Social media marketing is one of the most efficient and effective marketing tools available today. It allows businesses of all sizes to connect with their target audience and reach new customers with ease.
Whether you are planning to or doing business in the UAE, you need to know how to use social media marketing to your advantage. In this article, we’ll share some top tips on how to use social media effectively in the UAE.
UAE demographics
The UAE is blessed with a vibrant and diverse demographic made up of over 200 nationalities
Before you start using social media marketing effectively. You need to understand UAE demographics, a key step to understanding your audience.
UAE is dominated by males, which make up 70% of the population. Meaning that the market for female products might be smaller compared to countries with more balanced or female-leaning demographics.
On the plus side, the median salary in UAE is 19,600 AED which is about $5300 per month. This gives UAE citizens considerable spending power.
81% of the residents are expats with ~50% of the population originating from South Asia. This means you have to take the different languages of your audience into consideration.
Which social media are the most popular in UAE?
Youtube and Facebook are the most popular social media platforms in the UAE. Because of the large number of expats in the country, there are more English language posts than Arabic posts. The difference is around 400%.
Again, language difference is a very important factor to consider when developing your social media strategy.
The third most used social media platform is Instagram. Similar to other countries, it is more popular with younger demographics. One thing to keep in mind is that contrary to western countries, according to Kepios, only 38% of Instagram users are female.
Following the global trend, TikTok is experiencing rapid growth in the UAE. Despite its quickly growing popularity among younger audiences, brands aren’t utilizing TikTok in a big way yet. According to research done by Anavizio, only 1% of influencer posts on TikTok were product promotions.
This might be a huge opportunity to become one of the first movers for many brands looking to market their products in the UAE.
Influencer marketing
Influencer marketing is very popular in the UAE.
In fact, according to a study conducted by BCW, 63% of online consumers are more likely to buy products if an influencer recommends them. Especially when it comes to food, fashion, and beauty products.
This number is significantly higher compared to the US, where only 53% would consider buying a product if an influencer recommended it.
Overall, 71% of UAE residents are open to taking advice online before purchasing products.
Influencer regulation
In the UAE, influencers are regulated by the government. In order to be able to accept paid partnerships on their accounts, they have to get a license from the National Media Council.
This license is pricey at around $4000 per year.
This means two things.
One – the influencers are much more reliable compared to western influencers.
Two – They are more expensive. Since they have a large annual cost in the form of the license, they have to charge more for partnerships with brands.
However, due to their work ethic and the amount of UAE citizens willing to buy products promoted by influencers, makes their cost easily worth it.
The bottom line
Social media marketing can be an extremely effective tool to reach out to consumers in the United Arab Emirates. With such a large and diverse population, businesses need to be strategic in how they utilize social media platforms to engage with potential customers.
When it comes to social media marketing in UAE, businesses should consider the following tips:
– Understand the different social media platforms and which ones are most popular among UAE consumers.
– Keep in mind the diverse population of UAE and the different languages they speak
– Develop engaging and suggestive content that speaks to the interests of your target audience.
– Use powerful influencer marketing to your advantage
– Don’t forget that social media in the UAE is heavily regulated. Inaccurate claims or referencing your competition too much is strictly banned.
By following these tips, businesses can maximize their social media marketing efforts and reach a wider audience in the UAE.
