Ramadan brand deals are paid content jobs that brands in the UAE and Saudi Arabia book for the holy month: UGC videos for ads, sponsored posts on your own account, and iftar or Eid campaigns. Ramadan 2027 is expected to start around 8 February 2027, so most brands lock their creators in December and January. This guide covers when brands book, which categories spend, what content they ask for, the tone rules, a prep timeline, how to price Ramadan work, which permits apply, and how to be findable before briefs go out.
When is Ramadan 2027 and when do brands book creators?
Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin on or around Monday 8 February 2027, based on astronomical calculations reported by The National and Gulf News in autumn 2026. Eid Al Fitr is expected on 9 or 10 March 2027. The exact dates are confirmed by moon sighting, so treat every date in a brief as provisional until the official announcement.
The booking calendar runs much earlier than the month itself. In the ranges we see, it looks like this:
- October to November: large brands and agencies plan Ramadan campaigns and set budgets. Some shortlist creators already.
- December to early January: the main booking window. Briefs go out, creators get contacted, rates get agreed, contracts get signed.
- Mid to late January: filming and editing. UGC for paid ads needs to be delivered before the month starts so it can be tested.
- During Ramadan: posts go live, extra hook variants get requested, and late briefs appear from brands that planned late.
- Last ten days to Eid: a second wave for Eid gifting, fashion, travel and family content.
If you start pitching in February, most of the planned budget is already committed. The practical goal is to have your portfolio, sample video and rate card ready by early December.
Which brand categories spend the most in Ramadan?
Almost every consumer category runs something, but these are the ones that book creators most consistently:
- Food and beverage: restaurants with iftar and suhoor menus, delivery apps, dates, juices, coffee, grocery and supermarkets. This is usually the largest category.
- Telecom: operators run family and connection themed campaigns and often need Arabic voice content.
- Retail and e-commerce: malls, home stores and marketplaces push Ramadan and Eid sales. Product-page and ad UGC is in demand.
- Fashion and modest wear: abayas, kaftans, jalabiyas and Eid outfits. Booking for Eid content often starts in the second half of the month.
- Beauty and fragrance: oud, perfume gift sets and Eid looks. Gifting content does well.
- Home and kitchen: tableware, cookware and home decor for hosting iftar.
- Charity and giving: charities, banks and apps that run donation or zakat campaigns. These want sincere, calm content and very careful tone.
Pick two or three of these that fit what you already film.
What content do brands want during Ramadan?
Ramadan briefs share a small set of moments and moods. If your sample work shows these, brands can picture you in their campaign straight away.
The moments
- Iftar: the table before sunset, breaking the fast with dates and water, the family sitting down together.
- Suhoor: the quiet late-night meal, simple food, sleepy and honest tone.
- Preparation: shopping for the month, cooking, setting the table, decorating the home with lanterns and lights.
- Giving: preparing food boxes, gifting neighbours, donating. Show the act, not yourself as a hero.
- Eid: new outfits, gifts, family visits, eidiya for children.
The format
- Arabic or bilingual: many GCC brands want Arabic voiceover, with Khaleeji or Saudi dialect preferred for Saudi audiences. Bilingual creators who can deliver an Arabic and an English cut are in demand.
- Vertical video, 15 to 45 seconds: for Reels, TikTok and Snapchat, with the product shown in the first few seconds.
- Several hooks per video: brands running paid ads ask for two or three opening variants so they can test which one works.
- Warm, low light: golden hour before iftar and lantern-lit evening shots are the typical look.
For more on what brands put in their briefs, the brand-side Ramadan 2027 UGC ads creative pack shows the formats and hooks they plan around.
What are the tone rules for Ramadan content?
Getting the tone wrong is the fastest way to lose a Ramadan booking or have a post pulled. These are the rules most GCC brands expect, even when the brief does not spell them out:
- Respectful and calm: the month is spiritual first. Slow pacing, soft voice, no shouting hooks or shock openings.
- No party or nightlife content: avoid clubs, loud gatherings and anything that reads as celebration in the wrong way.
- Careful with music: many brands avoid music-heavy edits during Ramadan. Voice-led audio, ambient sound or soft instrumental tracks are the safer default. Ask the brand what they allow.
