One Billion Followers Summit, 8 January 2027
Abu Dhabi
- Date
- 8 January 2027
- Venue
- Abu Dhabi
- Format
- In person event
- Doors
- Registration and networking from 10:00
Overview
Overview
- Date
- 8 January 2027
- Venue
- Abu Dhabi
- Format
- In person event
- Doors
- Registration and networking from 10:00
Forbes YouthX, hosted by Forbes Middle East in collaboration with the Forbes Middle East Youth Council, will take place within the 1 Billion Followers Summit as a dedicated platform for exploring the business, leadership, and economic potential of the creator economy. Bringing together young founders, creators, influencers, professionals, brand leaders, platforms, investors, and emerging voices, the stage will examine how digital influence is evolving into a powerful driver of entrepreneurship, credibility, opportunity, and long-term impact.
The program will explore the key forces shaping the next generation of influence, including creator-led business models, personal brand building, audience trust, youth entrepreneurship, digital careers, brand partnerships, and the role of creators as founders and future leaders. Through insightful conversations, fireside chats, interactive sessions, and practical discussions, participants will gain valuable perspectives on how to turn attention into trust, trust into opportunity, and opportunity into sustainable business value.
Agenda · 8 January 2027
One Billion Followers Summit
Break
Opening Sequence
Welcome Address by Khuloud Al Omian, CEO & Editor-in-Chief, Forbes Middle East
From 1 Billion Followers To 1 Billion Dollars: The Business of Influence
Influence is no longer measured only by reach. Today’s leading creators are building trust, communities, partnerships, products, and businesses around their audiences. This opening conversation explores how creators and influencers are turning visibility into commercial value, and why brands are increasingly looking at creator partnerships as a serious driver of growth, relevance, and long-term audience connection.
Live Polling Session: What Will Define The Next Creator Leader?
A quick audience poll on the capabilities creators, influencers, and founder-led brands will need most in the future, from storytelling and digital fluency to entrepreneurship, trust-building, adaptability, and collaboration.
From Creator To Founder
Building an audience is only the beginning. This conversation explores what changes when a creator becomes a founder, from product development and hiring to commercial discipline, leadership and building a company that can scale beyond one person.
Careers That Didn't Exist Yesterday
Technology is creating career paths that traditional systems are still learning to define. This discussion looks at the rise of AI-led work, digital business, freelancing, gaming and creator economy careers, and what young people need to succeed in them.
What Big Brands Want From Creators Now
Brand partnerships are moving beyond one-off campaigns and transactional sponsorships. As creators become more influential, brands are looking for stronger audience trust, clearer storytelling, cultural relevance, measurable impact, and long-term collaboration. This discussion explores what brands now expect from creators, what creators need from brands, and how both sides can build partnerships that are more strategic, fair, and valuable.
From Local Success To Global Impact
The Middle East is producing founders, creators and brands with global ambition. This conversation explores what it takes to scale from local relevance to international growth, from market expansion and partnerships to brand positioning and operational discipline.
Break
Building Personal Brands That Create Economic Value
Personal credibility can open doors to investment, partnerships and leadership opportunities when built with discipline and purpose. This conversation explores how entrepreneurs, creators, executives and innovators can build personal brands that translate into economic value.
Closing Panel Discussion: The Future Leaders Manifesto
The forum concludes with a shared set of recommendations for empowering the next generation of leaders. Government, industry, academia, technology, investors, entrepreneurs and youth representatives come together to define the priorities needed to build future-ready leadership.