RABI HAMAMSAH (DUBAI)
The 1 Billion Followers Summit, held in Dubai on Wednesday, gathered Arab content creators and influencers from around the world to highlight the importance of generating content that addresses all aspects of life, especially in the Arabic language.
In an interview with Aleithad, Basil El Haj, a Jordanian Youtuber and food vlogger with 5.8 million followers across platforms, said that the UAE is a hub for content creators, adding that the summit proves the country’s earnestness to help Arab content creators at all levels.
UAE Represents Hub for Arab Content Creators
“I am a vlogger and I travel a lot to many countries. The only country in region that has held summits for content creators for the last 8 years is the UAE. I’ve attended many summits for content creators in the UAE, and this shows us that there are serious efforts here not available in any other country,” El Haj said.
The vlogger stressed the need for more original Arabic language content, as “Arab content creators have the potential to deliver various content, ranging from food to space sciences”.
El Haj told Aletihad that such summits such as the 1 Billion Followers Summit help Arab creators to think innovatively about generating wide-ranging content in the Arabic language.
“These summits that the UAE holds will help enrich the Arabic content and also empower the Arab content creators to deliver world-class content that compete with other content creators from the world,” he said.
The food vlogger pointed to the role of the UAE as a great source of support for all Arab content creators, not only through holding summits, but also with the great sources of content that the country offers. “The UAE is a hub for content creation ideas, and that will enable Arab content creators to be creative and smart in delivering outside the box content,” El Haj said.
“The UAE is an inspiring place for content creators, as it is rich with cultural topics and touristic sites, and let’s not forget the Emirati cuisine as well,” he added.
A Global Eater
El Haj has gained acclaim as a global culinary explorer with a penchant for travel.
Renowned for his video series, “The Tastiest Food in the World,” Basil’s journey began in 2017 at London’s Camden Market, captivating audiences across the Arab world.
Describing himself as a worldwide food explorer, he passionately delves into local cuisines, making his content a delectable adventure.
Basil’s signature motto, “Ana Juaan” which translates to “I’m hungry” in English, resonates with his dedication to discovering and sharing the most appetising flavours worldwide. With each episode, he continues to inspire and delight his viewers, establishing himself as a tastemaker in the realm of international food vlogging.