- Modest styling: covered shoulders and knees at minimum for most briefs, and more modest for Saudi audiences and religious-adjacent campaigns.
- No eating on camera in daytime scenes: food content should be set at iftar or suhoor, not at noon.
- Do not mock fasting: jokes about being hungry or tired can work for some brands, but many avoid them. Check before you script them.
- Hedge claims: no health claims about fasting, no promises like "the best iftar in Dubai" unless the brand provides and approves the wording.
When in doubt, send a short script or storyboard before you film.
How should creators prepare before Ramadan?
The creators who get booked in December are the ones who already look ready. This timeline works backwards from the expected 8 February start.
| When | What to do | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Early November | Refresh your portfolio with your three best videos. Remove weak or off-brand work. | Brands shortlist from portfolios before they send briefs. |
| Mid November | Film one Ramadan sample video: an iftar table, a suhoor routine or an Eid outfit, with an Arabic or bilingual cut. | A brand can see you in a Ramadan context without imagining it. |
| Late November | Update your rate card with Ramadan add-ons: bilingual versions, extra hooks, usage rights and rush delivery. | You answer pricing questions in one message instead of three. |
| Late November | Check your permit: UAE Advertiser Permit or Saudi Mawthooq if you will post on your own account. | Some brands ask for the permit number before they sign. |
| Early December | Pitch your target categories and apply to campaign links. Make sure you are listed where brands search. | This is when the main booking window opens. |
| December to January | Confirm deliverables, dates, revisions and payment terms in writing. Block your filming days. | Ramadan schedules are tight and late changes are common. |
| Mid to late January | Film and deliver ad UGC before the month starts. Keep spare evenings for re-shoots. | Brands test ads before launch and may ask for new hooks. |
| During Ramadan | Post on schedule, share results, offer Eid follow-up content. | A smooth first job often turns into the Eid booking. |
The Ramadan sample video
One good sample beats ten generic ones. Keep it under 45 seconds, use a real product you own, open with the product in the first three seconds, and film at golden hour or in warm evening light. If you speak Arabic, record an Arabic version and an English version of the same video. Our guide to UGC portfolios and media kits covers how to present it.
The pitch
Keep it short: who you are, which Ramadan moment you would film for their brand, a link to your sample, and your starting rate. Our creator pitch email templates include a version you can adapt for Ramadan. If TikTok is your main platform, the TikTok brand deals guide covers how brands book there.
How do you price Ramadan brand deals?
Start from your normal rate, then price the extras Ramadan briefs usually include. Do not invent a vague "Ramadan fee". Brands accept clear line items more easily than a single higher number.
In the ranges we see across the GCC, UGC videos run about $100 to 600 per video, which is roughly AED 370 to 2,200 or SAR 375 to 2,250. Beginners in the Gulf typically book first deliverables around AED 400 to 1,500. Sponsored posts on your own account are priced by tier: a UAE Instagram Reel from a nano creator is typically AED 350 to 1,500, and from a micro creator AED 1,500 to 6,000. In Saudi Arabia, nano is typically SAR 400 to 1,500 and micro SAR 1,500 to 7,000.
| Add-on | Typical range | When it applies in Ramadan |
|---|---|---|
| Extra hook variants | $25 to 75 each | Paid ad campaigns that test openings |
| Arabic and English versions | +40 to 60% | Bilingual campaigns, very common in the UAE |
| Paid ads usage rights | +25 to 100% | When the brand runs your video as an ad, longer periods cost more |
| Rush delivery | +25 to 50% | Late briefs during the month or delivery inside a few days |
| Raw footage | often +25 to 50% | When the brand wants to re-edit your clips |
A worked example, using typical ranges: a UAE brand books one UGC video at AED 1,000, with Arabic and English cuts (+40 to 60%, so AED 1,400 to 1,600 total) and two extra hooks at about AED 100 to 275 each. If the brief arrives a week before Ramadan, rush pricing of 25 to 50% on top is reasonable. Agencies usually take 15 to 30% commission from their side, so confirm whether the rate they quote you is before or after their cut.
