Creators HQ and Amazon Ads have announced the first cohort of content creators selected for the Amazon Creators Foundry, a six-month programme designed to help UAE-based creators launch and scale their brands through Amazon.ae and international marketplaces.
The initiative will provide participants with business setup support, advertising incentives, logistics infrastructure and access to global markets. Selected creators will be eligible for up to $10,000 in Amazon Sponsored Ads cashback and up to $100,000 in Amazon DSP incentives. They will also receive a booth to showcase their brands at the 1 Billion Followers Summit, a nomination for the UAE Golden Visa and a complimentary one-year membership at Creators HQ.
First announced during the fourth edition of the 1 Billion Followers Summit in January 2026, the programme received hundreds of applications between August 26 and September 9, 2026.
Among the creators selected are public figure Kris Fade, with his healthy snack brand Fade Fit; Noor Stars, with her fragrance collection Nafas by Noor; Anas Bukhash, with the #ABTalks brand; Azza Zarour, with her mother-and-daughter perfume brand Poco Loco; Mohanad Al Hattab, with flavoured sparkling water brand JUX; Shamsa Al Dhaheri, with skincare brand Glowture; Yara Aziz, with Hair 101 Tools; and Saeed Al Nuaimi, with The Scent Library.
Other participants include Sara Monika Rewienska, Jules Trass, Rayan Shaded, Saoud Alkaabi, Anthony Omenya, Bana Idriss and Adel Nasar.
Kris Fade, founder of Fade Fit, said: “When I started Fade Fit seven years ago, I never imagined we’d come this far – one of the region’s fastest-growing snack brands, reaching customers across the GCC and Australia. Our collaboration with Creators HQ and Amazon Creators Foundry is a major milestone in our journey to bring Fade Fit to more people around the world who’ve been asking for our products – and we’re only just getting started.”
Mohanad Al Hattab, founder of JUX, said: “For creators, the hardest part of building a business isn’t the idea – it’s navigating everything that comes after: the logistics, the licensing, the scaling. The Amazon Creators Foundry, backed by Creators HQ, removes those barriers and gives us a real launchpad to turn our brands into global businesses. Having Amazon’s infrastructure and expertise behind us is a gamechanger.”
Noor Stars, founder of Nafas by Noor fragrances, said: “The future of the creator economy is about turning influence into lasting businesses. What excites me about this partnership with Creators HQ and Amazon is having the right ecosystem and support to turn creativity into something that can grow globally.”
Her Excellency Alia Al Hammadi, Vice Chairperson of the UAE Government Media Office and CEO of the 1 Billion Followers Summit, said: “The Amazon Creators Foundry, launched by Creators HQ in strategic partnership with Amazon, reflects the UAE’s strategic transformation in the content creator economy and e-commerce sectors.”
She said the programme would help creators turn their talents into commercial ventures with global reach, reinforcing the UAE’s position as a hub for digital media, talent development and investment.
“Through its strategic partnerships with global companies, Creators HQ continues to deliver a practical model that equips creators with the tools and support to reach global markets and turn their talent into sustainable businesses,” Al Hammadi added. “Empowering the selected creator entrepreneurs within the Amazon Creators Foundry and other Creators HQ initiatives contributes to the national economy with innovative projects led by qualified digital talent, aligned with the future economy.”
Rayan Karaky, Managing Director of Amazon Ads, EMEA and Southeast Asia, said the selected projects reflected the strength of the UAE’s creator economy and the entrepreneurial ambition of its creators.
“The caliber of projects and talent selected for the Amazon Creators Foundry reflects the strength of the UAE’s creator economy and the entrepreneurial ambition we see across the nation. The chosen creators have a clear vision as well as the ability to understand and serve their communities through impactful ventures.”
Karaky said Amazon would provide participants with technical infrastructure, advertising solutions and logistics support, including product listings, fulfilment and cross-border expansion through its Global Selling programme.
“Amazon is committed to providing the full technical infrastructure, advertising solutions, and advanced logistics support to all accepted participants, from product listing and fulfillment activation to cross-border expansion through the Global Selling Program, from the UAE. The Amazon Creators Foundry provides an integrated growth environment that enables new brands to reach hundreds of millions of shoppers, driving the creator economy forward.”
The programme will cover business licensing support in coordination with Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, seller account creation, brand registration, customised online storefronts, product listings and Fulfillment by Amazon services.
Participants will also receive support with advertising campaigns, access to AI-powered campaign automation tools, account management, quarterly workshops on digital marketing and brand building, and mentorship from senior Amazon leaders.
Eligible creators will be able to use Amazon’s Global Selling programme to list their products across marketplaces in North America, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and Asia-Pacific.
Creators HQ, described as the UAE and Middle East’s first dedicated creators’ hub and part of Visioneers, will provide participants with access to co-working spaces, recording studios and advisory services through its complimentary one-year membership.
