Snapchat Launches Comprehensive Creator Accelerator at Dubai's 1 Billion Followers Summit

Snapchat has made a major commitment to creator development with the launch of its Snap Accelerator Program at the fourth edition of the 1 Billion Followers Summit in Dubai. The announcement, made during the three-day event from January 9-11, 2026, signals Snapchat's strategic push to compete more aggressively in the creator economy against rivals like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.

The program represents one of Snapchat's most comprehensive creator education initiatives to date, featuring dedicated training sessions, monetization workshops, and direct access to Snap's top executives and strategists. With the summit attracting over 30,000 attendees including 15,000 content creators and influencers across 580 sessions, Snapchat's investment in a dedicated Snapchat House within the venue underscores the platform's commitment to capturing creator mindshare in a competitive market.

The Snap Accelerator Program: Structure and Focus

The Snap Accelerator Program featured 10 dedicated sessions specifically designed to guide emerging creators through critical development stages. Unlike generic creator programs that offer surface-level advice, Snapchat structured its accelerator to provide hands-on training from platform experts with deep knowledge of what drives success on the platform.

The program was led by some of Snap's most experienced talent and content strategists in the MENA region:

Ali Alshehri and Aya Kalouti, both Talent Partnerships Managers for MENA, brought their expertise in identifying and nurturing creator talent across the Middle East and North Africa. Their role in the accelerator focused on helping creators understand how to build sustainable careers on Snapchat while navigating the unique cultural and market dynamics of the region.

Reem Matloub, Content Partnerships Manager with 17 years of experience in digital media, led sessions on content strategy and platform optimization. The accelerator program focused on guiding emerging creators through various development stages, with hands-on training from platform experts with deep knowledge of what drives success on Snapchat.

Snap School: Mastering Platform Best Practices

Complementing the Snap Accelerator, Snap School offered four sessions teaching platform best practices. The sessions were led by Snap experts including Mashael AlBelaihed, a Junior Talent Partnership Associate focused on fashion and beauty; Naif Alqumaizy, who manages sports and travel creators; and Ahmad Fares, Creator Education Senior Specialist.

Monetization and Brand Partnerships: Turning Creativity Into Commerce

The summit also included several business-focused sessions on monetization and brand partnerships.

"Breaking Through with Content" explored how creators cut through the noise, featuring Reem Matloub and Ahmad Fares.

Another session, "Creators & Brands: Turning Connection Into Collaboration," featured Samer Lahoud, Head of Creative Strategy for MENA, Heidi Felfella, Senior Creative Strategist for Creator Marketing, and Rami Saad, co-founder of Halo AI.

"Building Brands, One Snap at a Time" covered building businesses on the platform. Speakers included Angelo Di Sotto, Client Partner with 18 years in digital strategy, and Mayowa Tola-Voss, Client Partner with 12 years in digital advertising.

Regional Focus and Strategic Commitment

Antoine Challita, UAE Country Head for Snap Inc. in MENA, commented on the initiative: "The UAE has positioned itself as a global hub for the creative and digital economy, with creators playing an increasingly important role in shaping culture and storytelling."

The accelerator program demonstrates Snapchat's investment in creator education and development in the MENA region, focusing on helping creators build sustainable careers through platform-specific training and business development resources.

The 1 Billion Followers Summit Context

The summit, organized by the UAE Government Media Office, attracted more than 30,000 attendees and hosted more than 15,000 content creators and influencers across 580 sessions.

Snapchat hosted more than 20 sessions at a dedicated Snapchat House within the venue from January 9-11, providing creators with direct access to Snap experts and platform training.

Looking Ahead

The Snap Accelerator Program represents Snapchat's commitment to investing in creator education and career development in the MENA region. By providing hands-on training from platform experts, business-focused workshops, and direct mentorship, Snapchat is positioning itself as a partner in helping creators build sustainable careers on the platform.

The program's launch at the 1 Billion Followers Summit underscores both Snapchat's regional focus and the growing importance of structured creator education programs as platforms compete for creator attention and loyalty in an increasingly competitive creator economy landscape.