Find Out on Snap

The Culture in the GCC is Uniquely Communal

The sense of identity, connection and belonging comes from the community. Family, friends, local customs and traditions are the essential ties that bind the GCC community together. It is not just part of their local customs and traditions but rather an emotional necessity.

Relationships Between Friends and Family Hold a Core Value Within the GCC Communit

The GCC region is experiencing a transformational societal and cultural change however the urge to keep in touch with our family, friends and community is cherished and has not changed over time despite how busy people have become.

Snapchat is a Natural Fit in the Daily Lives of GCC Locals

Thanks to the way Snapchat is built around connecting people to their circle of friends, family and creators, and given the importance connections among GCC locals, Snapchat has become so seamlessly ingrained into the GCC’s social fabric.

Snapchat’s number one use case is staying connected with friends and family¹. Privacy, ephemerality and connecting with real friends were Snapchat’s early tenets. From the beginning, we’ve built safety and privacy into the design of Snapchat. Enabling people to be themselves online and allowing for authenticity and creativity, values cherished by the GCC community.

Snapchat is Where Relationships Between the GCC Local Community Thrive

Snapchat is the best app for connecting with friends and family: In KSA, it is 2.3x² more likely to be used for connecting with others vs. the average of competitors. 

It is also their favorite app for sharing meaningful moments when celebrating³.

This strong relevance to GCC culture makes Snapchat a unique place that is visited over 45³ times a day across the GCC on average and 50⁴ times a day in KSA on average.

But Why Do These Connections Matter for Brands?

As Snapchat became the go-to platform for real connections in the GCC, it also became a unique space for brands to gain influence alongside the trust people have in friends, family, and creators.

Shoppers in KSA and UAE consider close friends and family as the single most influential and trusted source when it comes to making the final purchase decision.

Brands Can Now Be Where Friends and Family Shop Together in the GCC

  • $385B⁵ in annual spending power in KSA & UAE amongst locals 

    • In KSA, Snapchat is the #1 app⁶ for posting/sharing what consumers bought

    • Over 50%⁷ of Emirati DAU’s use Snapchat to share what they bought after a purchase 

  • Brands appear more engaging and relevant on Snapchat than on other platforms

    • Brands on Snapchat are viewed as 3.5x⁸ more engaging than ads on other social apps 

    • Brands on Snapchat are viewed as 2.4x⁸ more relatable than ads on other social apps 

  • The audience in KSA sees ads on Snapchat in a more positive and playful context

    • Ads on Snapchat in KSA are viewed as 1.2x⁹ more positive than ads on other social apps

    • Ads on Snapchat in KSA are viewed as 1.4x⁹ more playful than ads on other social apps

Looking for Ways to Reach the GCC Local Audience and Engage With Them?

Find out on Snap!

1 2021 Global Cassandra Study commissioned by Snap Inc. | Q: For which of the following reasons, if any, do you use each of the following social, communication, and/or camera apps? Please select all that apply. - Snapchat | Base: Total N=27,006 respondents
2 2022 Crowd DNA Study commissioned by Snap Inc. | Base: Snapchatters N = 956| (1) Q: C2. Which of these social or communications apps would you use if you were looking to…)
3 2022 NRG study commissioned by Snap Inc. | Base: Snapchatters (n=978), Daily Facebook Users (n=770), Daily Instagram Users (n=775), Daily TikTok Users (n=711), Daily WhatsApp
4 Snap Inc. Internal data Q2 2023
5 2023 Alter Agents study commissioned by Snap Inc. | Base: UAE and KSA Snapchatters aged 13-50 years old, accounting for cleaning and outlier removal. Total UAE and KSA (including expats) spending power: $517 Billion.
6 2022 NRG study commissioned by Snap Inc. | Base: KSA Snapchatters (n=978), Daily Facebook Users (n=770), Daily Instagram Users (n=775), Daily TikTok Users (n=711), Daily WhatsApp Users (n=785) | Q: When shopping for [moment], how do you use each online platform?
7 2023 Ipsos UAE Audience Research commissioned by Snap Inc. | S: Total – 800, Emiratis – 317, Daily Snapchat Users – 261, Occasional Snapchat Users – 171 | Please select all the social media apps / websites that you used to post about the product purchased
8 2023 Alter Agents study commissioned by Snap Inc.. Base: KSA Vertical Exposure Total (n=1457); Snapchat (n=476); Facebook (n=243); Instagram (n=247); TikTok (n=246); YouTube (n=244). QBRESP7. Which words reflect your perception of each of the following brands?
9 2023 Alter Agents study commissioned by Snap Inc. Base: KSA Vertical Exposure Total (n=1457); Snapchat (n=476); Facebook (n=243); Instagram (n=247); TikTok (n=246); YouTube (n=244). QCAP2. Please select how you feel towards the advertisements / commercials you see while watching content on the following platforms.
1 2021 Global Cassandra Study commissioned by Snap Inc. | Q: For which of the following reasons, if any, do you use each of the following social, communication, and/or camera apps? Please select all that apply. - Snapchat | Base: Total N=27,006 respondents
2 2022 Crowd DNA Study commissioned by Snap Inc. | Base: Snapchatters N = 956| (1) Q: C2. Which of these social or communications apps would you use if you were looking to…)
3 2022 NRG study commissioned by Snap Inc. | Base: Snapchatters (n=978), Daily Facebook Users (n=770), Daily Instagram Users (n=775), Daily TikTok Users (n=711), Daily WhatsApp
4 Snap Inc. Internal data Q2 2023
5 2023 Alter Agents study commissioned by Snap Inc. | Base: UAE and KSA Snapchatters aged 13-50 years old, accounting for cleaning and outlier removal. Total UAE and KSA (including expats) spending power: $517 Billion.
6 2022 NRG study commissioned by Snap Inc. | Base: KSA Snapchatters (n=978), Daily Facebook Users (n=770), Daily Instagram Users (n=775), Daily TikTok Users (n=711), Daily WhatsApp Users (n=785) | Q: When shopping for [moment], how do you use each online platform?
7 2023 Ipsos UAE Audience Research commissioned by Snap Inc. | S: Total – 800, Emiratis – 317, Daily Snapchat Users – 261, Occasional Snapchat Users – 171 | Please select all the social media apps / websites that you used to post about the product purchased
8 2023 Alter Agents study commissioned by Snap Inc.. Base: KSA Vertical Exposure Total (n=1457); Snapchat (n=476); Facebook (n=243); Instagram (n=247); TikTok (n=246); YouTube (n=244). QBRESP7. Which words reflect your perception of each of the following brands?
9 2023 Alter Agents study commissioned by Snap Inc. Base: KSA Vertical Exposure Total (n=1457); Snapchat (n=476); Facebook (n=243); Instagram (n=247); TikTok (n=246); YouTube (n=244). QCAP2. Please select how you feel towards the advertisements / commercials you see while watching content on the following platforms.