Why Instagram Influencers Go to Dubai?

If you are an Influencer on Instagram, you would most probably want to go to Dubai or the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Today when we think of luxury, wealth, and fashion, the flamboyantly lavish Dubai comes to mind.

UAE has gone from a pile of sand to a desert hotspot and destination chic. It is where the luxury radiates from its every pore. With cultural highlights of the mysterious Middle East and the Arabian wonders, to the freedom, modernity, and extravagance of all, it offers from the west.

It is the super-club association for influencers all around the world. If you think being an influencer in Dubai would be highly influential to your Instagram engagement, you are certainly not wrong.

But Where is Dubai, and why would Instagram Influencers want to go there?

Where is Dubai?

Dubai is the largest and the most populated city in the United Arab Emirates or UAE. UAE is in the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula or Western Asia.

The United Arab Emirates

UAE or The United Arab Emirates is a federally elected constitutional monarchy with over 9 million in population. Only in 2020, the United Arab Emirates’ GDP was estimated at 987.456 Billion Dollars. Their GDP is mostly through exports of crude oil, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, and dates. However, they are trying to shift their focus to business and tourism.

The UAE’s economy is the Second Largest in the Middle East, with a diversifying economy, specifically in Dubai.

Dubai a Global City

Currently, Dubai is a global city with people from all over the world. It is also the most populated city in the UAE. Dubai Metropolis alone has 3.4 million in Population and aims to become the business hub of Western Asia.

UAE has recently moved away from oil and gas as an economic focus and instead relies on Business and Tourism. Dubai is also the trade hub for international aviation and maritime. Only the oil output makes up 2.1 percent of Emirates’ total economy. Dubai’s nominal GDP alone is 108 Billion Us Dollars; it Makes the city very rich and UAE more prosperous.

UAE and Social Media Statistics

The Social Media User statistics in the United Arab Emirates are staggering, considering they are a small country with 9.83 Million people. Practically the whole population in UAE uses some sort of Social Media Platform. Though it may be because out of the entire population, only 11.6 percent are Emiratis, and the rest are expatriates.

UAE Social Media 2020 Statistics

The UAE Social Media Statistics in 2020 is as follows:

The population in Emirate have taken to the social media platforms as fish does to water. 98.98% percent of the total population are Active Social Media Users; that is astonishing. Moreover, because of smartphone prices decreasing drastically and internet charges being low, mobile phones’ usage has increased dramatically among the Emiratis.

These figures are apparent even in their Social Network Infographics and statistics shown below:

Why would Instagram Influencers Choose Dubai?

Instagram Influencers choose Dubai because it represents all the good things we come to know as humans. It portrays an abundance of wealth, luxury, high standard of living, great brands, excellent international and local foods, good weather, best fashion, and contemporary living. It is the one city in the middle east that accurately represents “East meets West.”

1. Influencers Experience East Meets West

For influencers that want to experience the Middle Eastern and Islamic Culture while being free to indulge in the magnificence of freedom and modernity, Dubai would be the Country to choose. It’s not only safe when it comes to its economic and political situation, but it also has the best of East and West.

To exemplify, Mitch and Thuymi are a couple of travel bloggers and adventurers with the Instagram Profile; Adventure Faktory. Based in Dubai and Singapore with 44.1 Thousand followers and a passion for travel, tourism, cuisines, and hospitality.

2. Global City of Food

Emiratis indulge in foods and cuisines, and though they might mostly prefer their own Arabic Foods, they are certainly not foreign to foods from other parts of the world. Additionally, Dubai is a Global City with expatriates and migrants everywhere, so it’s filled with international brands, cuisines, and tastes.

Henceforward if you are an Influencer with a niche for food and cuisines, you would certainly want to go to Dubai once, or in some examples shown below, even move there to the food heaven of the world.

