the UAE if you are an influencer with some means.
But now the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is changing the rules and to be a social media influencer in UAE, you need to have a license, as you are not just living there but also working. If you are unlicensed and working as an influencer then you will be fined AED 10,000 starting July 1 of this year.
If you are a social media influencer, you don’t need to worry as in this guide not only will we tell you how you can get your influencer license but we will also guide you through the whole process and help you get it.
What is an Influencer License in Abu Dhabi?
A social media Influencer license is essentially a permit allowing the government of Abu Dhabi to regulate the activities of social media influencers, both individuals and companies. As for the influencers themselves, it allows them to legally partake in social media campaigns and advertisements.
Having a license ensures the Abu Dhabi government that social media influencers and companies are following the rules and regulations set forth by the government and helps them keep track of everyone’s activities.
Who needs to get this Influencer license?
Both individual social media influencers and marketing companies that take part in social media campaigns need to get this license. Even those companies and influencers who have the National Media Company (NMC) E-Media License still have to get the Abu Dhabi influencer license.
Even the government companies that utilize social media campaigns need to have the license. So far the only group that is not required to get the license are nonmonetized influencers.
Penalties for not getting the license
The penalties for not having a license are strict and are not merely limited to monetary fines. Not only will the influencers working without a license be fined up to AED 10,000 but companies that are working without a license will be subject to legal action and will be closed.
Costs associated with getting the Influencer license in Abu Dhabi
The costs associated with an Influencer license differ for both individual influencers and companies and are as follows.
- Individual Influencers can get the license for AED 1,250.
- While companies can get the license for AED 5,000.
Whereas the NMC E-Media license costs AED 15,000 and is valid all over UAE, but needs to be renewed every year. However, companies may need to get additional trade licenses to their NMC E-Media license.
Documentation required for getting the Abu Dhabi Influencer license
The documentation required to get the Abu Dhabi Influencer license is more or less the same as the documentation required to get the NMC E-Media license and is as follows.
- Copy of Valid Passport
- Copy of Visa
- Copy of Emirate ID or unified number
- 2 Passport-sized colored Photos with white Background
- Proof of Address (Utility bill etc.)
- Trade License (For Companies)
The announcement of this license is still relatively new and, in the future, there might be some changes to the required documents, and depending on individual cases, you might be required to produce extra documents.
Step by Step process for getting the Influencer license
If you meet the criteria and have all the necessary documents then the process to getting the license is very easy. The license is issued by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) and you can get it from the TAMM website or the App which is a unified digital platform.
Here is exactly what you need to do.
- Go to the TAMM website at https://www.tamm.abudhabi/.
- Go to the services section and find the license you are looking for.
- Next, you need to sign in and you can do that with your UAE Pass.
- If you don’t already have an account then you will need to sign up.
- You can do so by clicking the signup option and following the instructions.
- Once you have made an account and signed in you can start the application process.
- Simply follow the steps stated in the application process, fill in all the details and submit your documents.
- Once that is done you will need to pay the fee and wait for your application verification.
- Upon the completion of the process, you will get your Abu Dhabi Influencer license.
Why having an Abu Dhabi Influencer license be beneficial for you?
It goes without saying that the UAE and in it specifically Dubai and Abu Dhabi have a robust and thriving social media influencer scene. Not only are there social media companies that are operating in UAE but also thousands of Individual influencers and creators have made UAE their home.
Influencers and creators from Western countries showcasing the glamor and glitter of life in UAE is a huge market. Warm sandy beaches, luxury hotels, and apartments, and not to mention the fast luxury cars attract huge social media audiences that like to live vicariously through these influencers.
Add to the mix, the safaris, festivals, concerts, and many location attractions and you have a perfect brand to sell. Having all this only increases the importance of having an influencer license as it not only keeps the fun going but also makes your activities legal.
Things to Consider
It is easy to get lost alluring aura of the influencer lifestyle but at the same time you as an influencer need to remember why these licenses are being issued. It is so that you not only follow the letter of the law but also respect the local traditions and practices, which in a country like UAE, hold utmost importance.
