A Ramadan influencer marketing plan is a schedule of creator content built around the fasting month, its evening routines and the Eid shopping peak that follows it. Ramadan 2027 is expected to start around 8 February 2027, and Eid al-Fitr is expected on 9 or 10 March 2027, both subject to moon sighting. This playbook covers when to book creators, a dated week-by-week plan from November 2026 to Eid, how audience behaviour changes, content rules, creator types, rates, budget examples in AED and SAR, posting times, licences and measurement.
When is Ramadan 2027 and when is Eid al-Fitr?
Astronomical calculations put the first day of Ramadan 2027 around Monday 8 February 2027. The month lasts 29 or 30 days. If it runs 29 days, Eid al-Fitr is expected on Tuesday 9 March 2027. If it runs 30 days, Eid moves to Wednesday 10 March 2027.
Moon-sighting committees confirm the dates the evening before. Build a one-day buffer into every contract and write post dates as "Ramadan day 1" or "Eid day 1" in the brief, with the calendar date in brackets.
| Moment | Expected date (hedged) | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Ramadan day 1 | Around 8 February 2027 | First iftar content, launch of Ramadan offers |
| Mid-Ramadan (Garangao, Gergean) | Around 20 to 22 February 2027 | Children's treats and gifting in Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and eastern Saudi Arabia |
| Last ten nights begin | Around 27 to 28 February 2027 | Charity, reflection and the biggest pre-Eid shopping week |
| Saudi government salary day | Around 27 February 2027 | Spending power arrives in the same week as the last ten nights |
| Eid al-Fitr | 9 or 10 March 2027 | Outfits, gifts, family visits, travel and dining out |
Why should brands book Ramadan creators in November and December 2026?
The creators who perform best in Ramadan are family creators, home cooks and modest fashion creators, and their calendars fill first. In the campaigns we see, the strongest mid-tier creators confirm most of their Ramadan partners by early January.
Booking early leaves time for licence checks, contracts, shipping and pre-recorded shoots before fasting starts.
- November 2026: set the budget, build a shortlist of 2 to 3 times the creators you need, check audience countries and engagement quality.
- December 2026: send offers, agree rates and usage rights, sign contracts.
- January 2027: brief, ship product, shoot pre-recorded content, approve drafts.
November is also White Friday season, and the UAE has its Eid Al Etihad holiday on 2 and 3 December 2026. Plan outreach around those weeks so your messages do not arrive when creators are busy with other campaigns. Our White Friday campaign plan covers that earlier peak.
What does a week-by-week Ramadan 2027 plan look like?
The table below runs from shortlist to post-Eid reporting. Dates after 8 February 2027 assume Ramadan starts on that day, so move them by one day if the moon sighting shifts the start.
| Week | Dates | Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 to 8 November 2026 | Set goals and budget by country, pick platforms, define creator types |
| 2 to 3 | 9 to 22 November 2026 | Search and shortlist creators, check audience country split and engagement |
| 4 | 23 to 29 November 2026 | Pause outreach around White Friday (27 November), prepare the brief |
| 5 to 6 | 30 November to 13 December 2026 | Send offers, negotiate rates, confirm UAE and Saudi licence numbers |
| 7 to 8 | 14 to 27 December 2026 | Sign contracts, agree usage rights, lock posting dates |
| 9 to 10 | 28 December 2026 to 10 January 2027 | Final brief, ship product, apply for the Saudi discount licence if needed |
| 11 to 13 | 11 to 31 January 2027 | Shoot pre-recorded content, review drafts, create tracking links |
| 14 | 1 to 7 February 2027 | Pre-Ramadan teasers, Ramadan décor, pantry and outfit content |
| 15 | 8 to 14 February 2027 | Ramadan week 1: first iftar content, recipes, family routines |
| 16 | 15 to 21 February 2027 | Week 2: Ghabga hosting, Garangao and Gergean gifting |
| 17 | 22 to 28 February 2027 | Week 3: Eid outfit reveals start, gift guides, salary-week offers in KSA |
| 18 | 1 to 8 March 2027 | Last ten nights: charity tie-ins, last-order dates, Eid countdown |
| 19 | 9 to 14 March 2027 | Eid al-Fitr: outfits, family visits, dining, travel |
| 20 | 15 to 21 March 2027 | Collect all posts, pay creators, report results by creator and country |
How does audience behaviour change during Ramadan in the GCC?
Daily routines shift later. Working hours are shorter in many offices and schools, people rest in the afternoon, and social time moves to after iftar and late into the night. Phone use follows the same pattern.
Evening and late-night viewing
In the patterns we see, content consumption peaks after iftar and again late at night, with a smaller window around suhoor. Daytime reach is lower in the first hours after dawn and rises through the afternoon as people plan iftar.
