Content creators shape our future for the better, says Sheikh Mohammed

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, witnessed part of the activities of the fourth edition of the 1 Billion Followers Summit, the largest global summit in the content creation economy, which kicked off on Friday and will continue for 3 days at Emirates Towers, Dubai International Financial Centre, and the Museum of the Future in Dubai.

Sheikh Mohammed said via the X platform: "Today, I witnessed part of the activities of the 1 Billion Followers Summit, in which 30,000 content creators are participating. We welcome them to the UAE."

Sheikh Mohammed added: "We tell them, content creation is a message and a responsibility. It is an industry through which we push our societies towards the better, inspire generations, create economic opportunities, and change our future for the better."

During his visit, Sheikh Mohammed said that content creation plays a central role in shaping awareness, driving development, and supporting the future economy. Sheikh Mohammed said: “We believe that true investment lies in investing in minds that transform talent into impact and ideas into sustainable projects, creating opportunities and driving growth.”

His Highness added: “Our goal for the summit is to serve as a platform that equips youth from across the region and the world with the tools for influence and responsible content creation, while reinforcing the UAE’s position as a leading destination for visionaries and creatives, and a global meeting point for those committed to serving humanity and creating hope.”

As part of the visit, Sheikh Mohammed toured dedicated spaces for major global social media platforms participating in the fourth edition of the summit, which once again brings together Snapchat, X, YouTube, TikTok, Google Gemini, Meta (Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp), Disney+, and Twitch under one roof.

Sheikh Mohammed was briefed on the summit’s key global initiatives, including the "1 Billion Acts of Kindness" campaign, launched in partnership with MrBeast and supported by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives and the Varkey Foundation. The campaign recorded significant global engagement, with more than 170,000 community and humanitarian acts completed and over 100 million views achieved within three weeks.

Sheikh Mohammed also reviewed the AI Film Award, launched in partnership with Google Gemini, which is the largest and most valuable award of its kind globally, with a total prize value of $1 million. The award attracted interest from more than 30,000 participants across 116 countries, with 3,500 films submitted.

In addition, His Highness was briefed on the outcomes of the first and second editions of the Creators Ventures programme, which aims to support and accelerate businesses within the content economy, while empowering entrepreneurial ventures and individuals.

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum was accompanied during his visit to the summit by Mohammad Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs.

Focusing on two main pillars, the transition from content creation to impact creation through "Content for Good," and the integration of AI tools into content development, the fourth edition of the 1 Billion Followers Summit features more than 580 keynote sessions, roundtables, discussions, and workshops, delivered by over 500 global speakers and experts.

Growing its audience from 1 billion followers in its inaugural edition to 3.5 billion in its fourth, Al Gergawi stressed that this growing momentum means greater responsibility and more potential for driving change.

MrBeast, policymakers and education leaders called for the power of digital influence to be harnessed for humanitarian impact during a session at the 1 Billion Followers Summit in Dubai.

Speaking at the session titled the 1 Billion Acts of Kindness, Jimmy Donaldson, known as MrBeast, said he hopes his work inspires other creators to use their platforms for good.

The session also marked the announcement of 20 creators who will travel to Ghana later this year with MrBeast to help build a village, officially launching the global 1 Billion Acts of Kindness mission.

Content creators and independent journalists speaking at the summit urged legacy media outlets to rethink their storytelling approaches to keep pace with rapidly evolving social media audiences.