In the current hyper-connected realm, social network platforms have become an ubiquitous presence and wield an irrefutable impact. Today, the total number of social media users worldwide has reached a whopping 5.04 billion, i.e., approximately 62.3% of the global population.
Not to mention, the total user base has increased threefolds in the last decade, 970 million users in the year 2010 exploding to 4.95 billion users in October 2023.
Given these staggering figures, businesses now consider social media as an indispensable constituent of their marketing strategy, becoming a channel for global engagement and brand awareness. They regard social media as an essential tool in reaching broad audiences and establishing connections with targeted demographics.
This trend is no exception for the United Arab Emirates, the main hub for innovations and cutting-edge technologies. Although UAE shares almost the same platform-specific popularity as the Western markets, having an accurate understanding of user behaviors, local regulations, and cultural implications is crucial for succeeding in today’s dynamic world.
For this reason, our team of digital marketing professionals in Dubai have complied
we have compiled UAE social media statistics that will certainly help businesses nail their social media strategy.
Summary
- Facebook currently has 13.9 million active users as of June 2024
- Instagram enjoys approximately 7.6 million users today
- Stats shows that nearly 9.8 million of social media users spend their time on Facebook messenger
The Digital Pulse of the UAE: A Peek into Social Media Landscape
It’s quite evident that UAE has been witnessing tremendous growth in the digital realm. From considerable time being spent on the internet to increased internet adoption rates, the country has been showcasing its profound commitment to the digital transformation journey.
Today, the digital sphere of the UAE provides exceptional qualities, such as extensive internet adoption and usage, tech-savvy citizens, and growing reliance on social network mediums. All of these elements combine together to form an ideal space for businesses to integrate social media into their growth strategies.
Social Media: Beyond Likes, Share, And Connectivity
No wonder staying connected with family and friends is one of the major perks of social media. However, that’s not just it. Today, social media platforms are no longer restricted to just staying in touch. Instead, social media is evolving and creating a bigger impact in the user’s daily routine.
Do you know that in the UAE most individuals engage in online videos? Simply put, UAE residents like watching videos online, whether it be for entertainment, to get news updates, or to acquire information.
Another powerful social media platform’s influence is social commerce. It allows consumers to browse and purchase products from brands through their social media channels. And while the final purchase usually takes place on the brands’ website, tech-savvy businesses can’t ignore the power of social media advertising. You can see this impact specifically in the UAE where Meta’s ads saw strong engagement among young males aging between 25-34.
Thus, understanding this influence, more and more businesses are capitalizing on social media in Dubai to not only engage with their audience but to also promote their products and increase online sales. For this reason, businesses also prioritize influencer marketing so they can advertise their products and achieve marketing objectives.
Use Of Social Media In The UAE
Let’s face it; the United Arab Emirates is well-known for its tech-savvy population. According to a report, almost every individual in the region utilizes the internet services. The population of UAE stands at 10.24 million and among which a massive 10.14 million people are internet users.
Moreover, nearly most of these internet users have access to at least one social media platform. There exists about 11.50 million social media accounts as per the reports. What’s more interesting? Residents of the UAE spend approximately 2 hours and 58 minutes on social media platforms each day.
These impressive figures indicate that being the leader in technological advancements, the businesses in UAE have an ideal environment to connect with their target customers, find valuable leads, boost sales prospects, and make a lasting impression.
Top Reasons Why UAE’s Users Are Hooked To Social Media Sites
Various factors propel people to use social media in UAE. Based on a recent report, the primary reason that drives UAE population for usage of social media is building connections with loved ones around the globe. 52.1% of internet users shared that one of the top reasons they spend time on social media platforms is to keep in touch with their friends and family members.
The second prevailing reason for the usage of social media in UAE involves fighting boredom. Nearly 35.8% stated social media is their go-to to fill their leisure time. Following this, 34.2% cited they use it for watching sports videos, 32.8% read news stories, and 30.8% stated they use it to find out what’s trending. Lastly, 29.4% shared they rely on social media to find and purchase products.
Breakdown of Key Social Media Platforms in the UAE
Businesses can win on their social media strategy only if they know which platforms yield the best results and align with their unique objectives. That’s why it’s imperative to identify main social media networks and make strategic investment decisions.
There exist a plethora of social network mediums, each with their own distinct audience and different engagement styles. However, some of them that make it to the list of most popular apps in UAE include Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, WhatsApp and Tiktok.
