Platform breakdown

Instagram: Visual leaders in UAE, Saudi, Egypt

• Your audience scrolls Reels, Stories, feed posts—focus on short videos and rich visuals.
  
• Use captions in Arabic and English when your target is bilingual.
  
• Geo-tag UAE or Saudi cities if you want local awareness.
  
• Try working with regional micro-influencers for credibility and reach.
  
• Example: A café brand in Dubai posts a behind-the-scenes Reel at Iftar with Arabic captions and English hashtags.
  
  

TikTok: Fast-growth among Gen Z and millennials in Saudi & Egypt

• Your content must feel native: quick, lively, authentic.
  
• Jump on trends—but align them with your brand values.
  
• Localise with audio, local slang, or local culture reference.
  
• Use TikTok ads to test creative formats and targeting in GCC.
  
• Example: A startup in Riyadh uses a trending sound, shows a “day in the life” with humour, ends with a simple CTA.
  
  

X (formerly Twitter): Real-time and high energy in Saudi

• You build conversation: use short bold statements, ask questions.
  
• Join trending topics with region-specific hashtags.
  
• Use live updates (events, launches) or quick opinion posts.
  
• Example: A tech brand tweets “What’s your biggest homework-hack while working from home in Dubai?” and invites replies.
  
  

LinkedIn: Strong B2B for UAE, Qatar, Bahrain

• Share case studies, thought leadership, insights about your services.
  
• Encourage your team to repost your company posts for reach.
  
• Use sponsored posts to reach decision-makers in industries you target.
  
• Example: A BPO brand posts “5 key outsourcing trends in GCC 2025” with a slide deck link.
  
  

YouTube: Long-form value across MENA

• Create educational or narrative videos.
  
• Use titles and descriptions in Arabic + English to broaden reach.
  
• Engage by replying to comments, using community tab for updates.
  
• Example: A digital agency posts “How small UAE retailers grew online in 6 months” with subtitles in Arabic.
  
  

Snapchat: Youth audience, UAE + Saudi

• Use Stories to show behind-the-scenes, quick updates or limited-time offers.
  
• Try AR filters or geofilters for campaigns during events or shopping seasons.
  
• Example: A fashion brand uses a Snapchat filter during Dubai Shopping Festival to drive store visits.
  
  

Practical steps for you

• Pick 2 platforms to start, match your audience and resources.
  
• Create a content calendar: schedule visuals, captions, local language versions.
  
• Track engagement (likes, comments, shares), not only follower count.
  
• Test content formats (video vs image vs live) and refine what works.
  
• Be consistent: post regularly and respond quickly to comments.
  
• Respect culture: use local language, avoid tone-deaf content, adapt visuals.
  
  

Quick checklist

• Have you defined your audience country, language, platform?
  
• Are you creating content formats that fit each platform?
  
• Do you have a schedule and measurement plan?
  
• Are you allocating budget for testing and ads?
• Have you assigned roles (creator, responder, analyst)?