Marketing in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is the largest consumer market in the Gulf and one of the most active gaming markets in the world. We plan campaigns for Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and beyond.
Top platforms in Saudi Arabia
Share of population reached by ads · DataReportal 2026
Saudi audiences are young, mobile and highly engaged with video. They also expect brands to speak to them as Saudis, not as a generic Gulf audience. That means Saudi creators, Saudi cultural moments and a channel mix that puts Snapchat and YouTube near the top.
Where Saudi audiences are
Absolute ad reach: YouTube 27.5M, Snapchat 25.3M, Instagram 18.2M, Facebook 17.7M, X 15.0M. TikTok reports 38.6M adult users but no population share, so it is listed here rather than charted.
Platform figures are advertising audience reach from DataReportal's Digital 2026 report (data from late 2025). Percentages are of the total population.
Influencer rules in Saudi Arabia
Advertising on social media in Saudi Arabia requires a Mawthooq licence issued through the media regulator. Ads may only run through the licensed account and under a written contract, and content must clearly say it is an advertisement. Since December 2024 the licence also applies to visiting influencers, and businesses are warned not to promote unlicensed visiting celebrities. We verify licences before booking.
Key dates
- Riyadh Season 2026: began 21 October 2026, running for about ten weeks.
- Saudi Founding Day: 22 February.
- Saudi National Day: 23 September.
- Ramadan 2027: expected from around 8 February 2027, with Eid al-Fitr around 9 or 10 March.
- Eid al-Adha 2027: expected around 16 or 17 May 2027.
- White Friday: late November.
Gaming in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has more than 25 million gamers. The National Gaming and Esports Strategy targets a SAR 50 billion contribution to GDP, 39,000 jobs and a top-three position by number of esports players by 2030. Riyadh hosts the Esports World Cup, which ran from 6 July to 23 August 2026 with a US$75 million prize pool. Our team has worked with Saudi Esports, the Esports World Cup and Mobily.
What we do in Saudi Arabia
Social media management, influencer campaigns with licensed Saudi creators, content production, events and gaming and esports marketing.
FAQ
Questions we get asked
Can a UAE agency run campaigns in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Many regional campaigns are run from the UAE. What matters is working with Saudi creators who hold a Mawthooq licence, planning for Saudi platforms and dates, and producing content that speaks to a Saudi audience.
Is Snapchat important in Saudi Arabia?
Very. Snapchat ads reach about 73% of Saudi Arabia's population, compared with about 45% in the UAE. For most consumer brands in the Kingdom it belongs in the plan.
What is a Mawthooq licence?
Mawthooq is the Saudi licence for people who advertise products, services or events on social media. Ads must run through the licensed account under a written contract. Since December 2024 it is also required for visiting influencers.
Tell us what you sell and where you sell it
Send a short brief: your brand, your market and what you want people to do. We come back with questions or a first plan.