Saudi Arabia is one of the most active markets for X (formerly Twitter) in the entire world. It is where Saudis debate, break news, follow trends, and engage with brands and public figures in real time. For brands serious about the Kingdom, X (Twitter) marketing in Saudi Arabia is a uniquely powerful channel for conversation and cultural relevance.
Why X Is So Influential in Saudi Arabia
X holds a special place in Saudi digital culture as the platform for public conversation and opinion. Trending hashtags can shape national discourse within hours, and Saudis use the platform heavily to share views, follow events, and interact with brands. This makes X a real-time pulse of the market and a powerful place to build relevance.
Strategies That Work on X
Success on X in Saudi Arabia comes from being timely, culturally aware, and genuinely engaged in conversation rather than broadcasting at audiences.
- Real-time engagement: Join relevant trending conversations quickly and authentically.
- Customer service: Many Saudis reach brands publicly on X, so responsive Arabic support is vital.
- Hashtag campaigns: Well-crafted Arabic hashtags can drive significant organic momentum.
- Promoted trends & ads: Paid placements amplify reach around key moments and launches.
Cultural Timing and Sensitivity
Because X moves fast and conversations are public, brands must be especially careful with tone and timing. Aligning with national moments like Saudi National Day, sporting events and cultural occasions earns engagement, while tone-deaf or poorly timed posts can backfire publicly. Cultural fluency is essential, so see our guide on common Arabic marketing mistakes to avoid costly errors.
How to See What Is Trending on X in Saudi Arabia
Trends on X are shown by location, so you need to set Saudi Arabia, or a city such as Riyadh or Jeddah, to see what Saudi users are talking about:
- Open the Explore tab in the X app or on x.com.
- Open the Explore settings and turn off "Show content in this location".
- Choose Saudi Arabia, or a Saudi city, as the location.
- Open the Trending tab to see the top hashtags and topics for that location.
Before your brand joins a trending hashtag, open it and read the latest posts. A hashtag can mean something different from what it looks like, and many trends in Saudi Arabia are about news, religion or politics, which brands should avoid. The safest trends to join are national occasions, sport, entertainment and seasonal moments such as Ramadan.
X Ads in Saudi Arabia
X Ads let you target users in Saudi Arabia by location, language, interests, keywords and followers of similar accounts. Promoted posts work for launches and offers, and a promoted trend puts your brand at the top of the Trending list for a day, which suits big moments such as Saudi National Day (23 September) or Founding Day (22 February). Write the ads in Arabic, and in Saudi dialect when the tone is casual. For the full calendar, see our guide to Saudi National Day and Founding Day marketing.
Listening and Insight
Beyond publishing, X is an invaluable source of consumer insight. Social listening reveals what Saudi audiences care about, how they feel about brands, and which topics are gaining momentum. These insights can sharpen messaging across every channel, not just X itself.
Conclusion
Saudis use X to discuss news, trends and brands in public, so a brand that posts and replies in Arabic, in real time, can be part of those conversations. GOTOMENA runs X strategy, content and ads for brands as part of our Arabic social media marketing services. Get in touch to plan your X activity in the Kingdom.