Only with a Visitor Advertiser Permit. The UAE Media Council requires visitors to hold the permit before publishing advertising content from within the UAE, and a visiting creator must be registered with an advertising or talent management agency that is licensed and approved by the Council.
The visitor permit lasts up to three months and can be extended once, for a total of six months. NXTSTAR helps visiting creators and the brands hosting them understand the route and prepare before the trip.
Last reviewed: by the NXTSTAR team.
Rules are set by the authority and can change. Confirm the current position before you apply.
How the visitor permit differs from the resident permit
- A resident applies on the strength of their own UAE trade licence. A visitor does not hold one, so the Council requires registration with an approved agency instead.
- The resident permit is valid for one year. The visitor permit is valid for three months.
- The visitor permit can be extended once for a further three months. It cannot run beyond six months in total.
What a visiting creator should have in place before posting
- An agreement with an advertising or talent management agency that the Media Council has approved.
- The Visitor Advertiser Permit, issued before any advertising content goes live.
- A written agreement with each brand you advertise for.
- The permit number shown on the accounts you post from.
Hotel stays, meals and experiences given in exchange for content count as advertising. The rule does not depend on a cash payment.
If you plan to stay longer
A creator who wants to work from the UAE beyond six months moves onto the resident route: a residence visa, a trade licence that lists an electronic media activity, and the one-year Advertiser Permit. We set that up as one project.
What NXTSTAR does, and what we do not
We explain which route applies to your trip, tell you what to ask the agency for, and handle the resident route if you decide to base yourself in the UAE.
We are not an advertising or talent agency and cannot register a visiting creator ourselves. The Media Council decides every permit.
Common questions
I am visiting for one week for a hotel collaboration. Do I need a permit?
Yes, if you publish advertising content from within the UAE. The Council applies the rule to visitors, and a stay in exchange for content is advertising.
Can I apply for the visitor permit on my own?
The Council requires a visiting advertiser to be registered with an advertising or talent management agency that it has licensed and approved.
How long can I work on a visitor permit?
Three months, extendable once for another three months. Six months is the maximum.
How much does it cost?
We do not publish prices. Ask us for a written quote for your situation.
Sources
The rules on this page come from the authority's own published material, checked on 6 October 2026.
Planning a campaign trip to the UAE?
Tell us what you want to do and we will tell you which route fits, what it involves and what we would need from you.