Rush pricing is where Ramadan differs most from the rest of the year. Late briefs are common, and creators who are free in the first week of the month can charge for short notice. Be consistent: state the rush rule on your rate card so it does not look like you raised the price because the brand is in a hurry. For the full method, see our guide to setting creator rates in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Payment terms
Ramadan campaigns often pay after the month, and Eid holidays can delay finance teams. Agree payment dates in writing, ask for a deposit on larger jobs, and send your invoice the day you deliver. UAE VAT is 5% and Saudi VAT is 15% if you are registered. Our guide to how creators get paid covers invoices, VAT and licences.
Do you need a permit for Ramadan brand deals?
It depends on where the content is published. Permits attach to publishing, not to filming.
- Posting on your own account in the UAE: since 1 February 2026 the UAE Media Council requires an Advertiser Permit for anyone publishing paid ads or promotions on their own accounts. It is free for citizens and residents for the first three years, then about AED 1,000 a year, with no follower threshold. Visitors can get a permit of up to three months through a licensed agency.
- Posting on your own account in Saudi Arabia: the General Authority for Media Regulation requires a Mawthooq licence, SAR 15,000 for three years. Non-Saudis work through a commercial register or a licensed agency. Penalties can reach SAR 5 million.
- Pure UGC: if you deliver a video that the brand posts on its own accounts or runs as its own ad, a permit is generally not triggered.
- Spark ads and partnership ads: these run through your handle, so treat them as publishing. Rules can be interpreted differently, so check before you agree.
The full rules are in our UAE influencer licence and Saudi Mawthooq guide. If you do not hold a permit yet, UGC-only work is the simplest way to take Ramadan jobs while you sort it out.
How do brands find creators for Ramadan campaigns?
Brands use three main routes: their agency's existing list, inbound pitches, and creator search platforms where they filter by country, city, niche and platform. In December the agency lists fill up fast, so the creators who get added late are usually the ones who show up in search or who reply to a campaign application link.
The brand side of this is in our Ramadan influencer marketing playbook for brands.
What brands check before they book
- Recent work: they look at your last few weeks of posts, not your best post from two years ago.
- Audience location: a Dubai brand wants UAE viewers, a Riyadh brand wants Saudi viewers.
- Real engagement: comments from real people, not emojis from bots. Our guide on proving your audience is real explains what to show.
- Tone fit: whether your content would look right next to a Ramadan campaign.
- Reliability: clear rates, quick replies and on-time delivery.
Frequently asked questions
When does Ramadan 2027 start?
Ramadan 2027 is expected to start on or around 8 February 2027, with Eid Al Fitr on 9 or 10 March 2027. The exact dates depend on moon sighting and are confirmed shortly before.
When should creators pitch brands for Ramadan?
Pitch in late November and December. Most brands in the UAE and Saudi Arabia book Ramadan creators in December and January, and ad UGC is usually filmed and delivered before the month starts.
How much should I charge for a Ramadan UGC video?
Start from your normal rate, which in typical GCC ranges is about $100 to 600 per video, then add line items: Arabic and English versions at about 40 to 60% more, extra hooks at $25 to 75 each, usage rights at 25 to 100% more, and rush delivery at 25 to 50% more.
Do I need a UAE Advertiser Permit or Mawthooq for Ramadan UGC?
Permits attach to publishing. If you post paid content on your own account, you need the UAE Advertiser Permit or Saudi Mawthooq. Pure UGC that the brand posts on its own accounts generally does not trigger them, but spark or partnership ads through your handle should be treated as publishing.
Can small creators get Ramadan brand deals?
Yes. Many Ramadan briefs are UGC jobs where the brand cares about content quality, Arabic or bilingual delivery and tone, not follower count. A strong Ramadan sample video and clear rates matter more than audience size.
Where to go next
- How to get brand deals as a creator in the UAE and Saudi Arabia
- How to set your rates as a creator
- How to pitch brands: email templates for creators
- TikTok brand deals for creators in the UAE and Saudi Arabia
- Brand deals for creators under 10K followers
Get your Ramadan sample and rate card ready, then get reviewed and listed before December so brands can find you when they book. Apply to the Hypein creator roster, free →
