YouTube and Creators HQ launch their first MENA creator academy in the leadup to 1 Billion Followers Summit

YouTube has officially partnered with Creators HQ, the United Arab Emirates’ makerspace and creator biz dev/educational organization that’s dedicated to bringing 10,000 new content creators into the region.

Together, the duo are launching the first YouTube Academy in the Middle East & North Africa–a program that will “supercharg[e] our commitment to creators by bringing our exclusive workshops to even more talent across the region,” Javid Aslanov, Google’s Head of YouTube MENA, said in a LinkedIn post.

He added that the Academy is aimed to “specifically help emerging creators stand out by moving beyond generic advice and providing them with actionable, in-depth knowledge across content production, analytics and community-building.”

The end goal, per Aslanov, is to give MENA-based creators “the keys to a thriving career on YouTube.”

And those keys will include topics like how to master YouTube’s multiple formats (long-form, Shorts, livestreams, etc), how to reach audiences across devices (living room TV, mobile, etc), understanding its monetization tools (ads, brand deals, and more), dissecting YouTube Studio’s channel analytics, and strategies for community-building.

“YouTube Academy is a powerful symbol of our shared commitment with Creators HQ to fostering an environment that nurtures creativity, innovation, and sustainable career growth for content creators across MENA,” Aslanov said.

Alia AlHammadi, Vice Chairperson of the UAE Government Media Office and CEO of 1 Billion Followers Summit, added, “We believe that our collaboration with YouTube will empower content creators with the skills and expertise needed to build a thriving creative community. This will support the content economy in the UAE and the region while solidifying the UAE’s position as a global hub for creativity.”

She describes the Academy as a “comprehensive educational programme designed to enhance creators’ capabilities” that will help “[ensure] a more stable and sustainable future in this rapidly growing sector.”

The Academy kicks off in the leadup to 1 Billion Followers Summit 2026, which is expected to bring tens of thousands of digital content creators and industry experts to the Emirates Towers, Museum of the Future, and the International Financial Center in Dubai for three days of biz dev programming and networking.

Tickets for 1 Billion Followers Summit are available here.

1 Billion Followers Summit is a Tubefilter partner.