GCC Creators Surge 75% In 2 Years: Lifestyle, Fashion Lead 263K Boom In 2025

The creator economy in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region is experiencing significant growth. According to Qoruz, an influencer marketing intelligence platform, the number of social media influencers in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE is projected to reach approximately 263,000 by 2025. This marks a 75% increase from 150,000 influencers in 2023.

In the GCC, Lifestyle & Travel and Fashion & Beauty are leading categories for influencers. This trend reflects the region's focus on luxury and aesthetics. Finance & Business and Health & Fitness are also gaining traction as creators simplify topics like money management and wellness. Arts & Entertainment is thriving with identity-driven cinema and music.

Between 2023 and 2025, various influencer categories have shown notable growth. Lifestyle & Travel influencers increased from 31K to 58K, marking an 87% rise. Fashion & Beauty saw an 89% growth from 28K to 53K influencers. Food & Culinary grew by 45%, while Arts & Entertainment experienced an 85% increase.

Campaigns in the GCC increasingly target specific ethnic groups such as Arab, Indian, or Western audiences. Brands in the UAE often collaborate with Indian-origin creators to connect with South Asian expatriates. In Saudi Arabia, Arab creators are preferred for cultural alignment. This diversity enables nuanced storytelling that combines regional values with global aesthetics.

Priya Vivek, Co-Founder of Qoruz, highlights that creators in the GCC serve as cultural narrators rather than just entertainers. "Their stories go beyond engagement," she states. "They reflect aspiration, relatability, and everyday life." Collaborations now emphasize cultural context and authenticity over mere reach or aesthetics.

The GCC's creator economy is evolving into a strategic and expressive ecosystem. Creators are becoming essential for brands to build meaningful connections with audiences. Aditya Gurwara of Qoruz notes that parenting and lifestyle creators excel at making everyday topics relatable and engaging.

Looking forward, brands are shifting towards long-term partnerships with creators instead of one-off campaigns. These collaborations focus on mobile-first formats and localized narratives across cultures. The GCC's creator economy now emphasizes sustained influence rooted in regional identity.

The rise of social media influencers in the GCC highlights a shift towards more strategic brand collaborations. With a growing number of influencers across diverse categories, brands are leveraging this trend to create authentic connections with their audiences through culturally relevant content.