Facebook and Instagram ads in Saudi Arabia: what is working now

Saudi Arabia is the Gulf's biggest ad market

Of the six Gulf countries, Saudi Arabia is where the most Arabic ads in our library run: 320,000+ ads, and 41% of the newest ones. One ad can run in several countries, so the shares do not add up to 100.

This article uses two kinds of numbers: live numbers from the newest 20,000 Arabic ads in the library, refreshed with every rebuild of the site, and a study we ran in October 2026 on the newest 20,000 Arabic ads, 8,006 of which ran in Saudi Arabia.

Formats: video first, images still strong

Among the Arabic ads shown in Saudi Arabia in our study: video 57%, single image 28%, and the rest dynamic and carousel ads. In the UAE, video reached 68%.

• Video leads for products that need explaining or a demo: skincare, gadgets, kitchen tools.
• Images still work for clear offers: a price, a discount and a known product that needs no explaining.
• Carousels suit a product range or several colours.

Buttons: WhatsApp is ahead

The clearest difference between Saudi Arabia and elsewhere is the call-to-action. Among the Arabic ads shown in Saudi Arabia in our study:

A large part of selling in Saudi Arabia happens inside a chat: buyers ask and agree on cash on delivery before ordering. If your product needs a question (size, colour, scent), test a WhatsApp ad next to your store ad. Details in WhatsApp ads.

Where advertisers send buyers

The store behind an ad says a lot about the advertiser: Salla and Zid stores are usually Saudi, while Shopify and landing-page builders such as LightFunnels are often used by sellers who sell into several countries, some from outside the Gulf.

Read Salla and Zid store ads to see how Salla and Zid stores advertise and how they differ.

What sellers write in their ads

We analysed the copy of the newest 20,000 Arabic ads in the library for recurring phrases. Share of ads that use each one:

• Offer before product: "offer" (عرض), "discount" (خصم) and percentages are among the most repeated words.
• Urgency: "limited time" and "don't miss" appear in 15% of ads.
• Payment: cash on delivery in 11%, and pay-later with Tabby or Tamara in 2%.
• Length: half of the ads are shorter than 55 words.

For phrasing and examples, read Arabic ad copy.

The most advertised products in Saudi Arabia

Each category's share of the ads shown in Saudi Arabia, among the newest ads of our library. The numbers update with every rebuild:

The full list, with how to choose a product, is in Best sellers in Saudi Arabia.

Instagram first, Facebook alongside

In our study, 98% of Arabic ads appear on Instagram, 77% on Facebook and 75% on both. Most advertisers let Meta spread the ad across placements, but the creative must suit Instagram first: vertical video, short on-screen text, and a first two seconds that explain the product.

How much do Facebook ads cost in Saudi Arabia?

Meta publishes no fixed prices per country: cost is an auction that moves with audience, objective, season and ad quality. What we see in the ads helps you plan:

• Seasons raise competition: before Ramadan, White Friday and National Day more advertisers enter, so costs rise.
• Good ads cost less: an ad people engage with costs less per result, which is why successful advertisers test many versions.
• Start with a test budget: a small budget per ad for a few days, then stop the weakest and scale the strongest.

If you hire influencers or creators to advertise in Saudi Arabia, make sure they hold a "Mawthooq" licence from the General Authority for Media Regulation.

How to use these numbers

1. Search your category's ads in Saudi Arabia and sort them by running time.
2. Compare buttons: do your competitors win with WhatsApp or with a store?
3. Read the landing pages: price, cash on delivery, pay-later.
4. Test two versions of your ad: video vs image, or store vs WhatsApp.

Follow the full numbers in the Gulf ads report and on the Saudi Arabia ads page.