Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid honoured the winner of the Educator Award during the fourth edition of the 1 Billion Followers Summit, held in Dubai. The award, launched by the summit in partnership with TikTok, recognises creators who advance digital learning and expand access to knowledge.

A specialised jury selected three finalists, with Matt Green awarded first place and a $100,000 cash prize. Green, a TikTok creator, broadcaster and author, is known for turning classroom science lessons into short rap videos designed to make complex topics accessible. He has 1.4 million followers on the platform.

The ceremony took place at the summit, described by organisers as the world’s largest gathering focused on the content creation economy. The event is organised by the UAE Government Media Office under the theme “Content for Good” and runs until 11 January across Emirates Towers, Dubai International Financial Centre, and the Museum of the Future.

The summit has drawn more than 15,000 content creators and influencers and over 500 speakers, whose combined audiences exceed 3.5 million followers worldwide.

Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid said the summit has become a global platform for creative communities and reinforces the UAE’s role as a hub for the content creation economy. He congratulated the award’s winner and finalists, noting the role of digital tools in supporting education and community development. He described educational content as a key element in empowering individuals and supporting future generations.

The Educator Award attracted nearly 600,000 educational content creators from the Middle East and North Africa, Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States. About 108,000 met eligibility requirements, producing more than 320,000 TikTok videos under the hashtag #EducatorAward.

The finalists included Abdullah Annan, a science content creator with 6.7 million TikTok followers known for his Science Street initiative, and Dr Amy Boyington, a historian and author with 1.2 million followers who produces history-focused videos.

The award focuses on areas including science and innovation, school education, personal development, humanities, and business and finance, reflecting the summit’s emphasis on accessible and engaging educational content. The ceremony was attended by senior officials and content creators participating in the event.

Photo credits: Government of Dubai Media Office

Oksana Bozhko

Oksana Bozhko is a Contributor to Dubai Voice.