Facebook’s managing director for Middle East and North Africa, Ramez Shehadi, said that the time spent and consumption on social media platforms are rising during Ramadan (image credits: abcnews)

Ramadan is a prime time for advertisers in Middle East

The internet has changed Muslims habit during the holy month of Ramadan especially in Mideast, data showing people in the Middle East are likely to spent on social media and YouTube for about 58 million more hours during Ramadan.

The number of people who are online on social media and watch YouTube from beauty tips and cooking recipes, to sports and TV dramas are increasing in this Ramadan.   

Today Ramadan is not only the most meaningful month for Muslims, but also the prime time for advertisers especially for Facebook, Instagram, Google and YouTube in the region.   

Facebook’s managing director for Mideast and North Africa, Ramez Shehadi, said that the time spent and consumption on social media platforms are rising during Ramadan, because people usually work shorter hours in daylight. They also have to stay up a lot more at night to “suhoor”, eating before another day of fasting.  

Google who owns YouTube also revealed that during the holy month viewers of TV dramas and soap operas increase up to 151%. 

According to Google, during Ramadan the sport viewers jump by 22%, travel videos by 30%, and action games, simulation and video games by 10-20% in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. 

Google’s head of communications Google in Mideast and North Africa,Joyce Bazadded that besides entertainment and sports, religious contents are also popular during Ramadan. She said that people spend 27% more time streaming religious videos on YouTube.  

Ramadan becomes the peak season for advertising in the Middle East. Speaking about revenue, Shehadi mentioned that the more people engage on their platforms, the more advertisers want to be able to reach those people. 

Google later launched “The Lantern Award” to celebrate the most creative and engaging Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr ads on YouTube.