Emaar Properties founder and Noon co-founder Mohamed Alabbar will deliver the keynote address at the One Billion Followers Summit on January 13, 2025. The highly anticipated event runs January 11–13 at Jumeirah Emirates Towers in Dubai, drawing over 15,000 attendees — including 5,000 content creators and more than 250 speakers from around the world.
Mohamed Alabbar at the One Billion Followers Summit
Alabbar's selection as keynote speaker reflects the summit's focus on the intersection of business and digital influence. "This is the era of the content creator," Alabbar said. "They are not only super buyers, but are also super citizens who can steer not only consumption processes but also the political and social processes of societies — they are today's superpowers."
He added that traditional marketing models are no longer effective for large organisations: "From real estate to e-commerce and F&B, in all my companies we work with the best content creators in the world to expand our brands."
Alabbar's Business Empire
Alabbar's portfolio spans some of the region's most recognisable brands. Emaar Properties is one of the world's largest property developers, best known for building the Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai. His other ventures include Noon, the Middle East's leading e-commerce platform, Eagle Hills, and Americana — the fast-food operator behind KFC, Pizza Hut, and Hardee's in the region.
Global Speakers and the $1 Million Prize
The One Billion Followers Summit will also feature prominent international figures including American political commentator Tucker Carlson, New York Times bestselling author Jay Shetty, and acclaimed filmmaker Zack King.
The event culminates in a live competition, with the top-ranked content creator receiving a $1 million prize. Workshops and platform sessions are scheduled throughout the three days before the winner is announced.
Why This Summit Matters for Dubai
The One Billion Followers Summit has established Dubai as the world's leading destination for the creator economy. The 2025 edition underscores the UAE's ambition to position itself at the centre of global digital media and brand partnerships, with Alabbar's keynote signalling how major corporations are integrating content creators into their core business strategies.
