Is livestreaming the future of entertainment? TikTok seems to think so, as it is creating jobs

Dubai: Is livestreaming the future for entertainment? According to a recent TikTok report, with the region's livestreaming market currently valued at $8.1 billion in 2024, the format is fast becoming a cornerstone of the digital economy. It drives job creation and entrepreneurship and boosts the creative industry’s growth across the region.

The sector in the UAE is expected to grow from $1.9 billion to $3.4 billion by 2030. “Over 10 million people across MENA have live-streamed at least once, underscoring the format's accessibility and surging popularity,” said TikTok’s Future of the Entertainment Report, released in collaboration with consulting firm Kearney.

It also said that livestreaming is set to drive $17.8 billion in MENA growth by 2030.

The report examined how livestreaming’s combination of real-time interactivity, creator-driven production, and direct audience engagement reshapes media consumption patterns. In return, it offers new avenues for brands and fuels a thriving creator economy.

 “Livestreaming is redefining how content is created, consumed, and monetised across MENA. This is no longer just a creator trend – it's a fast-growing economic force unlocking opportunities for creators, brands, and communities alike." Said Yahya Munir, TikTok LIVE Trust and Experience Manager for MENA.

The livestreaming ecosystem in the UAE is driven by a thriving value chain bringing together creators, platforms, and audiences.

Around 115,000 content creators go live daily on livestreaming platforms across the UAE. The creators are producing content that ranges from entertainment and educational topics to emerging lifestyle and niche formats.

For example, TikTok Live offers the infrastructure and monetisation tools that make this ecosystem possible. In return, viewers complete the loop through engagement, gifting, and subscriptions. According to TikTok, together, these players form a dynamic and interdependent ecosystem that drives meaningful growth and innovation.

TikTok's report also makes substantial contributions to national budgets through VAT alone. Fiscal revenues in 2024 are estimated at $2.4 billion in VAT for the UAE.

By 2030, this figure is projected to reach a whopping $4.6 billion.

The report also said that the UAE is well-positioned to become a regional hub for livestreaming. According to TikTok, collaboration between platforms, government entities, and industry players will be essential to unlock the complete potential of livestreaming.

For example, the recent partnership with Dubai Esports and Games Festival (DEF) 2025 for GameExpo 2025, which was live-streamed on the @dubaifestivals TikTok account and @tiktoklive_mena, which allowed the festival to reach the wider gaming community regionally.

The report’s findings also uncovered that livestreaming transforms entertainment and generates a real economic and social impact. With billions in projected revenue, thousands of jobs supported, and a growing base of professional creators, the industry is becoming a key pillar of the UAE’s digital economy, argued TikTok.