Snapchat and TikTok first
In Saudi Arabia, Snapchat and TikTok hold a much bigger place than in other markets and reach a wide base of young people and families. So we usually start with both for personal care, perfume and fashion, and add Instagram and Google depending on the product.
When we launched the Givago perfume brand in Saudi Arabia, TikTok and Snapchat campaigns were the core, with sales-focused landing pages and UGC content. The result: 1,404 orders and 413K SAR in sales in the first 30 days, at a 5.6x return. We cover each platform in our Snapchat ads and TikTok ads guides.
Content in the market's dialect
An ad that is translated, or written in another dialect, loses much of its effect. Saudi customers respond to content that looks like them: a familiar dialect, faces from their community, and moments from daily life.
So we write scripts in the market's dialect, work with creators who suit the target audience, and test more than one angle for the same product. That is the heart of our ad creative service: content made to sell, not to fill a feed.
Payment and delivery
Online payment is widespread in Saudi Arabia, and instalments through Tabby and Tamara have become part of the buying decision, especially for higher-priced products. Showing the instalment option clearly in the ad and on the product page can lift the conversion rate noticeably.
- Show the instalment option in the ad and on the product page
- State delivery time and cost before checkout
- Support mada and Apple Pay at checkout
- A clear exchange and return policy
Fast delivery is not a bonus, it is a basic expectation. If delivery takes days, say so clearly instead of surprising the customer, because a cancelled order costs you more than an order that never happened.
Salla, Zid and Shopify
Most Saudi stores run on Salla or Zid, and some larger brands choose Shopify. Each platform can sell; the difference is in the details: tracking setup, page speed and the checkout experience. We wrote a guide for each one: Salla stores, Zid stores and Shopify stores.
And if your store needs building or improving before you advertise, that is what our e-commerce stores service covers.
Sales seasons in Saudi Arabia
Ramadan and the two Eids are the biggest seasons of the year, followed by National Day in September, Founding Day in February, White Friday in November and back-to-school. Sales also move with payday each month.
We plan each season weeks ahead: getting creative and offers ready, building retargeting audiences, and raising the budget gradually as the season approaches instead of doubling it on the first day.
How much budget do you need?
The minimum we start with in Saudi Arabia is 10K SAR a month in ad spend, and 10K AED in the UAE. The budget is paid directly from your card to the platforms, and our paid ads management fee is separate, so you see every riyal spent.
If you also sell in Egypt, the two markets differ in payment, content and seasons. Read our e-commerce marketing in Egypt guide to see how.