When it comes to marketing in the Arab Emirates (AE), Instagram is the top platform. If you want to tap into the lucrative markets of Dubai or Abu Dhabi, contact an influencer based in the Emirates.
But how do you find UAE influencers who are best suited for marketing your brand on Instagram? Read on for tips.
Why UAE Influencers?
The Emirates rank among the world’s wealthiest markets. According to Forbes, the UAE is only one of five countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to earn a AAA credit rating.
As of 2025, the poverty rate in the UAE is only 0.63%, making it among the highest average annual incomes worldwide.
In terms of direct exposure to social media, the Emirates ranks sixth worldwide.
About 94% of the UAE population is active on social media; about 99% of them use Instagram. That is 7 million active Instagram users across the Emirates. As of 2025, about two-thirds of residents are now Emiratis.
Best Practices for Instagram Marketing in the UAE
Instagram is not the only social media platform where Emirati influencers can be engaged to market your brand. However, Instagram is the best platform to market a cross-border brand in the Emirates, especially luxury brands.
The Emirati people are among the world’s biggest spenders on luxury goods. According to Mckinsey, high-income households in the UAE spend more than 15% of their disposable income on luxury goods.
In fact, more than 70% of consumers in the Emirates feel that having luxury products is something that defines their social status.
According to Statista, sectors such as fashion, beauty, electronics, and automotive in the UAE are top luxury spenders worldwide. Emiratis spent $3.4 billion on luxury products in 2022, but this figure is expected to rise to $6 billion by 2029.
Therefore, cross-border brands must engage Emirati influencers to realize their marketing goals.
Leveraging Emirati Influencers on Instagram
Emirati influencers across the UAE are accustomed to marketing luxury products on Instagram.
According to Nord Anglia Education, 77% of Emirati youth prefer luxury brands versus mass-market brands. Emirati influencers know how to leverage that cultural norm and market luxury brands via Instagram.
According to recent statistics, about 90% of Emiratis follow influencers on social media.
How to Find Emirati Influencers for Instagram Marketing
Emiratis are fluent in English and Arabic.
So, when sourcing Emirati influencers for Instagram marketing, ensure they speak both languages fluently.
Many Emirati influencers specialize in promoting specific sectors such as:
- fashion
- beauty
- travel
- fitness
- food
- automotive
- lifestyle
Choose an Emirati influencer relevant to your brand and its message.
Use Social Media Platforms
Many Emirati influencers are active on other popular social media platforms, such as TikTok, YouTube, and Twitter.
Start your search on Instagram, but check other platforms where Emiratis are active if you don’t find suitable influencers.
Use Influencer Marketing Platforms
Social media platforms such as Instagram can have millions of influencers. Searching for and contacting influencers manually would be a time-consuming process.
Influencer marketing platforms provide a more efficient solution.
Influencer marketing platforms allow you to find eligible influencers according to diverse filters.
For instance, BaoLiba is an influencer marketing platform that connects brands with influencers across more than 200 countries, including the UAE.
On BaoLiba, brands can search Emirati influencers using filters related to location, niche, cost, and more. Furthermore, brands can contact influencers directly or work with BaoLiba’s account managers to conduct campaigns.
Use Hashtags to Find Influencers
Hashtags are an essential part of Instagram. To find Emirati influencers, hashtag searches are a great way to narrow down potential influencers in your niche.
Here are some hashtag examples to start with:
-
DubaiInfluencer
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UAEInfluencers
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AbuDhabiInfluencer
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DubaiInstagrammer
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EmiratiInfluencer
Monitor Engagement
Finally, when sourcing Emirati influencers to market your brand on Instagram, never skip checking their engagement.
Many influencers have a large number of followers but a low engagement rate.
If the influencer you are considering has a low engagement rate, audiences are not responding positively to that influencer’s message. In this case, audiences may not respond positively to your brand either.
Conclusion
When advertising luxury cross-border brands in the Emirates, Emirati influencers should be the first point of contact for marketing campaigns.
Emirati influencers are fluent in both Arabic and English, and they know how to connect with audiences across social media platforms.
Many Emirati influencers specialize in promoting specific sectors such as fashion, beauty, travel, food, automotive, and lifestyle.
Therefore, Emirati influencers are best positioned to market luxury brands via Instagram, which has now become the best marketing platform for luxury brands in the Emirates.
If you are looking to market your brand in the Emirates, visit BaoLiba to find suitable Emirati influencers for Instagram marketing.
