Influencer marketing in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the GCC
We find creators whose audience is your customer, check they are licensed, brief them well and manage the campaign from contract to report.
The follower count is the least useful number in influencer marketing. What matters is whether the creator's audience lives where you sell, buys what you sell and trusts the creator's taste. A gaming streamer with a loyal audience of 30,000 in Riyadh can move more than a lifestyle account with a million followers spread across continents.
Our team comes from gaming, where creators can spot a forced brand integration instantly and so can their viewers. We bring that standard to every category we cast for: food, fashion, beauty, retail, tech and entertainment.
What's included
- CastingA shortlist of creators by audience location, age, content quality and past brand work.
- Licence checksUAE Advertiser Permit and Saudi Mawthooq licence verified before booking.
- Briefs that leave roomClear messages and must-haves, with space for the creator's own style.
- Contracts and usage rightsDeliverables, dates, disclosure, exclusivity and how long you can reuse the content.
- Campaign managementContent review, posting schedule and live monitoring.
- ReportingReach, views, engagement, clicks, codes or visits per creator, and who to book again.
Licensing is part of the job
In the UAE, anyone promoting third-party products or services on social media needs an Advertiser Permit from the National Media Authority. The permit has been mandatory since 31 January 2026, and businesses are expected to check that the creators they hire hold one. In Saudi Arabia, paid promotion requires a Mawthooq licence, and since December 2024 that also applies to visiting creators. Sponsored content must be clearly marked as advertising in both countries.
We verify licences before booking and build disclosure into every brief. Read our guide to influencer rules in the UAE and Saudi Arabia for the details.
Types of campaigns
- Launches. A product, menu, store or game goes live, and creators show it first.
- Visits and experiences. Creators visit your café, shop or venue and show what it is like to be there.
- Always-on programmes. A small group of creators who post about you every month.
- Streams and gameplay. Streamers play, review or host events around a game or gaming product.
- Seasonal pushes. Ramadan, Eid, national days, White Friday and shopping festivals.
FAQ
Questions we get asked
Do influencers in the UAE need a licence?
Yes. Since 31 January 2026, anyone in the UAE promoting third-party products or services on social media, paid or unpaid, needs an Advertiser Permit from the National Media Authority. Promoting your own business on your own account is exempt. Visitors need a short-term visitor permit arranged through a licensed agency.
Do influencers in Saudi Arabia need a licence?
Yes. Advertising on social media in Saudi Arabia requires a Mawthooq licence from the media regulator. Since December 2024 this also applies to visiting influencers, and brands are warned not to promote unlicensed visiting celebrities.
Micro or macro influencers?
Usually a mix. Smaller creators with a local, engaged audience often deliver better results per dirham for shops, cafés and venues. Larger creators help with awareness for launches. We recommend the mix based on your goal and budget.
Can we reuse influencer content in our own ads?
Only if the contract says so. We negotiate usage rights up front, including where the content can run and for how long, so you can use the best pieces on your own channels and in paid ads.
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.