How to Enter Dubai It Is 2026: Lovin Dubai AED 100,000 Creator Contest Guide
I was standing on the boardwalk at Al Jaddaf at dusk last Tuesday, watching a solo videographer balance a heavy gimbal rig while framing the dhow repair yards against the setting sun. We got to talking over the hum of passing water taxis, and he asked if I had started filming my submission for the return of Dubai It Is yet. That sudden reminder that the city's highest-profile community storytelling competition is officially back on the calendar sent a jolt of creative adrenaline straight through me.
Lovin Dubai has revived the iconic initiative with a headline-grabbing cash prize of AED 100,000 for the single most compelling local visual story. Whether you shoot 4K footage on a cinema camera or craft punchy vertical reels on an iPhone, the playing field is wide open for residents who know how to capture the living pulse of this town beyond the glossy postcards. Here is the complete breakdown of how the contest works, what the judges look for, and how to position your entry to win.
At a glance | Details |
|---|---|
Grand Prize | AED 100,000 cash for winning creator |
Organiser | Lovin Dubai and Augustus Media |
Submission Format | 60 to 90 second vertical video |
Entry Fee | AED 0 free open community submission |
Eligibility | UAE residents aged 18 and older |
What Is the Dubai It Is Competition and Who Can Enter
The competition was originally launched by Lovin Dubai to celebrate authentic resident perspectives across the emirates. For the 2026 edition, the initiative returns with an expanded community mandate and a life-changing AED 100,000 cash grant awarded to a single winning storyteller.
Unlike traditional film festivals that require elaborate production crews and industry credentials, this contest targets grassroots creators living and working across the UAE. Anyone with a compelling point of view, an eye for framing human drama, and a smartphone or camera can enter.
Resident Eligibility and Age Requirements
Entrants must be legal UAE residents holding a valid Emirates ID and aged 18 years or older at the time of submission. International tourists and non-resident visitors are excluded from the main prize pool, ensuring the grant directly supports local creative talent.
Solo Creators Versus Creative Teams
Submissions can come from individual creators or collaborative teams. If a collective entry wins, the AED 100,000 payout is transferred to the primary account holder nominated on the submission form, leaving team division to internal agreements.
A story about your neighborhood cafeteria often beats another drone sweep across Downtown Dubai.
Step-by-Step Guide to Submitting Your Video Entry
Contestants must submit their video links through the Lovin Dubai Instagram page using the designated submission tag and hashtag. The entry window remains strictly timed, meaning late uploads are disqualified without exception.
Every submission undergoes an initial compliance check before reaching the creative jury. Following the sequential application steps ensures your file gets cataloged correctly in the review database.
Film and edit an original vertical video between 60 and 90 seconds in duration.
Publish the video publicly on your Instagram account tagging the official contest handles.
Include the designated Dubai It Is contest hashtags in your primary post caption.
Submit the direct reel URL and your contact details through the official online portal.
Retain all uncompressed raw project files and audio license receipts for verification.
Judging Criteria and What the Selection Panel Scores
Judges evaluate submissions across four core pillars rather than relying solely on view counts or viral metrics. High production values help, but emotional authenticity and clear narrative focus carry the heaviest weighting on the scorecard.
The review panel includes experienced broadcast journalists, commercial film directors, and digital media leaders who score each shortlist entry independently.
Why Narrative Structure Outweighs Expensive Camera Gear
A winning piece needs a clear beginning, middle, and end within ninety seconds. Creators who introduce an authentic human tension or unexpected local revelation score consistently higher than those offering generic landscape montages.
Sound Design and Audio Licensing Pitfalls
Audio clarity accounts for half the viewer experience. Poorly recorded dialogue or unauthorized commercial music tracks will trigger copyright flags or outright technical disqualification during jury screening.
Criteria | Weight | Focus |
|---|---|---|
Storytelling | 40 percent | Human narrative and emotional hook |
Cinematography | 30 percent | Framing pacing audio and colour |
Originality | 20 percent | Fresh perspective on city life |
Community | 10 percent | Resident resonance and engagement |
Filming Rules, Public Permits, and UAE Privacy Regulations
Creators filming in public parks or transport hubs should consult the UAE Government Portal for baseline commercial filming guidelines. Filming on an everyday smartphone for personal social media operates under different rules than deploying professional production rigs in public spaces.
Drone operators must remember that aerial filming requires prior clearance from RTA Dubai and aviation authorities. Operating unmanned aerial vehicles without active permits carries severe fines and immediate contest disqualification.