Family, food and generosity
Food content leads the month: iftar tables, recipes, suhoor ideas and restaurant iftar and suhoor menus. Family routines, hosting and charity are the other main themes. Gifting grows through the month and peaks before Eid.
Ramadan series and TV
Ramadan is the main season for Arabic drama and comedy series across TV and streaming. Creators react to episodes, and audiences discuss them late at night. Brands can join that conversation through reaction formats, but should avoid using series clips they do not have rights to.
Ghabga and mid-Ramadan traditions
Ghabga is a Gulf gathering held after iftar and Taraweeh prayers, where families, friends and colleagues meet over a late meal. It is common in Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE, and brands use it for hosting, catering, décor and fashion content.
Garangao in Qatar, Gergean or Girgian in Kuwait and eastern Saudi Arabia, and Gargaoon in Bahrain are held around the 13th to 15th nights of Ramadan. Children wear traditional clothes and go door to door for sweets and nuts. Treat bags, children's clothing and gift packaging fit this moment.
What content rules and tone work for Ramadan campaigns?
Ramadan content should be respectful, family-safe and calm. Write your brand's rules into the brief so creators do not guess.
- Do not show eating or drinking in content that goes live during fasting hours. Schedule food content for after iftar.
- Keep wardrobe modest for both creators and anyone else on camera.
- Keep music low or use soft background audio. Many brands choose no music-heavy or loud content during fasting hours and prayer times.
- Avoid flashy displays of wealth. Generosity and family work better than luxury for its own sake.
- Do not use Quranic verses, prayer scenes or religious symbols as sales props.
- Label every paid post clearly as an advertisement, in Arabic and English where the audience is mixed.
Dialect matters as much as tone. Khaleeji Arabic fits Saudi and Gulf audiences, and a UAE campaign often needs English and Arabic versions because most residents are expats. Our guide to Arabic influencer content by dialect covers the differences.
Which creator types work best in Ramadan?
Most Ramadan campaigns combine two or three of the creator types below.
| Creator type | Best for | Typical content |
|---|---|---|
| Family creators | Groceries, home, telecoms, banks, retail | Iftar routines, children fasting, family gatherings |
| Home cooks and chefs | Food and beverage, kitchen appliances, restaurants | Recipes, iftar tables, suhoor ideas, restaurant menus |
| Modest fashion creators | Abayas, jalabiyas, kaftans, jewellery, beauty | Eid outfit reveals, Ghabga looks, styling series |
| Faith-respectful lifestyle creators | Charity, finance, wellness, home décor | Daily routines, giving back, calm reflection content |
| Snapchat diarists in KSA | Retail, restaurants, e-commerce offers | Day-in-the-life Stories, late-night outings, shopping trips |
Snapchat is the daily diary app in Saudi Arabia and reaches about 9 in 10 Saudis of eligible age, so Story sequences from Saudi diarists carry Ramadan well. Read our Snapchat influencer marketing guide for Saudi Arabia for formats and rates. For fashion and food specifics, see the guides for modest fashion brands and restaurants and cafes in Dubai and Riyadh.
How much do influencers charge during Ramadan?
Creators raise rates in Ramadan because demand is higher and their best posting slots are limited. In the ranges we see, the premium is about 20 to 50% above normal rates, with the highest premiums in week one, the last ten nights and Eid.
Base rates we see for one Instagram Reel in the UAE are AED 1,500 to 6,000 for micro creators and AED 6,000 to 25,000 for mid-tier creators. In Saudi Arabia, micro creators charge SAR 1,500 to 7,000 and mid-tier creators SAR 7,000 to 30,000. A mid-tier Saudi Snapchat Story sequence is typically SAR 3,000 to 15,000. Full tier tables are in our influencer rates guide for the UAE, Saudi Arabia and MENA.
Booking in November and December often gets rates closer to base. Multi-post packages across the month also bring the per-post price down.
Worked budget example in AED and SAR
The example below is for a mid-size fashion or food brand running Ramadan and Eid content in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Figures use the middle of the ranges we see plus a Ramadan premium of about 30%.
| Line | UAE (AED) | Saudi Arabia (SAR) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 mid-tier creators, 3 posts each | 60,000 | 72,000 |
| 6 micro creators, 2 posts each | 36,000 | 42,000 |
| 3 Snapchat diarist Story sequences (KSA) | n/a | 27,000 |
| 20 gifting parcels to nano creators | 8,000 | 9,000 |
| Paid-ads usage rights on best 4 posts | 12,000 | 14,000 |
| Production and shipping buffer (about 10%) | 12,000 | 16,000 |
| Total | 128,000 | 180,000 |
Mid-tier creators drive most of the cost. A smaller brand can run the same structure with micro and nano creators only for about AED 40,000 to 55,000 or SAR 50,000 to 65,000 in the ranges we see.
