Dubai hosts 1 Billion Followers Summit 2026 as global audience of creators reaches 3.5bn
Dubai has cemented its position at the center of the global content economy as Mohammad Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs of the UAE, opened the Billionaires Summit 2026, reaffirming its status as the annual gathering of content creators.
Speaking at the opening of the three-day conference, Al Gergawi highlighted the rapid growth of the platform, which has grown its global audience from one billion followers in its first edition to 3.5 billion in its fourth edition – a growth he said brings both great responsibility and great power to drive positive change.
Al Gergawi delivered the opening remarks at the Billion Fan Summit 2026, organized by the UAE Government Media Office, and hosted across Emirates Towers, DIFC and the Museum of the Future, under the theme Content for Good. More than 15,000 content creators and influencers attended.
1 Billion Fans Summit 2026
Al Gergawi said: “In the three days of the conference, we will celebrate content, not just as an industry, but as a driving force capable of improving lives”.
The three-day event will attract more than 30,000 people, and more than 500 speakers in 580 sessions and workshops covering economy, technology, education and community-oriented content.
Al Gergawi highlighted the evolving role of the content industry, noting its growing influence on public awareness, priorities and the future.
He said: “Content is now an important part of politics, an economic driver and a force that shapes societies. More than 50 million videos are produced worldwide every day on just two social media platforms.
He emphasized that content creation today goes beyond entertainment to creating meaning. “The theme of this conference ‘Good Content’ means that we see content creators as creators of influence and change,” he said.
Al Gergawi also pointed to algorithms as a transformative force shaping the human trajectory.
“Alongside governments that create the laws of life, scientists that shape our understanding of the world, and businesses that turn ideas into value, algorithms shape our priorities, decisions, choices and direction.
“Content creators feed these algorithms, which means they are the driving force behind people’s intellectual journeys, social opinions and everyday behavior.
“We want creators to move from amassing followers to conversion, and from creating content that wastes user time to creation and empowerment.”
MrBeast support
Highlighting global initiatives linked to the conference, Al Gergawi spoke about the 1 Billion Acts of Kindness campaign launched with MrBeast, supported by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives and the Varkey Foundation.
The campaign encouraged creatives around the world to share acts of kindness, with the top ten traveling to Ghana for humanitarian work.
“The results were amazing, as the campaign inspired more than 170,000 acts of kindness,” he told the audience.
Another program, launched in partnership with TikTok, focuses on teaching content and seeing the best teachers. It attracted more than 600,000 participants and generated 1.8 billion views on the platform.
AI in content creation
Artificial intelligence has also been identified as a major focus of the conference.
Al Gergawi said: “We strongly believe that those who do not embrace AI now will be left behind.” Today, social media companies spend nearly $250bn on AI, with 86 percent of creators using AI productivity tools, which help quadruple the amount of content produced while reducing 60 percent of costs.
“What’s more, 70 percent of images shared on social media today are generated by AI. Add to the mix the world of people with visual influence in a market expected to grow to $37bn in four years.”
As part of efforts to explore the role of AI in filmmaking, the conference announced a $1m AI Film Prize in partnership with Google Gemini.
“Drawing more than 30,000 creators from 116 countries, the Award is a key factor in changing the future of filmmaking, from the monopoly of large companies to the empowerment of creators. The conference also has 10 sessions and workshops dedicated to the practical use of AI in content creation,” said Al Gergawi.
Concluding his remarks, Al Gergawi stressed that although technology, platforms and algorithms have a role, ultimately it is human imagination and interpretation that shapes the future.