Filmmakers must also respect individual privacy rights outlined by Dubai Police regarding recording members of the public without consent. Capturing identifiable faces in private settings or publishing recognizable individuals without permission breaches federal privacy laws.
Never film government buildings, military sites, or critical infrastructure installations.
Never include identifiable bystanders without their explicit verbal or written permission.
Never operate unmanned aerial drones in unauthorized Dubai airspace zones.
Never use copyrighted commercial music tracks without clear digital synchronization licenses.
In Dubai, a single privacy complaint can disqualify your entry faster than poor audio quality.
Winning Story Angles That Stand Out in Dubai
Official announcements distributed through Emirates News Agency confirm that community digital content initiatives receive structured regional visibility. Finding an angle that stands out among hundreds of entries requires steering clear of well-trodden tourist corridors.
The most memorable Dubai stories celebrate everyday resilience, heritage trades, and quiet neighborhood rituals. Exploring corners like the spice alleys of Deira, tailors in Satwa, or sunrise dhow workers in Al Jaddaf reveals the human soul behind the skyline.
Unsung Neighborhood Heroes and Heritage Corners
Focusing on a single craftsman, an early-morning fishmonger, or an eccentric neighborhood mechanic provides an immediate emotional anchor that connects with viewers regardless of their background.
Subtle Micro-Moments Over Glamour Montages
Audiences and judges see hundreds of hypercar reels and luxury hotel suites every week. Intimate micro-moments like sharing spiced chai at dawn deliver far greater narrative impact.
Equipment Recommendations for Budget and Mobile Filmmakers
Winning an AED 100,000 contest does not require spending AED 20,000 on high-end camera packages. Many of the most visually stunning vertical videos in recent competitions were captured entirely on flagship smartphones paired with simple lighting and audio tools.
Investing in audio quality yields an immediate competitive advantage. A compact wireless microphone system costing under AED 500 elevates an amateur iPhone clip into a broadcast-ready submission.
Clean your smartphone camera lenses with a microfiber cloth before every setup.
Lock exposure and focus manually to prevent jittery background lighting shifts.
Position your wireless microphone within six inches of your subject collar.
Shoot b-roll cutaways at sixty frames per second for smooth slow-motion transitions.
Setup Tier | Est Cost | Key Gear |
|---|---|---|
Smartphone | AED 450 | Phone tripod and wireless lavalier |
Mobile Pro | AED 1,800 | Smartphone gimbal and dual microphone |
Mirrorless | AED 6,500 | Interchangeable lens body and cage |
Clear dialogue and intentional natural lighting beat a five-thousand-dirham lens every single time.
FAQ
Who is eligible to win the AED 100,000 prize in Dubai It Is 2026?
Any legal UAE resident holding a valid Emirates ID who is at least 18 years old can enter the competition. Both amateur hobbyists and experienced videographers are welcome, provided the content submitted is completely original and filmed within the UAE.
Can I submit more than one video entry to the contest?
Yes, creators can submit multiple distinct video stories provided each entry explores a unique subject and meets all standalone technical rules. Submitting identical edits or re-cuts of the same video will result in disqualification.
Do I need a commercial filming permit to record my entry?
Handheld mobile video shot in standard public areas for personal social media use generally does not require commercial trade permits. However, if you deploy professional tripods, lighting rigs, or unmanned aerial drones, official venue approvals and aviation clearances are mandatory.
What aspect ratio and video length are required for submission?
Videos must be filmed in vertical 9:16 aspect ratio suitable for Instagram Reels or TikTok, with a running time strictly between 60 and 90 seconds. Submissions that run under one minute or exceed ninety seconds are automatically filtered out during initial screening.
Useful Links
Lovin Dubai — Official contest platform and announcement details
Lovin Dubai Instagram page — Official contest entry tags and updates
UAE Government Portal — Federal guidelines on media and filming
RTA Dubai — Transport network and public filming permits
Dubai Police — Public privacy laws and filming guidance
Emirates News Agency — Official state media announcements and updates
Pair It With
— Angel Tyagi, Creator of Angel In Dubai
Prices, timings and availability may change — always check directly with the venue before visiting. Not sponsored.
Story lead: lovin.co. Reporting can be updated or withdrawn after publication — always check the original before relying on anything here.
Rates and figures are indicative and were correct as of 15 October 2026; they change often, so verify with the provider before acting. This is general information, not financial advice.
Rules, fees and deadlines change often. This is a general summary, not legal advice — confirm with the relevant UAE authority before acting.
Photo by Pascal Debrunner via unsplash, Photo by Jack Sparrow via unsplash
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