When should Ramadan influencer content be posted?
The windows below are the patterns we see across GCC audiences, not fixed rules.
- Afternoon, 3pm to iftar: recipe ideas and iftar planning, with no eating on camera.
- Iftar plus 1 to 2 hours: the main window for food, family and product content.
- Late night, about 10pm to 1am: fashion, shopping, Ghabga and series reactions.
- Suhoor: a smaller window for suhoor food, restaurants and quick offers.
Iftar time changes by city and moves a little later each day, so set post times relative to iftar in each country. Check each creator's own audience activity before fixing times in the contract.
How should brands plan Eid gifting and last-ten-nights sales?
The last ten nights, expected from around 27 to 28 February 2027, are the heaviest shopping week before Eid. Eid outfits, gifts, sweets, perfume and children's clothes sell most in this window. In Saudi Arabia, government salaries are paid around the 27th of the Gregorian month, which lands in the same week.
Eid gifting to creators
Send Eid gifting parcels in week three of Ramadan so creators receive them before the last ten nights. Include a short card with the product details and the campaign hashtag, and do not require a post in return. Our gifting and product seeding guide explains how to pick recipients and follow up.
Last-order dates and offers
- Ask creators to state your last delivery date for Eid clearly in the final week.
- Give each creator a unique discount code so sales can be credited per creator.
- Plan charity tie-ins with care: state the exact amount or percentage donated and the recipient organisation.
What licences and rules apply to Ramadan influencer campaigns?
Ramadan campaigns follow the same advertising laws as the rest of the year. Confirm licences in December, before contracts are signed.
| Country | Requirement | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| UAE | UAE Media Council Advertiser Permit, mandatory since 1 February 2026 | Permit number for every creator, paid or gifted posts; visitors need a permit through a licensed agency |
| Saudi Arabia | Mawthooq licence from the General Authority for Media Regulation | Valid licence, SAR 15,000 for 3 years; penalties up to SAR 5 million |
| Saudi Arabia | Ministry of Commerce discount licence | Licence issued before any creator announces a sale or before-and-after price |
In 2026 the Saudi Ministry of Commerce ran a Ramadan sales season from 1 February to 26 March 2026, with permits issued online. At the time of writing, the 2027 season dates have not been announced, so check the Ministry's announcement in January 2027. Full licensing detail is in our UAE Advertiser Permit and Saudi Mawthooq guide.
How do you measure a Ramadan influencer campaign?
Set measurement up in January so it is ready on day one.
- One tracking link per creator with UTMs, so website sessions and sales are credited correctly.
- One discount code per creator for sales that happen in-store or in an app.
- A campaign hashtag so every post can be collected and counted.
- Separate reporting for Ramadan and Eid, because Eid content usually drives more direct sales and Ramadan content more reach.
- Country split, reported in AED and SAR, so UAE and Saudi costs per sale are compared fairly.
Compare cost per sale and cost per 1,000 views against your non-Ramadan campaigns. Our ROI measurement framework gives the formulas.
Frequently asked questions
When does Ramadan 2027 start in the UAE and Saudi Arabia?
Ramadan 2027 is expected to start around 8 February 2027, with Eid al-Fitr expected on 9 or 10 March 2027. Both dates depend on the official moon sighting, so keep your plan flexible by one day at each end.
When should brands book creators for Ramadan 2027?
Shortlist in November 2026 and send contracts in December 2026. Top family, food and modest fashion creators fill their Ramadan calendars early, and January should be used for briefing, product shipping and content approvals, not recruitment.
How much more do creators charge during Ramadan?
In the ranges we see, GCC creators add about 20 to 50% to their normal rates for Ramadan posts, and the highest premiums apply to the first week, the last ten nights and Eid content. Early bookings made in November and December usually get closer to standard rates.
What time should Ramadan influencer content go live?
In the patterns we see, the strongest windows are the hour or two after iftar and late night, from about 10pm to 1am. A second smaller window appears around suhoor. Check each creator's own audience data before fixing post times.
Do creators need a licence for Ramadan campaigns?
Yes. Creators advertising in the UAE need a UAE Media Council Advertiser Permit, and creators advertising in Saudi Arabia need a Mawthooq licence. Saudi brands running Ramadan discounts also need a Ministry of Commerce discount licence before any creator announces the offer.
Where to go next
- Influencer rates in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and MENA
- Influencer marketing for fashion and modest fashion brands in the GCC
- Influencer marketing for restaurants and cafes in Dubai and Riyadh
- Snapchat influencer marketing in Saudi Arabia
- UAE Advertiser Permit and Saudi Mawthooq guide
Build your Ramadan 2027 shortlist in November from verified creators with checked audience data, and have tracking ready before the first iftar. Start your 7-day free trial →
