TikTok Adds AED 1.1 Billion to UAE Economy, Supports 7,000 Jobs

DUBAI — Business and entrepreneurial activity on TikTok contributed AED 1.1 billion in gross value added to the UAE economy and supported around 7,000 jobs, as tens of thousands of small businesses increasingly turn to digital platforms to reach customers and build new ventures.

The findings come from a report prepared by TikTok in collaboration with Redseer Strategy Consultants and presented during the UAE Forward forum at Dubai’s Museum of the Future.

According to the study, more than 70,000 small and medium-sized enterprises in the UAE use TikTok to promote products and services and connect with customers.

More than 10,000 entrepreneurs also reported that audience access through the platform helped them launch their businesses, including 3,500 women and 1,400 Emirati entrepreneurs.

Abdulaziz Al Nuaimi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Entrepreneurship and Economic Affairs Regulatory Sector at the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism, said in an Arabic-language statement that reaching international markets previously required significant investment in logistics, storage and staffing, while digital tools have substantially reduced the barriers to starting a business.

He said the experience of more than 10,000 UAE businesses demonstrates a shift in entrepreneurship, with access to audiences becoming increasingly important alongside access to capital.

The report also highlighted the expanding creator economy, with short-form content enabling individuals to generate income through advertising, commercial partnerships and the sale of products and services.

TikTok’s economic impact extends into sectors including education, tourism and cultural expression, while businesses are allocating greater portions of marketing budgets to creator-led campaigns.

Janan Mohammed Al Hashili, Head of Public Policy for the GCC at TikTok, said digital economic growth requires innovation and opportunity alongside trust, safety and cooperation between governments, businesses and communities.

Digital safety was also a major theme at the forum. TikTok says it provides more than 50 safety and privacy features and settings for teenagers, including Family Pairing tools that allow parents to manage privacy, screen time and other account controls. TikTok’s official app information also confirms more than 50 preset safety and privacy features.

The platform works with UAE entities including the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority and the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority on digital literacy, child safety and responsible technology use.

The findings show that the economic value of digital platforms is extending beyond advertising into job creation, entrepreneurship, tourism and the broader creator economy.