Dubai has announced a $1 million prize for AI-generated short films, positioning it as the world’s largest award in the category. The competition debuts at the fourth edition of the 1 Billion Followers Summit, scheduled for January 9-11, 2026, in Dubai. Organized by the UAE Government Media Office with support from Google Gemini, the initiative requires submissions to be fully created using artificial intelligence.

Entries will be judged on four key criteria: storytelling excellence, realism in visual presentation, creative innovation, and meaningful humanitarian themes. 

The initiative will showcase the creative potential of AI in filmmaking while encouraging content with social impact. The competition will culminate with the ten highest-rated submissions being screened during the summit in January 2026. The winning entry will receive the $1 million prize at a special ceremony during the event.

Full competition guidelines, submission requirements, and the official entry process will be released in September, giving filmmakers and AI creators several months to prepare their submissions.

Multiple Creator Economy Initiatives

The 1 Billion Followers Summit spans three Dubai venues: Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai International Financial Centre, and the Museum of the Future. The event runs under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, with “Content for Good” as its theme.

The summit introduces several new programs to support content creators:

• The Creators Ventures Programme allocates AED50 million ($13.6 million) for projects with social and cultural impact, providing grants and joint venture funding.
• A Content Creators Accelerator Programme, developed with Creators HQ and 500 Global, offers mentorship and resources to emerging talent.
• A Content Creation Companies Pavilion, dubbed the Creators Market, will showcase approximately 100 startups and SMEs from the creator economy.

Economic Development Focus

Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, emphasizes the UAE’s leadership in developing the content creation sector: “The content economy is an economic power with limitless horizons. Today, the UAE is not only keeping pace with its developments but is also leading and charting new directions within that economy.”

The initiatives align with Dubai’s broader strategy to establish itself as a global hub for the creator economy. The UAE already offers incentives – including a 10-year Golden Visa program – to encourage digital talent and creator-focused businesses to relocate.

The upcoming summit builds on the January 2025 edition, which attracted more than 15,000 creators, 420 speakers, and 125 CEOs and global experts. That event generated 1.5 billion digital interactions and 542 million social media views.

Major digital platforms confirmed for the 2026 edition include Google, Meta, Instagram, YouTube, X, TikTok, and Snapchat, alongside corporate partners such as SEE Holding, Emirates, MBC Group, Sony, and Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy.

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