According to the UAE Government’s 2018 Law, anyone who engages in sponsored social media promotion must have a license from the National Media Council.
The guidelines apply to social media influencers who receive a payment in cash or gifts of an equivalent value. You must apply for an E-media license in order to obtain the NMC permit.
The NMC license does not apply to bloggers, personal websites, and individuals who advertise their own brands on social media. Additionally, it does not apply to those who provide unpaid product reviews (if they are independent of the company they are reviewing and receive no payment).
The license must be renewed each year after its original one-year term.
Whilst applying for the influencer license, you must also keep in mind:
- Maintaining a record of all materials you’ve promoted on social media
- Complying with laws around photography, defamation, and privacy
- Avoiding any blasphemous statements
- Not using language or messaging that is anti-Islamic, encourages sinful activity, or could corrupt minors
- Not sharing messages that mock the leaders of the nation or that disturb the peace
- Social media influencers must not appear to promote alcohol in any way
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