In this article
Key takeaways
- TikTok's official library (the Commercial Content Library) covers ads in Europe, Switzerland and the UK only.
- For Gulf ads use Top Ads in TikTok Creative Center: pick Saudi Arabia or the UAE as region, then sort by reach or CTR.
- Each Top Ads card shows the objective, industry, likes, CTR rank and budget level.
- Many Gulf advertisers reuse the same TikTok video on Instagram, so look for it in the Meta Ad Library too.
Two tools, not one
TikTok publishes ads in two different places, each with its own purpose:
| Commercial Content Library | TikTok Creative Center (Top Ads) | |
|---|---|---|
| Address | library.tiktok.com | ads.tiktok.com/business/creativecenter |
| Purpose | Transparency under EU law | Inspiring advertisers with top-performing ads |
| Countries | Europe, Switzerland, UK | Many regions, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE |
| What you get | Every ad in those countries | A selection of top-performing ads |
| Account | Not needed | Login needed to see everything |
The Commercial Content Library: why Saudi Arabia is missing
The official library was built for the EU Digital Services Act, so its country list starts with Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria… and has no Saudi Arabia, UAE or Kuwait. You search by advertiser name or keyword, with country and last-shown date.
It is useful to see how a global brand advertises in Europe, not to follow a competing store in Riyadh.
Top Ads: the best TikTok ads in the Gulf
In TikTok Creative Center, open Inspiration, then Top Ads. Choose the region (Saudi Arabia, for example) and narrow with filters:
- Industry: beauty, fashion, food, automotive, services…
- Campaign objective: conversions, video views, lead generation…
- Period: the last 7, 30 or 180 days.
- Ad language, format and number of likes.
Then sort by For You, Reach or CTR.
How to read a Top Ads card
- Objective and industry: "Conversions" means the ad sells; "Video Views" means it builds reach.
- Top x% CTR: the ad's click-through rank within its industry. "Top 96%" means it beats most ads in its category.
- Budget: low, medium or high. A low-budget ad with a high CTR is a cheap idea worth testing.
- See analytics: extra detail such as engagement across the video, after login.
Mind: Top Ads is TikTok's selection, not every ad. Your specific competitor may not be there.
How to follow a specific competitor on TikTok
- Search them in the Meta Ad Library: most Gulf advertisers post the same video on Instagram and Facebook, so you find it in the Facebook Ad Library with its start date.
- Follow their TikTok account: many ads are Spark Ads that boost the account's own posts.
- Check their store's pixel: if the store carries the TikTok pixel, they advertise there. In our study, 62% of Gulf store pages carry the TikTok pixel. Details in Tracking pixels in Gulf stores.
What winning Gulf TikTok ads teach you
- Native style: a winning ad looks like a creator's video, not a TV commercial.
- The first two seconds: a clear problem, a striking result or a question.
- Arabic on-screen text: many people watch without sound.
- The offer at the end: price, delivery and cash on delivery, in writing.
To read Arabic Meta ads the same way, and keep them after they stop, try GccFY.
