In a major move to bolster the region’s digital content economy, Dubai is set to open the first-ever YouTube Academy in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). This pioneering initiative, a collaboration between YouTube and Creators HQ, a content creator hub, aims to provide aspiring and established creators with the tools and skills to build sustainable careers and elevate the quality of content.
The academy will serve as a comprehensive educational hub, offering advanced workshops, training programs, and expert-led sessions. The curriculum is designed to go beyond generic advice, providing creators with in-depth, actionable knowledge in key areas, including:
- Monetization Strategies: Learning how to generate a sustainable income through ads, brand deals, and other platform features.
- Audience Growth: Mastering analytics and data to understand viewer behavior and build a loyal community.
- Content Production: Enhancing skills in video creation, from ideation to final production.
- AI in Content Creation: Exploring future-focused training on how to leverage artificial intelligence to create smarter and more engaging content.
- Global Reach: Workshops dedicated to amplifying the global presence of Arabic content.
The launch of the YouTube Academy in Dubai aligns with the UAE’s broader vision to become a global leader in the creative and digital economy. The initiative is a direct response to the significant growth of YouTube across the MENA region, where the platform reaches millions of users, and the number of channels earning substantial income has seen a notable increase.
Javid Aslanov, Head of YouTube Middle East and North Africa, highlighted the importance of the program, stating that creators in the MENA region are “the future of entertainment and the heart of the creator economy.” He added that this collaboration will ensure creators have the necessary resources to turn their passion into a thriving, long-term career.
Alia AlHammadi, Vice Chairperson of the UAE Government Media Office, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the academy will empower content creators with the expertise to build a vibrant creative community, further solidifying the UAE’s position as a global hub for innovation.
