Dubai: Creators HQ, the first content creator hub in the UAE and the Middle East and a part of Visioneers, has announced a collaboration with YouTube to launch the first YouTube Academy in the Middle East and North Africa. This pioneering initiative is designed to empower creative content creators across the region, aligning with the UAE's vision to advance the content economy and foster partnerships with major platforms and global tech companies.
According to Emirates News Agency, this collaboration is part of YouTube's ongoing efforts to offer the best products and programmes for content creators. It aims to bolster the UAE's global position in the creator economy by establishing an innovative ecosystem that supports content creators, enhances their skills in data analysis and content production, and enables them to build sustainable careers on YouTube.
The YouTube Academy will equip creators with the tools, resources, and expertise needed to enhance their content creation skills and thrive across YouTube's diverse formats, reaching audiences on multiple screens, from mobile to TV. Specifically targeting emerging creators, the academy will provide them with actionable, in-depth knowledge and direct connections to bring their content to life and nurture an audience on YouTube.
In May 2024, YouTube reached over 20 million people in Saudi Arabia and 7.5 million people in the UAE who are over the age of 18, reinforcing YouTube's status as a leading streaming platform within the creator economy. This initiative aims to elevate the quality and diversity of digital content further.
Javid Aslanov, Head of YouTube Middle East and North Africa, emphasized the potential of creators in MENA as the future of entertainment and the heart of the creator economy. "Our collaboration with CreatorsHQ allows us to expand our support, ensuring more creators have the resources to turn their passion into a thriving, long-term career on YouTube," Aslanov stated.
Alia AlHammadi, Vice Chairperson of the UAE Government Media Office and CEO of the 1Billion Followers Summit, noted the collaboration's potential to empower content creators with the skills and expertise needed to build a thriving creative community. She highlighted that the YouTube Academy is a comprehensive educational programme designed to enhance creators' capabilities, particularly in analytics tools, monetisation tools, and community-building strategies.
The academy's programmes will include advanced workshops, training courses, and specialised initiatives led by YouTube experts and programme managers. By providing creators with actionable, in-depth knowledge and direct connections, the initiative seeks to enable content creators to make a living doing what they love while thriving on the platform. The number of YouTube channels in the UAE making seven figures or more in local currency increased by 15% year over year, with even larger increases in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
This collaboration aims to nurture creativity, collaboration, and growth for content creators in the region, supporting the development of this vital sector amid rapid digital transformation. Future joint initiatives are underway to expand the collaboration's scope, including specialised training programmes on using artificial intelligence in digital content and interactive workshops on strategies to amplify the global reach of Arabic content.