Total Number of Facebook Users in the UAE
Established in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg, a Harvard student, Facebook is considered to be a social media giant in the UAE. Stats reveal that UAE had almost 13.9 million active users in June 2024. Among them, the largest user group is between the age ranges of 25-34, which contributes to 5.9 million. The interesting part is within this age group, there is a huge gender gap i.e., men outnumbered women by 4.1 million.
| Age Range | Men | Women |
| 18-24 | 12.3% | 6.2% |
| 25-34 | 29.6% | 13% |
| 35-44 | 18% | 7.9% |
| 45-54 | 6.3% | 2.8% |
| 55-64 | 1.7% | 0.8% |
| 65+ | 0.8% | 0.5% |
Breakdown of Facebook users by age and gender
Total Number of Instagram Users in the UAE
Stanford graduate, Kevin Systrom in 2010 launched a social media site primarily for photo-sharing. It was later acquired by Facebook in 2012. Presently, 73% of the region’s population, which translates to 7.6 million users, scrolls through the Instagram feed. Like Facebook, individuals within the age bracket of 25-34 constituted the majority of this platform with over 3.3 million users. Additionally, among these users, male population is in the lead, with an impressive 2.2 million more than female.
| Age Range | Men | Women |
| 18-24 | 13.1% | 7.6% |
| 25-34 | 28.9% | 14.4% |
| 35-44 | 15.8% | 9% |
| 45-54 | 4.9% | 3% |
| 55-64 | 1.3% | 0.9% |
| 65+ | 0.7% | 0.5% |
Breakdown of Instagram users by age and gender
Total Number of Facebook Messenger Users in the UAE
Facebook Messenger’s integration with Facebook solidifies its position as one of the leading chatting apps in Dubai. It had a remarkable user base of 9.8 million as of June 2024. This represents 94.7% of the total region’s population. Mirroring the above two social media sites, individuals aging between 25-34 form the larger user group with over 4.2 million users. Again there is a prominent gender disparity with 3.1 million male-dominated users within this demographic category.
| Age Range | Men | Women |
| 18-24 | 11.2% | 3.7% |
| 25-34 | 31.6% | 11.2% |
| 35-44 | 20.4% | 8% |
| 45-54 | 7.1% | 2.7% |
| 55-64 | 1.9% | 0.8% |
| 65+ | 0.8% | 0.6% |
Breakdown of Messenger users by age and gender
The Future Trajectory of UAE’s Social Media: What’s Next?
What does the future of social media hold will certainly be contingent on the ever-changing business models and the developments in storytelling technology. How will major platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and others adapt their monetization strategies and generate revenue? How will users acclimatize to these changes? How businesses will choose to utilize social media platforms to build their audience and promote their messages? The answers to these big questions will open doors to the new chapter of social media.
Nevertheless, one thing is for sure: the constant reign of the UAE amongst the high-ranked nations accentuates its reputation as the digital leader. The continuous investment of the UAE in innovation, cutting-edge technology, and digital infrastructure will contribute in shaping the future of the social media landscape.
Final Word
Undoubtedly, social media has completely revamped how businesses reach and connect with their intended audience. Today, capitalizing on social media effectively has become the need of the hour for businesses in the current booming digital landscape of the UAE.
By understanding the space in terms of cultural nuances and linguistic intricacies, determining the demographics of the target audience, and getting innovative with localized campaigns, businesses can cement their position in the thriving UAE market. Not only this, but they can expand their reach, fuel sales, and nurture brand image with strategic social media endeavors. This way, businesses can eventually position themselves for success over the long haul.
FAQs
- Which social media platform is used the most in UAE?
As of 2025 stats, the platform WhatsApp has emerged as the most used social media in uae. With an impressive 85.8%, which translates to 5.66 million, WhatsApp dominates the social media applications in the UAE.
- Does Snapchat call work in UAE?
Unfortunately, many video calling apps including Snapchat are banned in the region because of the local laws and regulations. However, there is a workaround for users. By utilizing VPN for Snapchat video calling, you can evade this restriction.
- Does telegram work in uae?
Yes, but unfortunately with certain limited features due to strong government restrictions. Although text-based communication is still accessible, users have a hard time utilizing features like voice and video calls.
- Is Tiktok available in uae?
Yes, it is! In fact, as of January 2025, 71.8% internet users were active on this video-sharing social media site in the UAE.
- Is viber allowed in uae?
Regrettably, UAE has strict internet rules and regulations. Due to this, telecommunication companies have announced that they have blocked another VOIP service, i.e., Viber.
- How big is the social media market in UAE?
There are approximately 10 million social media users in the UAE. Moreover, the ad spending is expected to reach $435.4 million by 2028. This growth is driven by the annual increase of 5%.
