Social Media Influencers may face Prison and Fines of up to $1.3 million for operating without an influencer license in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. If you are traveling to Dubai (UAE) or Saudi Arabia, avoid posting an ad on social media platforms if you don’t have a GCAM or UAE’s #NMC influencer license.
After UAE, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia introduced a new licensing system to monitor the influencer marketing industry. According to the Kingdom’s General Commission for Audiovisual Media (GCAM), non-Saudi residents and visitors who post advertisements on social media without a license will face prison and fines of up to $1.3 million.
All Saudi and non-Saudi Content Creators profiting and generating revenue from social media advertising must first obtain an Influencer License from early October 2022.
The license costs SAR 15,000 (US$4,000) and is valid for three years. During this time Creators are free to partner with as many brands as they like to promote, as long as they do not violate the laws and values of the Kingdom.
Dubai is an influencer hub for social media influencers in the Middle East. In 2018, the UAE’s National Media Council introduced a new electronic media regulatory regime that requires social media influencers to obtain a license to operate in the country.
The UAE’s Influencer’s license costs AED 15,000 (approximately $4,000). Failure to obtain or renew a license may face penalties such as fines of up to AED 5,000, verbal or official warnings, and even closure of social media accounts of Influencers.
You must be licensed or affiliated with an NMC registered Influencer Agency to operate in that country, if you are visiting the UAE.
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