Snap Inc. has unveiled key insights into consumer behavior during Ramadan 2026, highlighting new opportunities for brands in the UAE and KSA to connect with audiences through creativity, cultural resonance, and innovative technology. With “Say it in a Snap this Ramadan”, Snap Inc. highlights the evolving role of Snapchat as a dynamic platform for meaningful engagement, reflecting how audiences plan, shop, and celebrate during one of the most important cultural moments of the year.
With Ramadan 2026 marking the first winter Ramadan in years, new patterns are emerging around shorter fasting hours, increased outdoor social activities, and enhanced spending power fueled by three salary weeks before, during, and after Ramadan. What’s more, key events, including Saudi Founding Day in the first week of Ramadan and Riyadh Season, extend celebrations and shopping opportunities, increasing both social engagements and consumer spending. These trends, coupled with Snapchat’s unique user engagement tools, enable brands to authentically engage with their audience and drive measurable impact.
Consumer trends shaping Ramadan 2026
This year, Snapchatters in the region are planning earlier, with 40% saying they are planning Ramadan three-months earlier or more. Throughout the season, the platform plays a central role in how people plan, share, and discover. Snapchat ranks number one for Ramadan inspiration, with more than 7 in 10 Snapchatters across the GCC using the platform to shape celebrations, purchases, outfits, gifting, and shared family moments, reinforcing its role as a daily source of influence during the Holy Month.
Snapchatters are also embracing Ramadan as a personal “creative challenge,” with 93% of users seeking tools to help them be creative during the holy month. Consumers want tools to craft unique experiences, from gifting to hosting festive gatherings. Augmented Reality is at the core of this creative expression, with AR Lenses driving 8x more attention compared to other social platforms, and 92% of users agreeing AR makes Ramadan celebrations more shareable.
Spending intent also increases during the Holy Month. During Ramadan 2025, Saudi consumer spending surged 35% and 89% of Snapchatters reported likelihood to purchase after seeing compelling ads. This trend is expected to continue and grow in 2026, fueled by a spending-friendly calendar and consumer inspirations shared extensively through conversations.
Antoine Challita, UAE Country Head at Snap, emphasized the platform’s role in helping brands stay culturally relevant during Ramadan: “Ramadan is not just a season of celebration but a time of discovery, connection, and creativity. Snapchatters in the UAE and KSA turn to the platform for inspiration and tools that bring their Ramadan to life. For brands, this represents a meaningful opportunity to show up in ways that feel authentic and culturally relevant. At Snap, we’re supporting this through creative and innovative ad solutions that help brands tell stories and inspire action during key cultural moments.”
Say it in a Snap: Empowering brand success
Snapchat offers brands ways to engage audiences through formats built for creativity and participation. Campaigns leveraging try-on AR features saw up to 239% YoY lift in app click-through-rates (CTR) and delivered an attention rate 8x higher than traditional ads. This engagement extends beyond Ramadan into Eid, with branded greetings, gifting lenses and interactive shopping experiences that align with key cultural moments.
Consumers in the region place a high level of trust in authentic, human-driven content, positioning Snapchat creators as a key driver of impact. 67% of Snapchatters trust creators who share evidence-backed reviews, while creator-led campaigns in KSA delivered 1.8x higher ad awareness and 2.5x greater action intent compared to non-creator campaigns.
Snapchat’s ad formats are designed to drive measurable impact during Ramadan. Consistent engagement helps maintain top-of-mind awareness, with 91% of Snapchatters highlighting that seeing repeated promotions encourage purchase consideration. While in KSA, 89% of users take action after seeing compelling ads, reinforcing demand for culturally relevant and visually engaging campaigns.
Snapchat’s impact during Ramadan is reflected in the results delivered for brands across categories. La Roche-Posay leveraged Snapchat’s high-reach formats on the platform to engage audiences at scale, reaching more than 40% of Snapchatters aged 18–45 in Saudi Arabia within the first three days of its campaign and driving a three-times lift in consideration compared to other platforms.
Ramadan 2026 presents a unique opportunity for brands to build meaningful connections with their audiences across the UAE and KSA. By tapping into insights from “Say it in a Snap”, marketers can leverage formats such as Takeovers, Sponsored Snaps, Creator ads alongside immersive technologies like Augmented Reality experiences to drive measurable outcomes during the Holy Month.
To learn more about “Say it in a Snap” this Ramadan, please visit https://forbusiness.snapchat.com/advertising/ramadan
