Snapchat has concluded its participation in the fourth 1 Billion Followers Summit, the world’s largest event for the content creator economy, with the launch of Snap Accelerator Program, along with hosting 20 sessions, workshops, and panels at the dedicated Snapchat House within the summit’s venue.
The Snap Accelerator Program was designed to empower content creators by providing them with the tools, knowledge, and strategies to grow their audience, build sustainable businesses, and master the art of storytelling on Snapchat.
The fourth edition of the 1 Billion Followers Summit featured over 580 sessions and specialised networks, and hosted more than 15,000 content creators and influencers, 500 expert speakers with a collective following of 3.5 billion, and 150 CEOs and global experts. The event attracted over 30,000 attendees from around the globe.
Snapchat places a major emphasis on nurturing talent through its flagship initiatives, Snap Accelerator Program, which featured ten dedicated sessions during the 1 Billion Followers Summit, designed to guide emerging creators through every stage of their journey.
Snapchat sessions at 1 Billion Summit
The sessions were led by Snapchat experts including Ali Alshehri and Aya Kalouti, Talent Partnerships Managers for MENA, Reem Matloub, Content Partnerships Manager with 17 years in digital media, Mashael AlBelaihed, Junior Talent Associate for fashion and beauty, Naif Alqumaizy, Junior Talent Associate for sports and travel, and Ahmad Fares, Senior Creator Education Specialist leading Snap School across MENA.
Snap School complemented the summit with four sessions teaching creators best practices on the platform, featuring insights from Mashael AlBelaihed, Naif Alqumaizy, and Ahmad Fares.
Keynote sessions and panels focused on the business of content creation. Breaking Through with Content explored how creators can cut through the noise, led by Reem Matloub and Ahmad Fares. Creators and Brands: Turning Connection Into Collaboration guided creators on working authentically with brands, featuring Samer Lahoud, Heidi Felfella, and Rami Saad.
In Building Brands, One Snap at a Time, creators learned to build real businesses on the platform, with speakers Angelo Di Sotto, Mayowa Tola-Voss, and Shadi Abdel Malek. Majd AbiAli led a session on Building Your Public Profile on Snapchat, covering how to bring a brand’s personality to life.
Creator-led sessions added inspiration and entertainment. Comedy Over Coffee, Snap’s first comedy-led session in MENA, was led by stand-up comedian Mohamed Helmy. The Female Lens: Where Authenticity Shapes Empowerment explored how female creators build communities and opportunities, featuring Sara Al Wari and Reem Matloub.
Antoine Challita UAE Country Head Snap Inc. – MENA
“The UAE has positioned itself as a global hub for the creative and digital economy, with creators playing an increasingly important role in shaping culture and storytelling. What we’re seeing across the region is a shift toward more intentional, culturally grounded content, paired with a growing focus on building long-term value. Snapchat’s participation in the 1 Billion Followers Summit reflects our commitment to supporting this direction. Through initiatives like the Snap Accelerator Program, we focused on equipping creators with the skills, tools, and understanding needed to grow responsibly, strengthen their storytelling, and turn creativity into sustainable opportunity on Snapchat.”
Saeed Al Eter, UAE’s Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Projects and Chairman of the UAE Government Media Office, said that the 1 Billion Followers Summit continues to refine its vision to elevate the content industry and nurture talent through partnerships with global platforms. He highlighted social media’s key role in empowering creators to grow their businesses and drive community impact, powered by new technologies and AI.
The 1 Billion Followers Summit, organized by the UAE Government Media Office, was held from 9 to 11 January 2026 at Jumeirah Emirates Towers, DIFC, and the Museum of the Future, under the theme ‘Content for Good’.
