New Advertising Permit for Influencers in UAE: How to Get It in 60 Minutes with Meydan Free Zone

Want to post promotional content online in the UAE? You now need a permit.

As of May 2025, the UAE Media Council mandates that any content creator promoting products or services on social media, whether for payment or not, must carry an advertising permit for influencers. This new rule aims to regulate influencer activity, increase public trust, and ensure accountability in the online content space.

If you're planning to earn through social content in the UAE, Meydan Free Zone makes full compliance possible in just 60 minutes.

Your Meydan Free Zone license also lets you legally advertise your business and offer marketing services under one setup.

The New Rules: Who Needs an Advertising Permit for Influencers in the UAE

UAE Residents

If you're a UAE resident and your content includes brand partnerships, endorsements, affiliate links, or monetised promotions, you’re required to hold:

• A business license (for example, from Meydan Free Zone) with a relevant activity (e.g., media, marketing, content creation)
• An advertising permit issued by the UAE Media Council

Once licensed, your permit number must be publicly visible on your social media accounts, and all accounts used for advertising must be registered with the Council. Both licenses are mandatory, even for solo creators or freelancers. According to the official WAM announcement, these rules apply to all content creators monetising their presence in the country.

At Meydan Free Zone, most resident influencers are choosing business activities specifically aligned with social media monetisation and digital content services. The most selected activities and their official codes include:

These categories ensure full compliance with the UAE Media Council’s regulations while allowing creators to operate across content strategy, brand campaigns, online promotion, and influencer consultancy, all under a single business setup.

Foreign Visitors: Visitor Advertiser Permit

If you are a foreign influencer visiting the UAE, you can also now apply for a Visitor Advertiser Permit, following updates from the UAE Media Council. This permit offers a legal way for non-residents to collaborate with brands or post promotional content during short stays, without needing a full business setup.

Applications must be submitted through a licensed advertising or talent agency approved by the Council. Individual applications aren’t accepted. The permit is valid for three months and renewable once, allowing up to six months of compliant activity in the UAE. You cannot use this route if you already hold UAE residency or a business license. Full application guidelines are available on the UAE Media Council’s press site.

Exemptions to the Permit Rule

The following individuals are exempt from obtaining the advertising permit for influencers:

• Those promoting their own business or product on personal accounts
• Individuals under 18 engaged in cultural, educational, athletic, or awareness-based content aligned with legal classification standards

These exemptions apply only if the activity is non-commercial and not affiliated with any external brand.

Obligations and Penalties for Non-Compliance

All permit holders, residents and visitors, must follow strict content and platform rules, including:

• Displaying the advertising permit number clearly on all social platforms
• Publishing content only through registered accounts
• Not allowing third parties to use your account for advertising
• Securing additional approvals if content falls under regulated sectors (e.g., finance, health)
• Complying with UAE media standards in tone, accuracy, and appropriateness

Violations can result in fines up to AED 5,000, account suspension, or licensing issues.

Why Getting Licensed Isn’t Optional If You’re an Influencer in Dubai

The advertising permit for influencers isn’t just a bureaucratic step, it’s part of a major shift in how the UAE governs its fast-growing digital content economy. This change follows the country’s first comprehensive media law in over 40 years, designed to regulate on-demand media, AI content, and influencer marketing under one unified framework.

These rules are meant to:

• Boost content quality and accountability
• Protect younger audiences through age rating systems
• Professionalise influencer marketing and paid promotions
• Provide international visitors with a legal pathway to collaborate

For creators in high-trust categories like finance, compliance is even more critical. Meydan Free Zone outlines these obligations in its dedicated guide for financial influencers.

Fast, Legal Setup for Influencers in Dubai: How Meydan Free Zone Helps

Becoming a legal influencer in Dubai requires both a business license and an advertising permit for influencers, and digital transformation in business at Meydan Free Zone offers one of the fastest, most efficient ways to get started. Your license is issued in under 60 minutes, and from there, Meydan Free Zone guides you through the full influencer setup, including visa and advertising permit.

Meydan Free Zone offers over 2,500 business activities, including specialised categories like social media consultancy, digital content creation, online ad services, and influencer marketing. You can browse the list of activities tailored to content creators and consultants.

The key is choosing the right business activity to match your content. At Meydan Free Zone, you can select up to three business activity groups for free under a single license, allowing you to operate across multiple content or service streams legally.

