Abu Dhabi authorities have issued new compliance guidelines requiring all licensed economic establishments to strictly adhere to regulations when engaging with social media influencers. Announced today by the Department of Economic Development (ADDED), the guidelines mandate that social media influencers obtain a specific license from ADDED prior to promoting any services online.
Additionally, economic establishments are required to secure a permit from ADDED for all advertising activities, which includes marketing and other promotional efforts. They must also ensure that their licences are valid when contracting with influencers and social networking platforms. Non-compliance with these regulations could lead to fines ranging from Dh3,000 to Dh10,000 or even closure of the establishment.
This move follows regulations introduced in 2018 by the National Media Council, which require social media influencers to register and obtain a license for operating within the UAE.