Get licence or pay Dh5,000 fine, UAE influencers warned

Dubai - A top official from the National Media Council said that they have a team dedicated to monitoring illegal activities on social media.

Authorities are still making calls to warn unlicensed paid social media influencers, even though it has been over a year since the legal requirements to operate were announced.
A top official from the National Media Council (NMC) said that they have a team dedicated to monitoring illegal activities on social media and other online platforms.
Last year in March, it became mandatory for all paid social media influencers in the UAE to get a licence from the NMC, which came at a cost of Dh15,000 annually. Though, first, they have to get a permit/trade licence from an economic zone in one of the seven emirates.
"Paid influencers operating without a licence invite a fine of Dh5,000. We are discovering new numbers (of paid influencers operating without a licence) every day. When we encounter any illegal activity, we call and warn them and if it is repeated, we will fine them," Nasser Al Tamimi, manager of Media Licensing Department at the NMC, told Khaleej Times.
He said this on the sidelines of a press conference held by Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ), where they announced the growth of the number of media licences and freelancer permits issued. The number grew to 360 from 130 in a year, recording a 177 per cent increase.
Social media influencers have previously complained about the "high price" of obtaining a licence and permit/trade licence.
sarwat@khaleejtimes.com
 

• UAE