Disney+ has joined the 1 Billion Followers Summit as a Strategic Partner for the event’s fourth edition, the UAE Government Media Office has announced.
The summit will take place from 9th to 11th January 2026 across Emirates Towers, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), and the Museum of the Future under the theme Content for Good.
The partnership aims to attract companies to raise standards in digital content creation and help creators tap expertise from firms operating internationally. It is also intended to help creators reach audiences globally and turn content into income, reinforcing the UAE’s ambition to position itself as a hub for digital media and the creative economy.
Disney+ partners with 1 billion followers summit for January 2026 event
“We are proud to take part in the 1 Billion Followers Summit – an important global platform that brings together leading creators and storytellers from around the world,” Tamim Fares, Director of Disney+ Middle East, said in a statement.
“Content creation today is a fundamental pillar of the entertainment industry. At Disney+, we see first-hand the impact that talented creators have in shaping how audiences discover and engage with stories,” he added.
Fares said the collaboration would open pathways for Disney+ to work with and support creators in the Middle East. “It reinforces our commitment to fostering meaningful, culturally resonant content that, in turn, inspires the next generation of voices shaping entertainment in the region.”
Alia AlHammadi, Vice Chairperson of the UAE Government Media Office and Director of the 1 Billion Followers Summit, said the partnership supports content to inspire voices emerging in the region.
“Disney+ brings extensive expertise in creative content production and talent development. Through this tie-up, we aim to enhance the capabilities of summit participants, equipping them with the tools, knowledge, and experiences that will help them create purposeful content that meets global standards,” she said.
AlHammadi emphasised that the summit seeks to build collaborations that integrate expertise from around the world with talent from the region, enabling content creators to expand their reach across markets.
“This collaboration reflects the rapid evolution of the digital media sector and keeps pace with the ongoing transformations shaping the global content industry.”
Disney+ to support Middle East content creators at UAE summit 2026
The fourth edition builds on the success of the previous edition in January 2025, which attracted more than 15,000 content creators and influencers, 420 speakers, and 125 CEOs and experts from around the world, recording over 30,000 in-person attendees and 1.5 billion digital interactions.
As part of preparations for the upcoming edition, the summit has announced initiatives including an AI-generated film award valued at $1 million, launched in collaboration with Google.
The Creators Ventures Accelerator, part of the second edition of the Creators Ventures programme, organised and supported by Creators HQ in collaboration with 500 Global, will have up to AED50 million allocated to support creators and startups competing for funding and incubation.
The summit will also introduce a pavilion for content creation companies for the first time since its inception – a milestone aimed at advancing the content creation economy and empowering creators to draw inspiration from influencers who have established their own ventures.