For Instance: Karen McLean

The Influencer Karen McLean is an Australian who has moved to Dubai a few years back. She is a chef, photographer, and food blogger in Dubai. With the Instagram Profile under; Secret Squirrel Food and 188 thousand followers, Karen McLean promotes food, living styles, traveling, and cultures. She is one of the top Social Influencers in Dubai, incorporating her own culture with the Middle Eastern colorful version.

3. Dominating the Mountain of Riches

Emiratis’ typically have net assets of nearly 99,000 US Dollars; that shows that people in Dubai have the money to spend and crave the quality. So being an influencer in Dubai would not be hard. Especially if what you are promoting or representing is a product that is luxurious, modern, and contemporary.

Additionally, since Dubai is known for the luxury of everything excellent, the brands and companies prefer to have influencers represent their products from Dubai, where it represents wealth and indulgence. Two examples of influencers taking advantage of this opulence of riches are:

Example 1: Lotus Artioli

This Instagram Influencer and Blogger is from Italy and a big car buff. She is the granddaughter of the former owner of Lotus and Bugatti. Fascinatingly, she even has a car named after her by the name; Lotus Elise.

Lotus Artioli, with 20.4 thousand Followers, has kept up with the family tradition of the love for cars. She has seized Dubai’s opportunity to become a car blogger and an influencer on Instagram by traveling there constantly.

Example 2: Alex Hirschi

This Australian born Influencer is well known for her expensive and exotic taste in cars. She doesn’t only blog in Dubai, but she has been to Dubai plenty of times. With 7.6 Million Followers on Instagram and the pursuit for the coolest and most luxurious cars globally, it’s no wonder she has the crowd favorite Instagram in Dubai.

Known by SuperBlondie on Instagram, she is one of the most major car influencers on this Social Media Platform. She hunts down supercars and hypercars, mostly found in cities like Dubai, with everyone having the affluent taste of a King and a Queen.

4. Hotels and Marketing

Generally, in the UAE and Dubai, 94% of businesses believe working with influencers is beneficial to their brand. 49% already work with influencers, and 43% spend at least $10,000 to $50,000 US Dollars for each campaign and with one influencer.

Although hotels and restaurants are requested by the government to only work with licensed influencers, especially since some wannabe influencers tend to ask for Dh50,000 or more for each post, but might not deliver through engagement and return of investment.

5. Financial Advantage of Being an Influencer in Dubai

There are over 1000 Instagram Influencers in Dubai. According to a statistic on Influencers, they charge the highest average rate per post globally in UAE. Thus, it’s no shocker that 11 percent admitted they become a UAE creator because of the Financial gain.

In Dubai, Influencers command at least $1000 to $5000 US Dollars for every post equivalent to (Dh3,600 to Dh18,300). 94 Percent of Instagram Influencers charge this way.

6. Influencer with a Niche in Hospitality

In Dubai, based in 2019, there are 100,744 Hotel Rooms and more than 25,000 service apartments. Competition is high, and Consumers tend to trust user-generated content more than traditional advertisements. That is why Dubai’s Hotel and Tourism Industry has pushed its focus towards Social Media Marketing through Influencers.

Since Dubai is focusing on tourism, it’s an excellent market for influencers to get into, especially in the hospitality, travel, and tourism niche. However, they don’t always pay these creators. 76% of Instagram Influencers said they don’t necessarily get paid and instead accept free products and experiences from the brands and hotels.

Dubai and Influencers

Suppose you are looking to go to Dubai as an influencer for a trip or as a permanent resident. We can say it is undoubtedly worthwhile because you can not only experience a new culture and adventure. But also gain a financial advantage that might rarely come in many other countries. Accordingly, pack your bags and head on to the Global City of Dubai because what you will find as an influencer will be far more pleasurable than any experience explainable in one article.

About the author

Lina Stewart

Lina is a content writer at Social Tradia who turns social media data into stories worth reading. Off the clock, she's reading a novel, sipping cold coffee, or losing the couch to her cat.

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