In a recent lead generation campaign, we acquired the contact of one of the most influential people in the Saudi healthcare industry, who left his direct email and private number in our form. This highlights a key reality of doing business in 2025: If you want to work with major Saudi clients, your product must appear on their smartphone screens.
Many international B2Bs have already tried running lead generation campaigns in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries — mostly with no success. After failing, they often conclude that their target audience — C-suite leaders — don’t spend time online. However, this isn’t true.
General data and personal experience show that even CEOs, chairmen, royal family members, and other leaders in Saudi Arabia do spend time on social media. The challenge is getting their attention.
Why Most Campaigns Fail
The biggest mistake companies make is launching campaigns without taking two critical preparatory steps:
Step 1: Define and Localize Your Offer
Ask yourself: What exactly are you offering? If you’re selling the same product or service you use in your core market — you’ll likely fail.
Just like in the consumer market (e.g., cars adapted for desert heat, halal food, Arabic apps), B2B products must be localized. This applies to:
- IT services — Arabic interfaces, local compliance
- Fintech — integrations with STC Pay, Mobily Pay
- Industrial products — heat- and sand-resistant features
How to Localize Without Visiting?
Talk to people! Start with mid-level managers on LinkedIn. Ask questions. Learn pain points. Get real feedback and adapt your value proposition.
If your product doesn’t solve a specific local problem, your money will be wasted.
Step 2: Find a Local Partner
Even with a localized product, you still need a local face. Opening your own office is expensive and risky — but having a representative in Saudi Arabia builds trust.
In a past campaign, visitors engaged with our landing page… until they saw our Dubai office address. They left. Why?
By 2025, Saudis won’t take you seriously without a local representative.
Now You’re Ready to Run Campaigns
With a localized product and local presence in place, it’s time to appear on their screens.
Channel Options:
- LinkedIn – Best for targeting by title, company size, industry
- TikTok / Instagram / YouTube – Ideal for short, engaging videos
- Snapchat / X (Twitter) – Especially for younger or Arabic-speaking audiences
Don’t rush into ads. Instead, create organic content first. Prove your expertise. Speak to local pain points. Be visible and trustworthy.
If you need help with any step — from product localization to campaign strategy — feel free to reach out.
