Starting from July 1st, social media influencers and businesses involved in advertising without a license will face penalties in Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) has announced that these penalties could be as high as Dh10,000. In severe cases, companies might even be shut down.
This means that anyone who promotes products or services on social media platforms like Instagram or TikTok, without the proper authorization from ADDED, could be fined. The goal is to ensure that all advertising activities follow the regulations set by the government to protect consumers and maintain fairness in the market.
The Department mentioned that licenses can be obtained easily using the Tamm platform. You can access the ‘Department of Economic Development Services’ on Tamm and choose the activities you want to do, like providing advertising services on online platforms. This makes it simple for influencers and businesses to get the necessary licenses to operate legally in Abu Dhabi.
The license fee is Dh1,250 for individuals and Dh5,000 for companies, according to ADDED. Foreigners living outside the UAE can also get a license if they have an Emirates ID card or a unified number.
This rule applies to government companies that advertise on electronic platforms as well.
ADDED (Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development) also clarified that even if influencers have permits from the National Media Council, they still need to get a license.
Right now, there are 543 people who have licenses to offer advertising services on electronic platforms and social media. This number is likely to go up once the new rules take effect.
Previously, all licensed businesses in Abu Dhabi were instructed to follow rules about working with social media influencers. If they don’t follow these rules, they could be fined anywhere from Dh3,000 to Dh10,000, or even have their business shut down, according to the Department of Economic Development.
