Since 1 February 2026, anyone in the UAE who gets paid for promotional content — including payment in free products — must hold an advertiser permit from the UAE Media Council. This guide covers who needs it, what it costs, and how to get it, in plain language.
One honest caveat up front: these rules are new and their application is still evolving. This article is general information, not legal advice — for edge cases, check the official guidance or ask a lawyer.
Who needs the permit?
The short version: if you are based in the UAE and receive anything of value for promoting products or services, you need the permit. That includes:
- Cash payments for sponsored posts
- Free products or services in exchange for coverage (“gifting” campaigns)
- Affiliate commissions on sales you generate
It applies whether you have ten thousand followers or ten million — the trigger is being compensated, not audience size.
Who doesn’t need it?
Creators who are not UAE residents are not covered by the permit requirement under the current rules, even if they write about the UAE or earn commissions from UAE stores. A travel blogger in Madrid recommending Dubai hotels self-certifies against their own country’s advertising-disclosure rules (in the EU, for example, that means clear ad labelling) rather than applying for a UAE permit.
If you are a visitor creating paid content while physically in the UAE, the rules provide a route via licensed agencies — worth checking before your trip.
What does it cost?
This is the good news: the permit is free for the first three years. After that, the renewal fee is AED 1,000 per year. For most creators starting out, cost is simply not a barrier.
How to apply
Applications go through the UAE Media Council. In outline:
- Prepare your details — Emirates ID, your channel links, and (for residents) a basic trade licence, which several free zones issue quickly and cheaply.
- Apply via the UAE Media Council’s portal. You can find current requirements and the application route through the official UAE Government portal at u.ae.
- Display your permit number in your bio or profile. This is a requirement, not a suggestion — it is how brands and platforms check you.
There is, as of mid-2026, no public register where anyone can look up a permit number, so the visible bio number plus verification requests to the Media Council are how checks happen in practice.
Why brands care so much
Under the rules, brands share responsibility when they pay an unlicensed creator for promotion. A store that runs campaigns with unpermitted influencers risks fines — which is why serious UAE brands increasingly work only with verified creators. Being permit-verified is not just compliance; it is a commercial advantage that gets you into campaigns others can’t join.
How LinkSouk handles it
We built the permit into onboarding rather than treating it as an afterthought:
- UAE-based creators upload their permit and number when joining. We check that the number appears in their bio and verify it before they can activate paid collaborations. If you don’t have a permit yet, you can still join — we’ll guide you through the application step by step.
- International creators self-certify that they follow their local ad-disclosure rules instead. No UAE permit required.
That way every brand on the network knows that every active creator is either permit-verified or properly certified for their own market — which keeps the whole ecosystem safe.
The checklist
- Based in the UAE and earning from promotion? Get the permit — it’s free for three years.
- Put the permit number in your bio.
- Based abroad? Follow your local disclosure rules and label ads clearly.
- When unsure, check the official guidance via u.ae — the rules are new and worth reading first-hand.
LinkSouk verifies creator permits at onboarding, so brands can trust every collaboration. Join the creator waitlist and we’ll guide you through the process.