Several prominent UAE content creators, including Kris Fade, Noor Stars and Anas Bukhash, have been selected to join a new Amazon programme that offers advertising incentives and business support to help influencers expand their ventures into international markets.

Creators HQ and Amazon Ads have announced the first cohort of the Amazon Creators Foundry. The six-month programme is designed to help content creators launch, develop and scale product-based businesses through Amazon.ae.

According to the organisers, each selected participant will receive $10,000 in Sponsored Ads reimbursements and access to Amazon advertising incentives worth up to $100,000.

The support also includes assistance with obtaining business licences, logistics services and opportunities to expand into more than 20 international markets.

In addition, each participant will be nominated for a UAE Golden Visa and receive a free one-year membership at Creators HQ. However, a Golden Visa nomination does not guarantee that the visa will be granted.

Prominent UAE Creators Selected from Hundreds of Applicants

The Amazon Creators Foundry was first unveiled in January 2026 during the fourth edition of the 1 Billion Followers Summit.

The programme’s first participants were selected after hundreds of applications submitted between August 26 and September 9 were reviewed.

Those selected include several well-known influencers who have launched their own commercial brands alongside their social media activities.

They include Kris Fade, founder of healthy snack brand Fade Fit; Noor Stars, owner of fragrance line Nafas by Noor; and Anas Bukhash, owner of the #ABTalks brand.

Other selected participants include:

  • Azza Zarour, owner of Poco Loco, a fragrance brand focused on mothers and daughters
  • Mohanad Al Hattab, founder of flavoured sparkling beverage brand JUX
  • Shamsa Al Dhaheri, founder of skincare brand Glowture
  • Yara Aziz, owner of Hair 101 Tools
  • Saeed Al Nuaimi, founder of The Scent Library

Sara Monika Rwinska, Jules Teras, Ryan Shadd, Saud Al Kaabi, Anthony Omenya, Bana Idriss and Adel Nassar have also been admitted to the programme.

Kris Fade, founder of Fade Fit, reflected on the growth of his brand, saying that when he launched the business seven years ago, he never imagined it would become one of the region’s fastest-growing snack brands, with products reaching customers across the GCC and Australia.

He described the partnership with Creators HQ and Amazon as a milestone in the brand’s global expansion, saying it would provide an opportunity to reach more customers worldwide.

Up to $100,000 in Advertising Incentives and UAE Golden Visa Nomination

The Amazon Creators Foundry provides selected participants with financial and technical support, as well as business development services.

The support includes $10,000 in Sponsored Ads reimbursements and the opportunity for each creator to receive up to $100,000 in advertising incentives through Amazon DSP.

Participants will also have access to AI-powered advertising tools and campaign management services.

The incentives are intended to help participants promote products, build commercial brands and attract customers through Amazon’s advertising infrastructure.

Creators HQ will also nominate each participant for a UAE Golden Visa and provide them with a free one-year membership at the centre.

The membership will include access to co-working spaces, recording studios and specialist advisory services.

How Will Amazon’s Six-Month Programme Work?

Participants will undertake a six-month training and implementation programme to develop, launch and grow their businesses on Amazon.ae.

Part of the programme’s support will focus on obtaining business licences in coordination with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism.

Amazon will also assist participants with setting up seller accounts, protecting brand intellectual property through the IP Accelerator programme and creating dedicated digital storefronts.

Other services include optimising product pages for greater visibility in search results and access to Fulfilment by Amazon services.

Eligible businesses will also be able to use Amazon Global Selling to enter markets across North America, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and the Asia-Pacific region.

Other benefits include dedicated account managers, quarterly workshops on digital marketing and brand development, and mentoring sessions with senior Amazon executives.

Rayan Karaky, managing director of Amazon Ads for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia, said the quality of the projects and talent selected for the programme reflected the strength of the UAE’s creator economy and its entrepreneurial spirit.

He said the selected participants not only had a clear vision for their businesses but also demonstrated an ability to understand their audiences’ needs and offer effective products and services.

Amazon Supports Influencers’ Expansion into Global Markets

The programme is designed to help content creators move beyond activities focused solely on audience growth and turn their social media profile and influence into sustainable international businesses.

Mohanad Al Hattab, founder of JUX, said the greatest challenge for content creators launching a business was not finding an idea, but managing the next steps, including licensing, logistics and commercial expansion.

He added that the Amazon Creators Foundry, supported by Creators HQ, reduces these barriers and provides practical infrastructure to turn local brands into global businesses.

Noor Stars, founder of fragrance brand Nafas by Noor, also said the future of the creator economy lies in transforming social influence into lasting businesses.

She said the partnership with Amazon and Creators HQ would enable creators to turn their creativity into globally scalable commercial ventures by providing the right infrastructure and support.

Amazon Programme to Strengthen the UAE’s Digital Economy

Alia AlHammadi, vice-chairperson of the UAE Government Media Office and deputy CEO of the 1 Billion Followers Summit, said the Amazon Creators Foundry, launched through a strategic partnership between Amazon and Creators HQ, reflected the UAE’s strategic transformation in the creator economy and e-commerce sectors.

She said supporting creators in building internationally competitive businesses would strengthen the digital media and e-commerce sectors while also contributing to the growth of the UAE economy.

Creators HQ, part of Visioneers, has been described as the first dedicated content creator hub in the UAE and the Middle East.

The first Amazon Creators Foundry cohort will now begin the six-month programme to develop their businesses.

Using Amazon’s sales, advertising and logistics infrastructure, participants will have the opportunity to grow their products and brands through Amazon.ae and, if eligible, reach customers in more than 20 international markets.