Competitor research

Snapchat ads in Saudi Arabia: how to see what competitors advertise

Snapchat is one of the strongest ad platforms in Saudi Arabia, yet it does not publish its commercial Gulf ads the way Meta does. So how do you see what competitors run on Snapchat? Here are the practical ways, with numbers from 30,000 Gulf store pages.

3 min readThe GccFY team
Snapchat ads in Saudi Arabia: how to see what competitors advertise
In this article
  1. Is there a Snapchat ads library?
  2. How many Gulf stores advertise on Snapchat?
  3. How to see what a competitor runs on Snapchat
  4. The Snapchat ad formats stores use
  5. Tips for Snapchat ads in Saudi Arabia

Key takeaways

  • Snap's public library covers political and advocacy ads, and its commercial ads gallery covers the EU only.
  • The Snapchat pixel is on 54% of Gulf store pages and on 82% of Salla stores: Saudi stores advertise on Snapchat a lot.
  • Most advertisers reuse the same Snapchat video on Instagram and TikTok, so look for it in the Meta Ad Library.
  • A Snapchat pixel on a competitor's store is a strong sign they advertise there.

Is there a Snapchat ads library?

Yes, but not the one a store owner wants. Snap's public library (the Snap Political Ads Library) publishes political and advocacy ads as yearly archive files, and Snap has a commercial ads gallery for the European Union under EU law. There is no official library of Snapchat's commercial ads in Saudi Arabia or the Gulf.

Snap's Political Ads Library: a yearly archive, no search of commercial ads.
Snap's Political Ads Library: a yearly archive, no search of commercial ads.

To compare the platforms' libraries, read Ad libraries compared.

How many Gulf stores advertise on Snapchat?

We cannot count Snapchat ads, but we can count the stores set up for them: the Snapchat pixel is installed on a store to measure Snapchat ads. On the latest snapshot of 30,000 store pages that Gulf ads lead to:

More than four in five Salla and Zid stores carry the Snapchat pixel, against about half of Shopify stores. A Saudi store advertising on Meta usually advertises on Snapchat too. Full details in Tracking pixels in Gulf stores.

How to see what a competitor runs on Snapchat

  1. Check their store's pixel: the Snap Pixel Helper extension in Chrome, or the store page window in GccFY. The pixel means they advertise, or are about to.
  2. Find their videos in the Meta Ad Library: the same vertical video usually goes to Snapchat, Instagram Reels and TikTok. Search their Page in the Facebook Ad Library.
  3. Follow their public Snapchat account: stories and public content reveal offers and seasons.
  4. See the ads yourself: ads reach people like their audience; engage with your category's content and its ads will appear.

The Snapchat ad formats stores use

  • Snap Ads (single image or video): full-screen vertical video with a button to the store.
  • Collection Ads: a video or image with products underneath.
  • Dynamic Ads: show catalogue products automatically to past visitors.
  • AR Lenses: mostly for big brands.

A video that wins on Snapchat looks like one that wins on TikTok and Reels: vertical, fast, with Arabic on-screen text and a clear offer. Read Arabic ad copy.

Tips for Snapchat ads in Saudi Arabia

  • Install the pixel before advertising and check the purchase event, or you will not know which ad sells.
  • Seasons: Ramadan, Eid, National Day, Founding Day and White Friday are peak competition. Read Gulf ad seasons.
  • Influencers: if you hire Snapchat influencers, make sure they hold a Mawthooq licence.
  • Compare channels: test the same video on Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram and compare the cost per order.

The GccFY teamThe GccFY team follows Arabic ads in the six Gulf markets every day and writes these articles from the library's data and sellers' experience.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a Snapchat ads library?
There is a Snap library for political ads and a gallery of commercial ads in the EU. There is no official library of Snapchat's commercial ads in Saudi Arabia.
How do I know a competitor advertises on Snapchat?
Check their store with the Snap Pixel Helper extension or in GccFY's store page window: a Snapchat pixel is a strong sign they advertise there.
How many Gulf stores use the Snapchat pixel?
In our study of 30,000 store pages: 54% of pages, rising to 82% for Salla stores.
Can I see a competitor's Snapchat ads in GccFY?
No. GccFY collects Facebook and Instagram ads. But many advertisers reuse the same Snapchat video on Instagram, where you will find it.
Do Snapchat influencers need a licence to advertise in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Influencers and creators who advertise need a Mawthooq licence from the General Authority for Media Regulation.

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