Influencer license in the UAE: the NMA permit and the trade license behind it

Who needs an influencer license in the UAE

There's no single document called an influencer license. The legal requirement is a permit: Article 12(2) of Federal Decree-Law No. 55 of 2023 on media regulation provides for permits for individuals who publish advertising or media content on social media.

Unpaid posts count too. The law defines an advertisement as marketing a product or service with or without compensation, and the NMA permit covers content published either for compensation or free of charge.

Every ad must also be labelled. Article 20(2) of the law requires advertisers to show clearly that material is an advertisement, and Article 33 of its executive regulation (Cabinet Resolution No. 68 of 2024) requires you to disclose any financial return from a commercial relationship.

The regulator changed on 1 January 2026. Federal Decree-Law No. 11 of 2025 created the NMA to replace the UAE Media Council, and the old uaemc.gov.ae address now redirects to nma.gov.ae.

The NMA advertiser permit at a glance

There are two permits: one for individuals and one for visitors. Here's what the NMA and the fees resolution state:

Cabinet Resolution No. 41 of 2025 sets AED 1,000 for issuing or renewing the individual permit and exempts individuals for the first three years from issue. The NMA also says you must:

• be of good conduct, with no felony or dishonesty conviction unless legally rehabilitated;
• complete the authority's training programme on media laws, regulations and controls;
• keep your advertising content within the media content standards;
• have no previously cancelled permit and no outstanding dues to the authority.

Visiting applicants must be at least 18, fully legally competent and of good conduct.

The trade license behind the permit

The NMA lists a commercial license among the required documents, so the permit sits on top of a trade license; it doesn't replace one. The service page doesn't name the license types or legal forms it accepts.

• Mainland: a license in your own name from DET in Dubai, or another emirate's economic department, with an activity that covers your content or marketing work. Check with the NMA which license types it accepts before you apply. See mainland company formation.
• Free zone: a free zone license in your own name with a media or marketing activity. Check with the NMA which license types it accepts before you apply. Compare zones in free zone company formation.
• eTrader (Dubai): u.ae describes it as a license for UAE and GCC nationals residing in Dubai to do business through social media. It doesn't mention advertising for other brands.
• MOHRE freelance permit: a work permit for self-employed people, not a trade license. Read freelance visa vs freelance license before relying on it.

Selling your own products too? Our e-commerce license guide covers that side, and business ideas in Dubai maps other activities to their regulators.

How to get an influencer license, step by step

• 1. Pick your activity and route to match what you publish and who pays you.
• 2. Get the commercial license from DET, another emirate's economic department or your free zone.
• 3. Log in to NMA e-services with your digital ID and select the individual permit.
• 4. Fill in the data and upload your passport, personal photo and commercial license, then submit.
• 5. Complete the NMA training programme. It's a permit condition, and the NMA page doesn't say at which stage.
• 6. Track the status. If the NMA approves, pay any fee due. It lists 3 working days.
• 7. Stay compliant. Label every ad and renew before the permit expires; posting after expiry is a separate violation.

Global Sky PRO handles your trade license application and helps you prepare the documents for the NMA individual permit, which you submit through NMA e-services with your own digital ID. Government fees are passed on at cost; our service fee is quoted separately. See what our PRO team handles.

Penalties for advertising without a permit

Cabinet Resolution No. 42 of 2025 sets the fines for media violations. For individual advertisers, its annex lists:

Article 23 of the media law also allows a warning, fines from AED 1,000 to AED 1,000,000 (doubled for a repeat), administrative closure for up to six months, and cancellation of licenses or permits.

Under the resolution, you can file a grievance within 15 days of being notified of a penalty.