What 80+ sponsored reels taught us about what works in Saudi Arabia
Real view counts from campaigns with Tiqmo, Skechers, KIA, Hardee's, Papa Johns and more — and the patterns behind the reels that travelled furthest.
Over the last couple of years I've made well over 80 brand reels for banks, fintech apps, car showrooms, restaurants, retailers and events across Saudi Arabia. Some reached a few thousand people. Some reached millions. Here are the numbers — and what the best performers have in common.
The top of the table
| Brand | Reel | Views |
|---|---|---|
| Tiqmo | Remittance rewards | 2.9M |
| Skechers | Super mega offer | 304K |
| KIA | 0% down payment | 246K |
| Hardee's | SAR 11 Gold Star Wraptor | 215K |
| Papa Johns | World Cup offer | 205K |
| Lorenzo | World Cup pizza offer | 154K |
| First Cars | 50/50 car offer | 146K |
| Urpay | A follower won a Jaecoo | 132K |
Instagram view counts as shown publicly on the reels, October 2026.
Lesson 1: Put the number in the headline
"SAR 11 sandwich." "0% down payment." "3 meals at SAR 9.99." The reels that travel furthest lead with a concrete figure people can repeat to a friend. A specific price or saving turns a brand message into something worth forwarding.
Lesson 2: Useful beats glossy
The single biggest reel on the account isn't a launch party — it's an explainer about getting rewarded for sending money home. For an audience that sends money every month, that's not an ad; it's advice. When the offer solves a real, recurring problem, the audience does the distribution for you.
Lesson 3: Ride the moment
Papa Johns and Lorenzo both tied their offers to the FIFA World Cup 2026, and both landed in the top tier. A timely hook gives people a reason to care today rather than "some time".
Lesson 4: Proof is content too
After an Urpay campaign offering a chance to win a car, I went back and filmed the follower who actually won it. That follow-up reel did 132K views on its own — and it's the most convincing ad Urpay could have asked for.
Lesson 5: Repeat presence compounds
Brands that come back — Urpay, Carly, Popeyes, Mark & Save — build familiarity with every reel. The audience starts recognising the offer format and acting faster. If you can, plan a run of content instead of a single post.