For influencers, these activities are specially curated to align with brand promotion, digital media, and content consultancy. If you're producing content for social media, running ads, or monetising through online partnerships, the following activity categories are ideal:

• Media Content Production – covers professional filming, editing, and post-production
• Digital Content Creation and Online Advertising Services – ideal for influencers creating visual or written content for brand campaigns
• Social Media Services and Social Media Consultancy – suitable if you offer strategy, audience growth advice, or brand account management
• Advertising Services via Websites – for influencers with blogs, affiliate links, or promotional landing pages
• Marketing Services via Social Media – the go-to choice for sponsored content and influencer marketing deals
• Media Support Services – great for those offering behind-the-scenes services like editing, captioning, or scheduling
• Online Advertising Services and Marketing Consultancy – if you manage or advise on campaigns beyond your own channel

Rather than limit yourself to one function, Meydan Free Zone allows you to combine these, so you can go from creator to consultant, from solo influencer to media entrepreneur, all under one legal umbrella. And because the setup is 100% digital, you don’t need to visit a counter, submit stacks of documents, or wait weeks for approvals.

Resident vs Visitor: What’s the Difference?

Why Creators Choose Meydan Free Zone for Influencer Licensing in Dubai

Meydan Free Zone isn’t just a place to get a license, it’s a digital-first ecosystem built for creators, consultants, and modern entrepreneurs who want to build something real.

If you want a Dubai influencer license, Meydan Free Zone gives you more than just compliance. It gives you scale, speed, and structure, all in one place.

Here’s why influencers choose Meydan:

• License issued in under 60 minutes, fully digital setup from anywhere
• No NOC required, start your influencer business without quitting your day job
• 2-year UAE residency visa with Emirates ID and medical support via Meydan Plus
• Full ownership and multi-activity coverage
• Real-time license tracking, compliance alerts, and audit-ready documents

Your license includes up to three activity groups free of charge, from media production and digital marketing to influencer consultancy and online advertising. giving you the flexibility to operate across multiple content and monetisation streams. Additional groups can be added as needed for a fee. This is especially powerful for creators monetising in multiple ways, including finance-focused content creators who offer both sponsored posts and advisory.

You also get access to Meydan Plus, a founder concierge platform that handles your banking setup, visa applications, license renewals, and more, so you can focus on building, not bureaucracy.

Whether you're posting brand deals, talking finance, selling digital products, or consulting via content, Meydan Free Zone ensures your business is legal, protected, and positioned to grow. You can explore how influencer licensing works in this detailed guide by Meydan Free Zone or get specific activity options tailored to you on the Influencer Marketing Activity Hub.

Get Your Influencer License in Dubai the Smart Way with Meydan Free Zone

Influencer marketing in Dubai is no longer a casual side hustle, it’s regulated, structured, and highly visible. With the new advertising permit for influencers, the government is making compliance non-negotiable. And if you’re serious about building a sustainable brand, now’s the time to set up right.

FAQs

1. Do I need a permit to post social media content in Dubai?​

Yes. If you’re promoting a product, service, or brand on social media, even unpaid, you must now get an advertising permit for influencers from the UAE Media Council. This applies to anyone creating content in Dubai or the UAE.

2. What happens if I post content in Dubai without influencer permit?​

Posting promotional content in Dubai without the proper permit can result in fines of up to AED 5,000. It may also cause issues with your social media account, visa renewal, or trade license approval.

3. What’s the difference between an influencer license and a permit in the UAE?​

Your influencer license (issued by Meydan Free Zone, for example) allows you to run your business in Dubai. The advertising permit is a separate approval from the UAE Media Council. Both are now mandatory to operate legally as a resident influencer in the UAE.

4. How can I apply for an influencer license in Dubai?​

You can apply through Meydan Free Zone, one of the fastest and most trusted Free Zones in Dubai. The Free Zone offer a fully online setup with activities approved for influencer work, and they help with your visa, Emirates ID, and advertising permit too.

5. I’m visiting Dubai, can I still do influencer work while I’m here?​

Yes, but you must get a Visitor Advertiser Permit through a UAE-licensed advertising or talent agency. This lets you post sponsored content legally during your stay in Dubai or anywhere in the UAE for up to three months (renewable once).

6. Do I need a permit in Dubai if I only post about my own business?​

No. If you’re using your personal account to promote your own company or product, and you’re not being paid to promote others, you’re exempt. This rule applies across the UAE, including Dubai.

7. Is the influencer advertising permit in Dubai free or paid?​

It’s free for the first three years across the UAE, including Dubai, for residents, according to the 2025 update by the UAE Media Council.

8. What business activities should I choose for my Dubai influencer license?​

At Meydan Free Zone, most influencers choose: Marketing Services via Social Media (6202.99), Digital Content Management (7020.12) and Social Media Services (7310.16). These activities are approved for content creation, brand deals, and digital promotion in Dubai.

9. Can I get a UAE residency visa with my Dubai influencer license?​

Yes. If you set up through Meydan Free Zone, you can apply for a 2-year UAE residency visa. They’ll also assist with your Emirates ID, medical fitness test, and the full compliance process.

10. How quickly can I get my influencer license and permit in Dubai?​

With Meydan Free Zone, you can get your business license in under 60 minutes. Your UAE residency visa and advertising permit for influencers can be processed after, all handled online with expert guidance.

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