British social entrepreneur and content creator Simon Squibb has cemented his ties to the UAE after winning the $1 million One Billion Award at the 1 Billion Followers Summit in Dubai and being named an official ambassador for the 2026 edition of the event.
Squibb, 51, who founded the HelpBnk platform and has built an audience of more than 20 million followers, took the main stage in January 2026 to deliver a keynote titled Money Won t Save You, Action Will. He used the address to argue that lasting change comes from commitment and kindness rather than capital, returning to a venue where he had won the headline prize a year earlier (Big News Network).
The summit, organised under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, expanded its programme for 2026 to include a $1 million AI movie contest and a wider slate of creator ambassadors. Squibb was confirmed as one of five global creators named ambassadors for the 2026 edition, alongside other figures recognised for their work in the creator economy (Gulf News).
Squibb has founded or invested in more than 100 companies. He sold his agency Fluid to PwC and now serves as Chairman of Dream Inc. and co-founder of HelpBnk, a free community platform that connects aspiring entrepreneurs with mentors and resources. The platform recently rolled out a new version aimed at returning to its founding ethos of Give Without Take.
During the Dubai event, Squibb also participated in a book signing for What s Your Dream?, his Sunday Times number one bestseller, as part of a session that featured four renowned creators signing recent titles for summit attendees (Gulf Business).
Speaking after collecting the award, Squibb said his mission is to help 10 million people launch their own businesses, and that the Dubai prize money would be redirected back into HelpBnk and free founder support rather than retained personally. Organisers said his selection as a 2026 ambassador reflects the summit s focus on creators who use their platforms for social impact rather than personal monetisation alone.
For UAE-based founders and creators, Squibb s continued presence in Dubai signals that the emirate is positioning itself as a hub for purpose-led entrepreneurship content, not only luxury and lifestyle media.
