Dubai-based influencer Rohit Bharati’s viral video exposes low-paying brand deals, sparking debate on fair compensation for creators
An Indian-origin content creator in Dubai, Rohit Bharati, has ignited an online debate after publicly calling out brands and PR agencies for offering shockingly low payments to influencers for promotional collaborations, reported hindustantimes.com.
In a video shared on Instagram, where Bharati boasts over 54,000 followers, he criticised companies for undervaluing the work that goes into creating quality content. The video, captioned “Thoda toh samajh lo bhai, I get it you need to make commissions, but itna??”, shows Bharati reacting to a brand’s offer — “1 reel + a set of stories. Budget is around 150 AED.”
Expressing disbelief, Bharati said no agency should offer such minimal compensation, especially to creators who have spent years building their pages organically. “Even small commercial actors earn several hundred dirhams for short shoots — how can brands justify paying creators so little?” he questioned.
He added, “Jo banda ya bandi apna page organically bada rahe hain, unko yeh kaise offer kar sakte ho?” — highlighting the lack of respect for creators’ time and effort.
Rohit Bharati’s viral post has resonated across Dubai’s influencer community, drawing attention to growing concerns over exploitative brand deals and unfair pay practices in the digital space
Social media reactions
Bharati’s post struck a chord with many Dubai-based influencers and content creators, who flooded the comments with their own experiences of being underpaid.
“You said exactly right! Even one brand offered me 50 AED — I told them to keep it,” wrote one user. Another added, “Someone messaged me saying their budget is 50 AED. Like, Bhai, just ask for free work directly!”
Several users pointed out the oversaturated influencer market in Dubai, where some agree to extremely low rates just to gain visibility.
“Every second person in Dubai is an influencer, and some work for 50 AED just to have content on their page. That gives brands the liberty to offer others the same,” one commenter noted.
“Nowadays, brands don’t even consider content quality as long as they get it cheap,” another said.
The conversation has sparked a broader discussion about the need for fair pricing standards in influencer marketing, as creators continue to push for better recognition and compensation for their work.
