New Media Academy in Dubai signs partnership with TikTok

The collaboration will help train the next generation of content creators in the Arab world

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, tours the New Media Academy in June. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, tours the New Media Academy. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, tours the New Media Academy in Dubai on Monday. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, chief executive of Emirates Group, and Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future, attend the launch of New Media Academy. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

The UAE’s first digital academy has partnered with social media giant TikTok to help empower current and upcoming content creators in the region.

Learning how to effectively use the Chinese social media app, which has more than one billion users globally, has become part of the New Media Academy’s course curriculum.

Launched in June, the academy offers graduate an internationally-recognised certificate on completion of their programme – paving the way towards a profession in content creation.

A team from TikTok recently delivered the first virtual workshop for government departments on creating and disseminating content on social media.

“By working with TikTok, New Media Academy unlocks a powerful new marketing channel for government entities, and enables them to deliver impactful and scalable campaigns,” said Rashid Al Awadhi, chief executive of the academy.

“Our first webinar is the start of a wide-ranging program of empowerment and support for public sector content creators.”

More than 50 government and semi-government bodies took part in the webinar, including the Roads and Transport Authority, Dubai Police, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development, Abu Dhabi Media Company and the Ras Al Khaimah Government Media Office.

Future plans for the academy include working with more social networks, brands, apps, agencies, and government and private organisations to help social media users deliver engaging and effective content, as well as increasing quantity and quality of Arabic content.

In the past few years there has been a strong focus on developing, but also regulating, the nation’s social media and digital industry.

A Dubai freelance visa was set up, which helps content creators set up a base in the emirate.