The Dubai Media Council has formally engaged with TikTok on a strategic partnership focused on training local content creators and advancing Dubai's standing as a global media hub. The move follows a high-level meeting between Mona Al Marri, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council, and Shou Zi Chew, CEO of TikTok, in which both sides agreed that Dubai can harness TikTok's expertise to develop the next generation of skilled digital content creators.
Dubai Media Council and TikTok Agree on Training Partnership
The meeting, also attended by Nehal Badri, Secretary General of the Dubai Media Council, aligned with directives from His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to deepen cooperation with leading international media technology companies and strengthen Dubai's reputation as a premier media city.
Discussions covered TikTok's experience in nurturing skilled content creators globally and how that expertise could be channelled into structured training programmes for local media professionals. The goal is to equip Dubai's talent pool with the tools and knowledge to produce content that competes on the world stage and reflects the emirate's achievements.
Supporting Dubai's Economic and Social Vision
The partnership sits firmly within the framework of Dubai's strategic ambitions. Delegates discussed the emirate's Economic Agenda D33 — which targets doubling Dubai's GDP over the next decade — and the Dubai Social Agenda 33, which positions Dubai as one of the world's top cities for quality of life, employment, and tourism.
Mona Al Marri underscored Dubai's commitment to elevating the regional media landscape: "Dubai plays a key role in advancing the regional media landscape by fostering strategic collaboration with digital media industry leaders." She stressed that adopting the finest global practices would ensure local talent receives the knowledge and tools to create content that resonates internationally.
TikTok's Growing Footprint in MENA
TikTok established its regional headquarters in Dubai in 2018 and has recorded significant growth across the MENA region, particularly among younger audiences. The platform's deep penetration in the region makes Dubai a natural base for the company's broader ambitions in the Arab world — and an ideal partner for a government committed to a knowledge-based creative economy.
This Dubai Media Council TikTok partnership is a concrete step toward fully capitalising on the platform's reach and resources to help transform Dubai into a leading hub for content creation and media innovation.
